Friday, November 27, 2009

Film List for Work

Continuing my quest to work just about every job in every field possible, I recently started working at Bellingham's own holy film mecca "Film is Truth." While I don't know if I'm up to par with the rest of the staff on my classics and all the obscure nooks and crannies of the film world, I think I at least have the chops, willingness and excitement about film to make the cut. Yet, I can't help but feel my employee cork board is going to stick out like a sore thumb, what can I say, I enjoy being entertained. Here's my list.

All Time Favorites:
The Deer Hunter, The French Connection, Taxi Driver, The Evil Dead, Heathers, Aliens, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Shaun of the Dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (78’) and Diner

Favorite 80's Action Trash:
Shogun Assassin, Commando, Bloodsport, Cobra, The Road Warrior, They Live, Big Trouble in Little China, Robocop, Beverly Hills Cop and Repo Man

Favorite "Horror" (in need a more clever, less generic, category title)
Near Dark, Dawn of the Dead ('78), Phantasm, Black Christmas ('74), Freaks, Re-Animator, Sleepaway Camp, Suspiria, Scanners and The Thing

and this one i'm still working on...

Best Film Head Trips:
Altered States, El Topo, Eraserhead, Videodrome, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Tokyo Drifer, Jacobs Ladder, Ravenous

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Song of the Moment: MGMT - Electric Feel / Justice Remix

This is another one of those things I'm about a year late on. But shit this song is fucking catchy.

I never listened to "Oracular Spectacular" solely because the song "Kids" really drove me nuts. I didn't even know it was MGMT who did "Electric Feel" when I first heard it, but upon getting hooked on that track, I found that the rest of the album is actually pretty special and something refreshing I didn't think I'd ever find myself listening to. Shit is funky, Enjoy.



Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Once Upon a Time in Academia....

I used to take film classes and write essays...this
may be the one I had the most fun doing. I was just going through some old papers today and stumbled across it. Excuse spelling and grammar errors, as clearly I didn't save an edited copy.
The Other L.A.: Violence and the 90’s “Hood Films”
Any mention of Los Angeles is sure to conjure up images of one of the following: Hollywood and movie stars, beaches and surfing, or beautiful and shallow people. While these images of L.A. are common of the television and film industry we as mediated citizens have been exposed to for the majority of our lives, they tend to overlook the other side of the city, the side the city would rather keep under wraps.

In the early 1990’s though, the other side of L.A. was being exposed to an unsuspecting public. The 1991 beating of Rodney King by four Los Angeles Police Department officers, and the riots that followed after the verdict in 1992 put L.A.’s African-American and Mexican-American population in the spotlight, and the city would never be the same. In speaking on the riots and their effect on the city author Rita Williams says, “pre-riot Los Angeles, [had a] passive malaise, rather than the active rage and fear that abounds now” (1992).

In 1992 and 1993 filmmakers Edward James Olmos and The Hughes Brothers (Albert and Allen Hughes) presented this unseen side of L.A. that was coming more into the public eye, with their films American Me and Menace II Society. While dealing with different ethnic groups, both of the films dealt with the same issues of class, borders, gang life and violent upbringing in East and South Central L.A. While both films were criticized for being extremely graphic and violent, there is meaning at the heart of it all. While the films are in fact graphic in nature and sometimes seem to be furthering negative racial stereotypes, their messages are similar ones that very much speak against it, and aim to educate rather than aggravate.

“I don’t want to talk about it [the possibility that their film might provoke violence.] What about the White kids coming out with baseball bats after Lethal Weapon?...You don’t hear about that. But anytime that violence happens, everybody goes and pushes it off on some rap song or some movie.
-Albert Hughes

“I want to show that there’s a cancer in this subculture of gangs…They’ll say, ‘You’ve taken away our manhood with this movie.’ I say to them, ‘Either you treat the cancer or it’ll eat you alive.”
-Edward James Olmos

It’s clear that inciting violence wasn’t the point of both Olmos’ and the Hughes Brother’s film. Both films aim to educate their viewers about the growing problems of gangs and violence that are prevalent in both the barrio and the “hood” in the early 1990’s (problems that were accentuated by the Rodney King riots), and to expose the roots of the problems in hopes of bringing more attention to them and making them better. Each film follows the same specific cycle of violence, birth, violence, death and birth again, to show this vicious cycle as it rips through generations and keeps on perpetuating. Massood says that these spaces are becoming a bigger and bigger problem,

“That these “other” spaces are becoming increasing hard to contain can be seen in the production of hood films, and, much to the L.A. boosters disdain, in the images of Rodney King’s beating and the footage from the rebellion following the verdicts” (Massood, 1996).

