Tune in Tuesday (11) - Soundtrack Edition!

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly music feature hosted by the fabulous Ginger at GReads. As some of you may know, I am ridiculously addicted to music. One of my favorite things to do is share new and favorite songs with anyone willing to listen. Or not so willing. I'm not picky. Anyway... Each week you can post a song and share the love of music.

The month of October is going to be extra exciting on Tune in Tuesday. Why, you ask? Because it's Soundtrack Edition! I got so excited that I prepared all of my posts for the entire month ahead of time. Yeah. That's pretty dang excited. I have a soft-spot for soundtracks and I can't wait to share some awesome tunes with you. So grab some songs from your favorite movies and/or shows, link up and join the fun!

For my final Soundtrack Edition of Tune in Tuesday, I thought I'd pay tribute to some of my favorite scores! I adore soundtracks and I believe it would be a totally different viewing experience if the score is an ill fit to the film or television show. With that said, here are a few of my favorite bits of score that I feel are simply inspired. Enjoy!

I am a HUGE fan of The Lord of the Rings. I remember being a little worried when they announced they were going to make films based on one of my favorite series. Needless to say, I was terrified... but I shouldn't have worried. Man! They did such a fantastic job with this film! And the music? AMAZING! Some of my favorite pieces include anything that has to do with Rohan. There's just something about strings, I tell you! That little Rohan theme plays and I instantly get goosebumps. I LOVE it and I hope you do too!

Speaking of strings... I must say that I am still terribly in love with Lost to this day. Such an addicting, wonderful show. The music sets the tone of the show so well, that I couldn't feature scores without sharing a favorite bit of music from Lost. This often repeated piece of musical genius always calms and comforts me... I love it.

Another score that fits its film perfectly is that belonging to the live-action version of Peter Pan. I love everything Peter Pan... I've even sworn to never grow up! This score is positively perfect for the feel of Peter Pan and this particular track is one of my top favorites. To me, this sounds mischievous... playful... it sounds like adventure. Perfect, right? Yeah, I think so too.

This final one is so touching and wonderful, no soundtrack list would be complete without it. This segment plays pretty much at the very beginning and it makes me feel... it's just so touching and sweet. Up is just one of those movies that kind of plants itself in your heart and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. Gotta love it!

Tune in Tuesday (10) - Soundtrack Edition!

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly music feature hosted by the fabulous Ginger at GReads. As some of you may know, I am ridiculously addicted to music. One of my favorite things to do is share new and favorite songs with anyone willing to listen. Or not so willing. I'm not picky. Anyway... Each week you can post a song and share the love of music.

The month of October is going to be extra exciting on Tune in Tuesday. Why, you ask? Because it's Soundtrack Edition! I got so excited that I prepared all of my posts for the entire month ahead of time. Yeah. That's pretty dang excited. I have a soft-spot for soundtracks and I can't wait to share some awesome tunes with you. So grab some songs from your favorite movies and/or shows, link up and join the fun!

This week I'll be showcasing the amazing soundtrack from Adam. So what is this sweet, touching movie about? Well, Adam is a brilliant guy with Asperger's Syndrome and a strong passion for astronomy, but he's struggling to cope after the loss of his father. His new neighbor, Beth, comes into his life and helps him learn how to open up and make sense of the world. In turn, he helps her see life in a whole new light. If you have yet to watch this movie, I definitely recommend it. It's absolutely wonderful... and not just because Hugh Dancy is in it. The music for this film is spectacular and fits the tone of Adam so perfectly. Not to mention, Christopher Lennertz really knocks it out of the park with the score. So lets listen to some tunes!

First up is Gone Away by Lucy Schwartz. Seriously, this song is just beautiful. The feel of it is so Adam it's ridiculous. A perfect choice for the first track of the album.

There is no way to fully convey my elation when I was watching the movie and BAM! I hear The Weepies! I must have Weepies Radar or something because the second Can't Go Back Now (one of my top favorite Weepies tracks) started, my eyes lit up and my love for the film grew exponentially. I'm not even remotely joking. The Weepies is one of my favorite groups of all-time. They're pure musical geniuses, I tell you! *le sigh* Man, I freakin' love them... can ya tell? AND this song is absolutely perfect for Adam... I love when that happens.

