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So, here’s the deal. I, by nature, am a lazy person. Given the choice between driving 50 miles for $200 and sitting in one place for $5, I will gladly chill with Mr. Lincoln.

Combine that with all of the changes and increased workload here at Burst, and you get an “I didn’t get around to this post last month” salad. So, in deference to you, dear readers, I will be making this post 2x better than the last Music Supervisor’s Cheat Sheet (which, I’ll be honest, I wrote on the crapper).

Onward and upward!

We’re just not that worried about showcasing creative work that we had no part in. There are some fantastic artists, composers and companies doing good work way under the radar these days, and we figure what comes around goes around. Well, we hope, anyway. It’s a karmic thing, I guess… like if karma were less religious and more of a secular ethic of reciprocity. But I digress.

Browsing some of my favorite inspirational feeds and blogs last night I happened across this trailer for OFFF 2007

Wish I’d Thought Of That, (Part 94!)

I will admit that every blue moon Dreighton Pickner sees an inspired idea out there in adland that makes me stop, smack myself on the head and say “Jeez Louise, Ol’ Boy! You shoulda thought of that one!” The NOID from Dominos Pizza? What a fantastic character! (Notice how part of his name is derived from “Annoyed” but they never say so? Genius!) Or how about that campaign for Six Flags with the dancing old man who gets everybody to go ride the teacups?

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled their new mnemonic, hoping to follow in the gilded footsteps of other companies with ubiquitous sonic identities such as Intel (the Pentium signature was composed by Musikvergnuegen), NBC’s chimes (their classic three-note audio signature actually started as a live bell performance on their radio broadcasts), and the slightly-more-annoying-but-still-effective Zoom Zoom for Mazda.

This fall has brought a flurry of activity to the Northern Room camp.

Not only has their music been placed in recent episodes of online serial dramas such as LonelyGirl15 and The Facebook Diaries, they’ve spent the past couple of weekends here in Burst HQ’s Studio A putting the finishing touches on masters for their new CD, Last Embrace Deluxe Edition, and they’re headed to New York City next week for a coveted slot at CMJ 2007.

Northern Room performs October 17 at Arlene’s Groceryin NYC

Borrowing the name from their debut EP, Last Embrace, this new release features all of the songs (6) from that EP as well as the 4 songs that I produced for their Only Seconds EP.

They’re also including 3 bonus live acoustic tracks, a previously unreleased tune from the Nashville sessions for Last Embrace, and a music video for the atmospheric and dynamic title track (see below).

Here’s a full track listing for Last Embrace Deluxe Edition :

1. We’re on Fire
2. Galaxy
3. For All These Years
4. Dutch Radio
5. Stars of God
6. Last Embrace
7. Waiting
8. Let Me Out
9. Everyday
10. This Wreckage

BONUS MATERIAL :

live acoustic

11. Last Embrace
12. A Witness
13. We’re On Fire

previously unreleased

14. Home

PLUS the music video for Last Embrace

Of course you’ll want to grab a copy of their new CD (right?!)…

Good news : It’s included with advanced tickets to their concert at Milwaukee’s Historic Turner Hall. Billed as the “biggest Northern Room show yet,” it promises to be a great time with a few surprises as the evening goes on (including a full gospel choir!).

See Northern Room live at Historic Turner Ballroom on November 2

Advance tickets are a mere $7 ($10 at the door). Seven bucks for a disc chock full of good music and one of the hottest concert tickets in town?! Can’t beat it. Grab yours here.

If you can’t make it to New York for their performance at CMJ on Oct. 17, you will be able to catch a live stream of the show courtesy of Amie Street.

If you can’t make it to Milwaukee for their show on Nov. 2, check out Kramp & Adler’s morning show on 102.1 (or streaming on their website), where Northern Room are the featured guest that morning.

Of course, the entire Northern Room library of music is available here at Burst Labs for select commercial licensing opportunities.

Congrats, guys… it’s fun watching great things happen for great people. You’ve been working your butts off and it shows. All of us at Burst are happy to say “we knew you when.” [dh]

Dove’s new advertisement “Onslaught” launches today… it’s a fantastic bit of advertising with a message I can’t wait to show my daughter. Dove’s agency, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, was showered with well deserved kudos for their previous spot, “Evolution”, and this advert is a worthy followup.

Featuring music from the (now-defunct) band Simian, the energy and attitude of the track provide a tasty counterpoint to the Dove brand as a whole and steers the non-conformist message (much like the atmoshperic and classically influenced drum n bass of the “Evolution” spot).

The song La Breeze, with the lyrics “here comes the breeze that’ll blow you away,” has also been featured in a Peugeot commercial. The musical geneology of Simian can be followed through to their current incarnation, Simian Mobile Disco, formed in the wake of the original band’s breakup.

Grab a copy at Amazon, or listen to the full song featured in the ad here :

I wish all advertising were this well conceived, executed, and backed by such inspirational musical choices. I think Ron Knoth gets it right in his post at Retail Design Diva :

The Dove advertising is unique among controversially based ads, as it actually sells product, enhances the corporate identity and helps to contribute the cultural debate about self-images. Kudos for Dove for knowing who their customers are; for not being afraid to take a stand; for having confidence in their product and the American public. Dove is authentic, honest and relevant. Doves’ advertising is so cleverly covert, in as much as it makes you feel like you’re doing something good for the world by washing your face.

A great job, and cheers to Ogilvy & Mather! [dh]

There’s not much to say, really… just enjoy. [dh]

Jay Smooth over at Illdoctrine.com talks about the real loser in the Kanye West/50 Cent showdown this week (Psst… I’ll give you a hint… it’s not Kanye or 50) :

Unfortunately, Kanye sold 437,000 of “Graduation” on day one, with 50 selling 310,000 of “Curtis.” Looks like the industry might be back hittin’ the pipe by this weekend.

Quick side note - Jay’s video blogs are always entertaining, do yourself a favor and sign up for his RSS feed. [ms]

This feels a bit like Spinal Tap + American Idol + The Office.

I hope the full movie is as good as the trailer - check out Great World Of Sound :

Absolutely perfect bit of music used in marketing (and we’re not even swayed by the fact that the production company, Glass And A Half Full, clearly loves the music of the eighties as much as we do) :

Check out the ridiculously great Cadbury Gorilla here.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, AdFreak! [dh]