Considering that, I seems that the purpose of Edward James Olmos and The Hughes Brothers hood films is to stop this violence before it becomes an even bigger perpetuating force. I believe it is important to note that both Edward James Olmos and The Hughes Brothers were acting outside of the glamour’s of Hollywood in making their films (both films being their directorial debuts), almost making a stronger point in saying that these films and their messages are from the heart of these people who have experienced the same things.

Menace II Society has a very similar story to American Me. Caine (Tyrin Turner) growing up in Watts has seen crime all of his life, and his family (his mother was a heroine addict, his father a dealer) is what led to his gang life. Much like American Me, Caine finds family elsewhere, in the form of gang life with his group of friends. The beginning scene in which Caine bares witness to his friend Kevin’s “O-Dog” brutal killing of two convenience store clerks immediately sets the tone of the film. As a series of increasingly violent events unfold in Caines life, he begins to question the gang life because of the allure of Ronnie (Jada Pinkett Smith), while at the same time becoming more and more involved.

First and foremost a big example of how both of these films violence does not promote further violence is because neither of them ever go out of their way to glorify it. In both American Me and Menace II Society we see the main characters begin to question the choices they have made in their lives, but realize it is too late, when they reach their own violent deaths at the hands of those they have acted out on.
Much like Olmos mentioned in the earlier quote and at the end of the film when he says the film is based on true events, the Hughes brothers set out to capture the “real” situation in the hood after being outraged by the Hollywoodized approach of John Singleton’s melodramatic Boyz N the Hood, which was complete with happy sentimental ending (Massood, 1996).

While ending with the deaths of main characters, (Caine being shot to death by a man he previous had an altercation with, and Santana by members of his own gang) both films seem to both drive homes the point of the problems of mimetic violence in youth and in these areas of L.A.

In mentioning the mimetic violence by youth in the films, the question of where the violence came from in the first place is arises as well. Both films offer similar answers to this in a few ways.
Both films deal with history as a reason for the way things are in the barrio and hood today. In Menace II Society the root of the violence is based on the 1965-Watts Riots, which are shown during the films credits through grainy archive footage. This footage serves a specific point.

“This footage works both to signify and map out the specific boundaries of the hood. This technique, in combination with the use of titles to designate two different times and places, also defines the spatio-temporal parameter of the films discourse and gives a historical background to the area” (Massood, 1996).

In showing these different times and places, The Hughes Brothers aimed to show where the violence came from in the first place. The grainy footage is black and white, which itself accentuates a conflict. Over the footage, which is of cops brutally beating African Americans, fires being set, and general chaos erupting, is the scratchy sound of radio chatter, and all that can be heard is the word “negro” being repeated with a variety of variations, including “rampaging negro.”

This scene is followed by Caine saying “when the riots stopped, the drugs started,” clearly stating the relation of the riots to the drug problems that arose afterwards. We next see his parents deeply involved in the drug culture of the time, and Caine admits that the reason he is violent is because of his parents, which are a product of the original violence against them. Also in this scene is a scene with Caine running into his later mentor and father figure, Pernell, who shows a toddler Caine, his first gun and give him his first pull of liquor. Once again as if he parents were enough of a reason for his later gang life, so were his substitute parents he sought after his biological ones pretty much abandoned him. When the movie switches to 1993 Watts, the city is shown from the same high looking down angle as the grainy archive footage of the 1965 riots seen in the credits. The city looks eerily similar, and I believe this was the Hughes Brothers point, to show that nothing has changed.

In American Me Santana’s violence is a product of the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943. “While, Santana is the product of individual violence, he is also the product of cultural violence and a mimetic clash of sorts” (Canfield, 1994). The violence of the riots is framed around scenes of Santana in prison, purposely to show the reason for Santana being there in the first place.

Both of these instances are designed to show the viewers that this part of L.A. has always been there, and to show the problems roots, and that they never went away after their initial conflicts.

Next dealing specifically with the perpetuation of violence in youth, and family in general, both films have very similar instances in which small children are introduced to violence, and its perpetuation is almost inevitable.