Can you ever go wrong with Joshua Radin? Yeah, I didn't think so either. His voice is so soothing and this song is a beautiful addition to the film. So without further ado, enjoy When You Find Me!


To hear more wonderful tunes from Adam, click the links below or give it a listen on Spotify. You could always watch the movie, too. You know you waaaaaaant to.

Track Listing:
1. Gone Away - Lucy Schwartz
2. Someone Else's Life - Joshua Radin
3. Plastic Flowers - The Hiders
4. Into the Light - The Alexandria Quartet
5. Beautiful Day - Miranda Lee Richards
6. When You Find Me - Joshua Radin featuring Maria Taylor
7. Can't Go Back Now - The Weepies
8. Prologue Main Theme (Score) - Christopher Lennertz
9. Planetarium Suite (Score) - Christopher Lennertz
10. Courtroom Suite (Score) - Christopher Lennertz
11. Adam's Journey (Score) - Christopher Lennertz
12. Reflection (Score) - Christopher Lennertz

Review: "The Scorpio Races" by Maggie Stiefvater

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Reading Level: Young Adult
ARC: 416 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: 18 October 2011


It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. (Goodreads)

What an enchanting, breath of fresh air! The Scorpio Races is unlike any book I have ever read, and I couldn't be happier. I finished it earlier this morning and I've been mulling it over in my head all day, trying to put to words just how much this book has become a part of me. Now how am I going to explain it in this review? Gah! I had a similar difficulty after reading Maggie's The Wolves of Mercy Falls series earlier this year. In fact, those reviews are still waiting to be posted! Dang. I don't want that to happen again, so I may as well jump right in!

Maggie Stiefvater is truly a master at weaving words, as I like to say. She has this ability to take hold of your heart - your soul - and weave it within the pages of her novels, making you feel like you're so much a part of everything. You can't help but marvel at the atmosphere she winds around you and the whimsical, beautiful writing on nearly every page. You can't resist falling in love with her characters and embedding them into your very being. I have absolutely no idea how she does it. Frankly, I don't care how she does it as long as she keeps on doing it.

The Scorpio Races was such a thrilling ride. The setting was so vivid, it seemed to be alive! The island of Thisby was like a character in and of itself, with its storms, fog layer and other qualities... which was spectacular. I found it a smart move that Maggie made Thisby in an ambiguous country - it could possibly be risky, but she really gives her readers credit and lets them picture it themselves without being bogged down by predetermined locales. And the water horses, the Capaill Uisce, were beautiful and terrifying all in one. I was both fascinated and completely freaked out by these mythical creatures with a deep, magical connection to the water. I mean, seriously... carnivorous horses that pop out of the ocean? Crazy awesome! Then add in the part where, every year in the Scorpio Races, people RIDE these man-eating creatures? Talk about a heart-pounding adventure! If the story centered around that aspect alone, I would have loved it.

Lucky for us, there is another aspect that our awesome author excels at. In comes the wonderful characters! As with her previous novels, Maggie Stiefvater masterfully uses multiple p.o.v. to tell the story. Our heroine, Kate "Puck" Connelly, is a pretty awesome character. She has fire and determination, but she's also vulnerable and scared. After the death of her parents, she and her two brothers must try to survive on their own. To help in this, Puck decides to enter the Scorpio Races for a chance at the large winners purse. The hero of our tale is four time winner of the Races, Sean Kendrick. Also an orphan, Sean lives and works at a local stable as a horse trainer. Quiet and enigmatic, Sean has an almost magical connection to horses - especially one of the capaill, Cor. I enjoyed learning about what set our heroes on their course to the Races and watching their interactions with one another. I really don't want to give anything away, but watching these two characters develop and grow was nothing short of enchanting.

Filled with terror, adventure, sadness, joy, and the importance of relationships, The Scorpio Races has cemented itself in my favorites list. In my humble opinion, you can't go wrong with this wonderful tale of finding strength in oneself and taking the helm in your own life. Definitely go out and read this fantastic, lyrical novel... now!

A favorite quote: "It's easy to convince men to love you, Puck. All you have to do is be a mountain they have to climb or a poem they don't understand."

