#NerdsUnite: Obsession of the Moment (Bluebird EP)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Megan. She recently just graduated from SDSU and is now entering the world with a fresh pair of eyes in a stinky economy. In these series of posts she will discuss her thoughts and discoveries as she ventures out into the real world. Hit it Meg!!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @MegCorbs

I recently got a message from the amazing and talented Chris French letting me know that an EP he had produced had been released.

Of course I went and bought it immeadiately off of iTunes. I am still obsessed with Annie Automatic‘s (his band) new cd and I knew if Chris had a hand in this EP than it had to be good.

The EP for BlueBird (aka @bricuoco) did not disappoint.

Right from the start the beautiful melodies and her soulful voice put you at ease. Which coming from a girl with a history of anxiety is a HUGE compliment.

The thing I love most is how Bri’s voice COMPLIMENTS the music, not overtakes it. Don’t get me wrong, this girl has a set of pipes on her but she doesn’t feel the need to show them off unnecessarily. She lets herself become almost secondary to the array of instruments which honestly just shows off her talent more.

Every song has lyrics that just ‘get to you,’ in a good way of course. Like her song ’October.’

“Its perfect weather for breaking hearts and i’m wearing layers so its harder for you to peel me apart.”

I’m a lyric person (it’s the book worm in me) so I appreciate well written songs.

The wonderfulness of this EP ends with a cover of the song “Be My Baby” featuring @joegillette. I love the way their voices work together and it’s a nice cover of a song that always makes me smile.

I can’t say enough good things about this EP, and not becuase I know who produced it but because I genuinely love it. So c’mon @iamfrench and @bricuoco release a full album already :) .

And please please please support GOOD music and buy this EP. If you don’t like it, I’ll pay you back myself!

#nerdsunite

Click here to follow Megan on twitter!

Want to take it out of 140 characters? Email: Mcorbett10@gmail.com

#MusicMonday: Obsession of the moment- @AnnieAuto

<editorsnote> Nerds, I know you just met Megan ... aka the chickadee that just got out of college and is now entering the world bright eyed and bushy tailed under less than stellar circumstances. Well, a bunch of us nerderinos got to go and kick it with Annie Auto last week for a private listening party, and Meg did a loverly write up on it. For reals! We listened to the entire album, and it totes didn't suck. Either way, I'll let Megan tell you all about it. HIT IT GIRLLLL!!!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @MegCorbs

Recently the amazing @JenFriel, @BenParr and I went to a private listening party for the band Annie Automatic‘s new album “Don’t Look Down.”

I’ve heard about the band but had never listened to any of their music before. Jen assured me that they were amazing, but regardless of course I was in for a fun little adventure.

The release party was at the Sunset Marquis which has an absolutely gorgeous recording studio in it.

When we arrived, the lead singer and friend of Jen’s, came up to say hi. Chris was beyond sweet and incredibly smart. He was one of those guys that passion just oozes out of. You can see how proud he was of the new album and it made me so psyched to hear it.

Eventually after some amazing pizza (with BACON, mmm) and wine we all went into the recording studio to hear the new album.

It’s an odd sensation having no idea what you are about to hear but being so stoked for it anyways.

From the very first song I realized that Annie Automatic was a band that I had been missing out on. “Don’t Look Down” the title track off of the new album, gets you going right away. The punk sound with the melodious voice immediately wants you hearing more.

The song that got to me the most though, was “With You.” Halfway through Jen and I both looked at each other and went “Awww.” The lyrics mixed with beautiful piano playing will melt any girl’s heart (cheesy but 100% the truth).

I love when you can listen to an album the whole way through without needing to skip a song. It’s almost like a great book (of course my nerd brain goes there) that’s a page turner and you can’t put down. From start to finish it is a well crafted, well executed piece of music that I can see resonating with a diverse audience.

The best part of this whole experience was listening to the album with the musicians themselves. You can see how proud of it they were and having them sing along and crack silly jokes made it so much more of an event than just listening to it in your car.

Oh and did I mention that while we were listening we were also checking out an AMAZING comic book with the same name as the band that they had been working on (QR codes on the back and all)? C’mon, how kickass is that!?

Please please please go out and buy this on iTunes and help to support an awesome group of musicians. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Annie Automatic Official Site

@AnnieAuto

#Nerdsunite

Click here to follow Meg on the twitter!

ANNNDDD did you know Chris from Annie Auto made a super fancy pants appearance on TNTML for an exclusive livestream? Yep, totes happened. Seriously, no joke nerds - Chris is so fucking passionate about what he does - it's incredibly inspiring. Keep on keepin on duderino!!! Watch him in action over yonder!

#NerdsUnite: YAY!!! New @AnnieAuto!!

AHHH!!! DUDES!!! Just got an email from @iamfrench letting me know that @annieauto's debut album is finally out!

Dude, I LOVE me some Annie Automatic. I got to kick it with them last year in studio, and seriously - they are the NICEST people on the planet just following their passion. So so so much love and respect!!!

BAHHHH!! Here's a love note from French:

It's finally here! Our Debut Album, which we've spent the better portion of the last year working on, is DONE.

Let me be the 1st to say, Thank You, for all the Love and Support - all the Inspiration and Encouragement we've received from people looking forward to it! It helps.

...And an Enormous Thank You,
to everyone who has been a part of it and helped us to really be able to do what we want with it,
to make something we're so proud of.

It will be available everywhere, 8/23.

It's called "Don't Look Down" -
so that we all remember that the key to Living and Loving the way we want is to not think too much and just go for it. Be Brave... You're worth it.

Mixed by Kyle Moorman, and Mastered by Tom Baker, it came out Huge.