In Menace II Society, the scene was already mentioned in where Caine was shown a gun and given alcohol at a very young age. This set forth the series of events, which would lead him to gang life. Immediately following this scene Caine runs into Anthony, the small child of Pernell (who first showed Caine the gun) and Ronni, who turns out to be Caine’s love interest. This beginning scene with Anthony foreshadows Caine’s violent death at the end of the film.

Caine’s death is prefaced by his grandparents kicking him out of the house; this is weeks before he is supposed to be moving to Atlanta, leaving the gang life behind and starting over with Ronni and Anthony. Once again blaming parents, adults and guardians for violence that usually results from their neglect. Caine goes to Ronni’s, and begins to pack up a mini-van (a symbol of family and children), the whole scene is shot from a low angle, even as Caine moves closer to the camera his ankles are only shown, keeping the camera at child size level, a level which soon enough Anthony enters into on his tricycle.

As Anthony rides away after briefly talking with Caine, he makes “v-room” sound similar to that of a peeling out car, all the while the vehicle about to commit a drive by on Caine and his friend wheels around the corner. As the men open fire on Caine and his friend, Caine while being shot runs to shield Anthony from the bullets. As the car speeds away, the tricycle is seen flying, Anthony-less, off the screen and the big wheel is left spinning. The scene plays out almost as if Anthony is driving his big wheel along the same path as the drive by shooters, therefore emulating them.

The perpetuation of this violence is shown further in the final moments in which a montage unfolds of everything that has lead to this point. In this montage the scene of Caine being handed his gun by Pernell (who is in prison for life), is shown next to a scene of Caine (who is now dead) showing Anthony how to hold a gun. Next to each other the scenes show that violence is continuing through the youth, and it needs to be stopped. The movie is concluded with this rather poignant, tragic quote by Caine:

“I guess in the end it all catches up with you. My grandpa asked me one time if I care whether I live or die. Yeah, I do. Now it's too late.” The message is pretty clear, your past catches up with you, and if you value life, don’t influence future generations of this type of violence.

In American Me the final shot scene are very similar, all involving family, children and death. As children, JD and Santana say, “when we were kids, belonging felt good, but having respect is even better.” Santana is also around children a lot in this beginning scene sort of acting like a big brother to them, because presumably, if all we have learned so far is right, they don’t have a parental role model to look after them. This later of course like Caine said, catches up with them all, and there in lies the ultimate lesson.

The whole last section of the film is scene next to scene of Santana looking at pictures of his parents, Julie looking at pictures of her parents, Santana’s father looking at his other son Paulito, and Paulito talking with kids younger them himself. Also in this scene Little Puppet is shown taking his brother home from prison.

Little Puppet is killed by his brother, who right before, tells him his wife is pregnant, presumably instantly screwing up that child’s life because he won’t have a father. Also in this scene Paulito is shown initiating a much younger kid into la primera, proclaiming “La primera lives essay, lives through us, gives to us, its all we’ve ever had.” Santana’s father looks on at all of this, while a close up shot of his hand shows his identical la primera tattoo which he is trying to cover up, we also see Julie doing this as well, covering hers up with make up after she talks with her child. After Paulito finishes giving the child a tattoo, he takes him on a drive by random shooting initiation, shooting at a crowd of what other then mostly children.

The fact that both scenes include children juxtaposed with the images of death furthers the filmmaker’s points of advocacy and emphasizes the loss of youth and family that results from involvement in violent gang life.

As Canfield states “These pistolas in these manos are essentially the same as those in 1943” (1994). This statement can work for the views of both films, the pistols or violence of the Zoot Suit and Watts Riots in L.A. were passed to the hands of the children of that violence, and once again passed down to the children of them. In both American Me and Menace II Society, the filmmakers urge to show the effects of gang life, rather then show them shamelessly and exploiting them. Both filmmakers used the backdrop and media hype and public outrage surrounding the Rodney King verdict to accentuate the problems in their “hoods,” and to bring to the attention of the youth in these hoods and in the general public that something needs to be done to stop it.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Song of the Moment: Titus Andronicus-Titus Andronicus