Tune in Tuesday (9) - Soundtrack Edition!

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly music feature hosted by the fabulous Ginger at GReads. As some of you may know, I am ridiculously addicted to music. One of my favorite things to do is share new and favorite songs with anyone willing to listen. Or not so willing. I'm not picky. Anyway... Each week you can post a song and share the love of music.

The month of October is going to be super fun on Tune in Tuesday. Why, you ask? Because it's Soundtrack Edition! I have a soft-spot for soundtracks and I can't wait to share some awesome tracks with you. So grab some songs from your favorite movies and/or shows, link up and join the fun!

I know this will be a bit different, but I can't participate in this edition without featuring something from my favorite TV show: Psych! Oh my word, I love this show! I like silly things and it doesn't get much more silly than Psych. Seriously. I dare you not to laugh at all the hijinks Shawn and Gus get into... whilst solving crimes! GENIUS! Words can't express how much I love this show. Or how much I love Shawn. Or how much it makes me laugh... yeah. And now for the theme song, I Know You Know by Friendly Indians!

Wait for iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!

And just because the show is THAT AWESOME, they sometimes have special intros... yes, they tweak the intro song/credits... and it's awesome. Here are a few of my favorites!

(This one comes from a Twin Peaks [Dual Spires, get it? LOL!] tribute episode... one of my favorite episodes ever! Such a strange and wonderful episode.)

(This one is just plain cool... Hindi music? HECK YES!)

(Then there's one done by Curt Smith from Tears for Fears. I just like it... so what?!! lol)

And just because I can... Shawn and Gus performing Shout! Man, I love how much they love the 80's. OH THE HILARITY!

Be sure to check out the season premiere of Psych on USA tomorrow, October 12th... I know I will! It's going to be AWESOME! You know that's right.

Tune in Tuesday (8) - Soundtrack Edition!

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly music feature hosted by the fabulous Ginger at GReads. As some of you may know, I am ridiculously addicted to music. One of my favorite things to do is share new and favorite songs with anyone willing to listen. Or not so willing. I'm not picky. Anyway... Each week you can post a song and share the love of music.

The month of October is going to be extra exciting on Tune in Tuesday. Why, you ask? Because it's Soundtrack Edition! I got so excited that I prepared all of my posts for the entire month ahead of time. Yeah. That's pretty dang excited. I have a soft-spot for soundtracks and I can't wait to share some awesome tunes with you. So grab some songs from your favorite movies and/or shows, link up and join the fun!

It wouldn't be a soundtracks-freakin-rock-my-polka-dot-socks-off edition without a little music from the AMAZING Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging movie soundtrack! This film is based on books one and two of the hilarious Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison. Though the movie is fun and I like it, the soundtrack is spectacular and one of my all-time favorites. So, without further ado, here are a few bits of awesome from the album... because it was simply too difficult to pick just one.  Ahem. Enjoy!

First up is a song written specifically for the movie, Ultraviolet. This song is performed by a band that was dubbed the Stiff Dylans for the film... and I believe they liked the name so much that they kept it! How cool is that? My sister and I absolutely adore it and I hope you will too.

Next up, Toothpaste Kisses by The Maccabees. I find this song to be downright adorable. I love it and I love The Maccabees... they're so much fun!

Another magnificent one is She's Got You High by the amazing Mumm-Ra. I seriously love Mumm-Ra and this song is a frequently played favorite. I get it stuck in my head... a lot. (Just as a side note, I think this video rocks! I can't believe I've never watched it before now. Love it!)

Last, but certainly not least, here's Your Song from one of my favorite musicians, Kate Walsh. I adore her music, love her voice and this song is just... it's just so... it's perfect. *le sigh* And apparently it makes me sigh a lot. Hmm...

There ya have it! Amazing, no? I'm sorry there are so many, but I love every freakin' song (okay, there's one song I merely "like" instead of "love")! Though I was unable to share all of the songs, I'm sure more of them will pop up in later episodes of Tune in Tuesday. Just so's ya know, I won't make you watch the movie if you don't want to, but you should definitely check out the soundtrack. You won't regret it. Cheers!