The 1st single, "Burn This Prison", will be available EVERYWHERE online on July 12th, and all your local radio stations will have it - so be sure to call em and tell em to play it :)

("Burn This Prison" is a story told from the voice of an innocent man, wrongly imprisoned- he takes us through life in a cage, and tells us about the Home and the Love he hasn't seen in 10 years, and how he plans to escape...and whether he succeeds, or is killed in the process, it's his last attempt to do what's right)

We'll release 2 other singles leading up to the Album release - "Miss McKenzie" (8/2) and "Dear, Charlie" (8/16). Stay Tuned for more info on those.

ALSO THIS MONTH - We're extremely excited to announce that, along with our friend, British screenwriter SAM SCOTT and the amazing illustrator RUSSELL DAUTERMAN, we have put together the 1st issue of a RADICAL Ashcan Comic Book:

"Annie Automatic: Killer In Disguise" 

Well hello unreleased leaked image ... where did you come from??? *snicker snicker snicker*

This will be distributed directly to fans, in Limited Edition form, by our lovely street team at COMIC-CON San Diego 2011. Look for people around the convention in our signature Annie Tshirts who will have a fresh copy for you FOR FREE. (while supplies last)

These will be available exclusively through our webpage as well.

It's an exciting time for us, and we cannot tell you enough how grateful we are to be able to do what we love,
and have fun creating new things - ALL of which is made possible by you, and your friends.

So please, continue to spread the word and show us your Love, and we'll continue to do the same.

Keep your eyes and ears open, we'll have some more AWESOME stuff to tell you about soon!

See?!??!!? He's such a rad mo fo! Haven't heard the album yet, but can't wait to get my hands on it!! The beats in studio were siiicckkkkkkkkkk!!! Totes not mad at it. Yay life, and yay for doing what you love! Congrats on the new album!!! Thanks for sharing your passion with us all Annie Automatic!!! Keep on keepin on!

Check out more from them over yonder!

#nerdsunite

Oh and here's the TNTML exclusive livestream of Annie Auto's Chris French and The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco recording somewhere over the rainbow (proceeds of the single sale go to the humane society. Click here for more info. Special thanks to @NoaShaw (UGHHHHH love love LOVE that human being) for allowing that to go down. Love love love you long time!!! xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxxoxoxo

#ItsHere: @KaleyCuoco and @AnnieAuto sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow!

AHHH!! BAHHH!! and YAHHHH!!!!

It's freaking FINALLY here!! The single that @kaleycuoco and @annieauto's @iamfrench recorded after her horseback riding accident, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Humane Society. READ READ READ!!

Per the Humane Society: Kaley Cuoco, star of the hit TV show "The Big Bang Theory" and a life-long animal lover, was inspired by an painful accident to make beautiful music for homeless animals.

Kaley is a regular at The HSUS’s annual celebration of the media, The Genesis Awards. A champion for shelter and rescue dogs, Kaley is always willing to use her celebrity to bring attention to the cause. In September, she—along with Wendie Malick ("Hot in Cleveland") and Jorja Fox ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation")—was honored for being one of The HSUS’s most supportive celebrity advocates.

The accident

Unfortunately, shortly after that recognition Kaley suffered a freak accident while riding her horse, Santos, leaving her with an open compound leg fracture. (Not surprisingly, her first reaction was concern that her screams had scared Santos.)

During her long hospital stay, Kaley's boyfriend, Christopher French of the group Annie Automatic, stayed by her side and played his guitar for her. Seeking some distraction from the pain, she asked him to play something she could sing to. He strummed a playful version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

The inspiration

Soon they were laughing, and as they played various versions and traded choruses, it seemed as if the music was helping her overcome her discomfort. And so, although this is her only foray into singing in public, Kaley and Christopher decided to record the song in support of the The HSUS and our work for animals.

The video

After Kaley was released from the hospital, they recorded their version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"in their living room instead of a studio, so Kaley wouldn't need to leave the house. And—with a little help from Kaley’s sister, Bri, who filmed the session, and Christopher’s photographer Noa Shaw—they created the video version!

“Kaley and I are happy to be able to help draw attention to the important issue of animal adoption and rescue and raise a little money, 99¢ at a time,” says Christopher.

Download the video

You can purchase the digital single, and support The HSUS's work for homeless dogs, at any of your favorite online music stores, including iTunes and AmazonMP3. Please help make this holiday season a special one by purchasing this song and helping The HSUS fight for animals everywhere!

So much awesomeness ... I kinda don't know where to begin.

Wanna grab the single from iTunes? Click here

Wanna watch the vid check out the official Annie Auto web page over yonder!

annnnddddd if you STILL can't get enough, you can check out some of the TNTML EXCLUSIVE behind the scenes action on Ustream below.

Special thanks to @noashaw for making this happen. I love love LOVE YOU!!

#nerdsunite

ps. Don't miss this week on The Big Bang Theory ... Penny plays dress up, and you won't wanna miss it! RAWRRR

Get yer ... get yer ... @AnnieAuto on!

I love this band. For reals, all BS aside ... I was recently introduced to them, and totally fell head over nerdy heels in love with their music.

Check out Nepenthe if you don't believe me. It was directed by @NoaShaw and is just awesome sauce!!

WELLLSSSSSSSS!! They've opened up a new online store! So, if you wanna like brand your boobs with some @annieauto-ness ... now is the time!

Check ... check ... check er out!

Dude, @iamfrench, their lead singer totally hooked me up with the USB band bracelet. And Izzee loveessss it!!

It's good stuff man. I love that it's black too. The one I got at E3 was like BRIGGHHTT green. Totally doesn't match anything that I own. HAHA!!

Either way, also got to hang out in studio with them a little while back, as they're recording some new tracks:

Super talented, and super super super nice peeps. So make sure you show 'em some love!

#nerdsunite

Click here to follow @AnnieAuto & @IamFrench