Total Pitchfork band, but fuck it, I'm digging the hell out of this album a whole year or 2 late.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Pros:
- Red Lasers / Blue Lasers
- Underground Desert Bases / Underwater Arctic Bases / Hoth-like Snow Bases
- Nano-mites
- Snake Eyes / Storm Shadow
- Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow
- Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow
- Sienna Miller's body
- BSG-esq high scale submarine battles
- Paris street chase is one of the most entertaining action sequences I've seen in a while. The jump suits I was skeptical of from the trailer are actually pretty damn sweet.
- Scarlett's heat seeking crossbow
- Cobra Foot Soldiers
- "Lost" cast-member count: 2 — Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje aka Mr. Eko (Heavy Duty) and Saïd Taghmaoui aka Caesar (Breaker).
- The movies second half is nearly entirely action packed, pure cartoon / comicy Joe fun. The revealing of Cobra Commander and Destro is prue diabolic comic pulpy goodness. In fact all the main Cobra villains are completely awesome (Zartan!) The action is tight and fun, Storm Shadow and Snake Eye's final battle is very reminiscent of "Phantom Menace's" final Darth Maul light saber duel. Maybe that's because the incredible Ray Park is behind both Maul and Snakes Eyes.
- Every single scene with Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow

Cons:
- Perpetually constipated Dennis Quiad. Will someone seriously feed this man some dairy products? Constipation Level: Somewhere between "Vantage Point" and "The Day After Tomorrow."
- Marlon Wayans
- Every line that comes out of Scarlett's mouth
- The first half of the movie. Up until the Paris chase the movie is too caught up in establishing its story and characters (none of which, with a movie like this, do we really give a flying fuck about.)
- Sienna Miller's acting
- The Duke / Baroness love story. Once again with a movie like this, completely unnecessary. Give me more action. The only people it's going to please is the girls whose boyfriends dragged them to the movie. And the flimsy half-assery of the "love story" probably won't even be enough to keep them satisfied.
- Terrible one-liners that are beyond awesomely-bad and just straight bad. All of the Joe's in-fact are incredibly cheesy and can be a bit annoying. Don't really make me want to root for um much.
- Why must Cobra Commander bypass a Norton Virus Scan before uploading the Nano-mite info?
- Cookie cutter nuke high-jacking evil doer plot line.
- At times fairly shoddy special-fx.

All that said, the momentum of the second half of the movie, which leads it towards an obvious sequel, is very promising. If the filmmakers realize that they are making an action movie first and foremost, they can succeed in pleasing their audience next time around and silence the folks that were on the fence with this one. They would probably strike gold if they made a film entirely based around the life of "brothers" Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes, their parts in the film are truly the most action packed and strongest acted. Without them, the movie would get a much lower score from me.

Pure summer popcorn action: B-

And just for good measure, my favorite viral video from 9th Grade:

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Christmas in August: Black Christmas (1974) v. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

Two Christmas themed horror films, oddly enough both featuring killers named "Billy." One is an under appreciated genre definer and the other is just a steaming piling of somewhat hilarious cheese.

Black Christmas (1974)
A sorority house set horror film directed by Bob "Porky's" Clark? The first thing that probably comes to mind is boobs and dick and fart jokes. What you get instead is an incredibly mature, completely eerie and unsettling, highly influential genre film. Released a whole 4 years before John Carpenter and "Halloween" changed the horror genre forever, Clark firmly planted roots with "Black Christmas."

Set near Christmas when school is getting out for winter break, the girls of the house are celebrating the holidays and the pending break from school. Amongst their partying they get a phone call from someone they refer to as "The Moaner," an apparently frequent prank caller to the house. "The Moaner's" prank calls are sexually harassing in nature and are all around incredibly obnoxious. While some of the girls laugh it off, others feel fairly uncomfortable about it all. The next morning when one of the girls fathers shows up to pick her up, and she is no where in site, everyone starts to panic. Little do they know she's in the attic, asphyxiated with a plastic bag, and being lulled away in a rocking chair by "The Moaner" aka "Billy." Red haring situations, mystery and more deaths ensue.

The film begins with a P.O.V. shot of "Billy" waltzing up to a sorority house and climbing a trellis into the attic. Its a shot that later would become synonymous with slasher films, and that really became a staple when we first glanced through the eyes of a young Micheal Meyers when he kills his sister at the beginning of "Halloween." Where Clark and Carpenter's films differ though is that in Clark's, the killer is never seen. You see through his eyes, you see his deeds, you hear his heavy breathing, but you never actually see who he is. The effect is incredibly uncomfortable and unnerving. Where as Michael Meyers, yes is eerie, I find him less creepy when I see him standing there in his William Shatner mask.

A relatively bloodless affair, "Black Christmas" relies mostly on atmosphere and sound to really grab hold of your senses. The continuous shots of of Clare in the rocking chair, with a crazed rambling Billy are truly the worst. Relying only on diagetic sound, Clark really creates a haunted house feeling amongst the creaking halls and crannies of the sorority house. The phone calls that girls receive are a main irking point of the movie as well. They turn into a series of animalistc, satanic sounding babble, that leaves you baffled and fearing the unknown of what is on the other side of the phone line. By the end of it you really can't tell if "Billy" is some demonic force, or an incredibly fucked up rejected frat boy.

"Black Christmas" has easily weaseled its way into my horror favorites. It's another Canadian dish, which after this and "My Bloody Valentine" makes me more interested in their horror films at the time.



Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Billy's sees his family brutally murdered by a man dressed up as Santa on Christmas Eve as a child. Billy ends up in a orphanage, and becomes haunted and deranged every year around Christmas. As a young man Billy gets a job at a dept. store for the holidays...the stores Santa gets sick...guess who gets to sit in as the replacement? Billy snaps.

Heralded as "One of the most controversial films of the 1980's" "Silent Night, Deadly Night" is nothing but a bunch of mediocre b-movie hub-bub. Relying mostly on blood and guts for shock, the deranged, horribly acted Billy takes away from any sort of scares this movie would have. Sort of a fun flick, but nothing special. It did spawn a sequel though, which is responsible for this incredible meme.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Last week in film...

Friday the 13th: Part III (1982)
So much can be said about this bloated monotonous 80's slasher franchise, but when it boils down to it they are all still pretty damn entertaining to me. Part III in particular though is one watch for two very awesome reasons: A) Its the first film in which Jason dawns his iconic hockey mask and B) It was recently released for the first time in its original 3-D format. Apparently giving Jason the hockey mask was a joke by the Canadian film crew to honor their homelands national past time, who knew it would stick and become such a classic image. The films 3-D points are for the most part laughable, but are entertaining none the less, i.e. a 3-D joint being passed out of the screen, juggling, playing with a yo-yo...a harpoon through the eye, Jason's outstretched arms and a pic axe attack. Part III isn't without some mega-cheese though, although to me its all so endearing rather than annoying (see film score below and the "biker gang.")

Friday the 13th: Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984)
Continuing the Friday the 13th binge comes Part IV aka "The [First] Final Chapter." Intended to be the last in the series, Part IV features none other than Corey Feldman, and Crispin Glover (aka George McFly.) This is where the films clearly start getting more focused on just the killing rather than having any sort of coherent story. Not that any of the other films were Grade A tales, but this one really just doesn't give a shit. Two high points in this one though A) George McFly's crazy ass dancing (see below) and B) Corey Feldman's horrific make-up when he decides to shave his head and look like Jason before taking a machete to him supposedly killing him once and for all. Was said to be the final chapter in the series...because well Jason is fucking chopped up...but turned out New Line realized the franchise was too much of a cash cow. Jason returned a year later for Part V and all other subsequent entries as a, for lack of a better word, zombie...


My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Having only seen the, actually sort of awesome, 3-D remake of this movie, I didn't know what to expect. The legend of the original cut of this film is well...legendary. Apparently the MPAA was having a huge crack down on violent films around this time and made Canadian director George Mihalka cut all the good juicy bits from this movie to get an "R" rating (Friday the 13th Part II is another film heavily affected by this). With the film seeing a highly edited release, it saw mixed reviews during its original run, but became quite the cult classic over the years (the irish band My Bloody Valentine is named after the damn film!) Not until the remakes release did the original cut of My Bloody Valentine (and around the same time the original cut of Friday the 13th Part II) see the light of day for the first time, this uncut version is what I had the pleasure of watching, and i'll be damned if it isn't one of the best slasher flicks of that early era. Hokey yes, but Harry Warden is one bad ass, pissed off coal miner, who fucking detest Valentines Day. The shit he pulls in this movie is stuff Jason, Freddy and Michael Meyers combined wouldn't try to pull. We get: an old woman pick axed and burnt to a bloody crisp in a dryer, nail gun to the dome, a shower head through the throat, a drowning in a boiling pot of hot dogs, decapitations, pick axings and Kano heart grabs galore. I'm almost certain if the movie wasn't so heavily edited at the time, Harry Warden would be as much of a house hold name as Freddy and Jason. Although once again not a golden piece of cinema the film is better crafted than any of it's American slasher movie counter parts by a long shot, and even has some sort of "mystery and suspense" to it.


Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994)
Gigantic piece of crap. The second one was no where near as classic as the first, but at least it had Reggie toting a 4-barrel shotgun! This one doesn't have anything remotely redeeming or B-Movie entertaining about it...its just plain bad.

Coming up this week: Friday the 13th Parts V / VI and Black Christmas (1974)

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Blood Sucking Freaks

Something recently has clicked with the world of entertainment...vampires are cool again. Some keen writer recently rediscovered that the struggle vampires face in trying to find true love in life (without eating and butchering everyone that come in contact with) is a pretty complex and timeless one. The best part is they discovered that they can market it to just about anybody! They can sell the romance and moral dilemma of temptation tweens...and middle aged women(Twilight, ) and sell the sex and blood to adults (True Blood). Needless to say some of this shit is pretty cool, and while vampires have not always been my cup of tea, here is some of my favorites of the genre from past to present.

The Lost Boys (1987)
My cousin from Arizona was visiting when I was maybe six. We went to the video store and this is what he rented and subsequently made me watch with him. Pretty much I shit myself. At the time Keifer, the Corey's and that guy from "Speed 2: Cruise Control" eating maggots scared the living poop out of me. Watching it now it's hilarious 80's cheese. And looking back on it, its probably one of the films that is single handily responsible for getting me into schlocky horror and horror in general. These are some glamorized vamps, but shit it's a fun flick. That said though I think i still have nightmares about the dude on the boardwalk playing psuedo-new wave/ glam-jazz shirtless with a alto-saxophone. See below...more terrifying then vampires could ever be.


Fright Night (1985)
This film was one that was actually supposed to be comical, and once again probably single handily contributed to my obsession.


Near Dark (1987)
A vampire movie in which, they never utter the word. I wouldn't say its high brow, but its a "serious" movie about vampires, with a more shall i say "scientific" solution...staring most of the cast of "Aliens." God damn I love 80's Bill Paxton.


From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
I think a lot of people wrote this one off as a big pile of shit upon its release. But Tarantino and Rodriguez were so far ahead of this Grindhouse film revitalization well before they actually made "Grindhouse." Amazing cast, great FX, awesome over the top action, and it never takes itself seriously. Damn fun movie.


The New Shit:
True Blood
I'm only four episodes into this show and I'm oddly intrigued. Its full of pulpy goodness, once again never takes itself too seriously, and likes to really fucking gross out and appall its audience in a way only HBO could pull off. Psychic Bar Maid Sookie Stackhouse finds love in "Vampire Bill" her very first vampire patron, in a world where everyone knows of, and mostly discriminates against vampires. Apparently vampires are fucking horny, cause this show is full of the most ridiculous sex scenes and just straight up absolutely bizarre shit i've seen on television. But like I said i'm oddly intrigued, and its from Alan Ball, writer of American Beauty and creator/writer of Six Feet Under. Shits getting good. True Blood vocab word of the day: Fangbanger - a woman who likes to have sex with vampires. Enough said.

Thirst (2009)
Park Chan-wook follows up his revenge trilogy (Lady Vengeance, Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) with a film about a priest turned blood sucker. The trailer is what inspired me to write this blog. The Chan-Wook has an eye for visuals and violence, and doing so in the most intriguing, non-offensive way possible. I'm excited for this film quite a bit.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Favorite Movies of All Time: Phantasm (1979)

Dir. : Don Coscarelli
Starring: Reggie Bannister, Angus Scrimm

This is one of those movies that you have seen the cover of a million times but have never had any urge to actually grab it off the shelf. Not until my later years have I started actually picking up these familiar titles whose covers are ingrained in my head from the video stores of my youth.

My favorite genre of these lost video store memories is of course the horror genre. I don't know how many times over the years I've passed by movies like "Scanners," "Them!," "Night of the Creeps," and "Sleepaway Camp," only to find out now that all these movies are all absolutely glorious cult classic genre flicks. My favorite lost gem of them all though has got to be Don Coscarelli's astoundingly bizzare and creepy "Phantasm."

When Micheal's family dies, he finds out that his family...and all others taken to the local mortuary might not actually be being buried...rather their bodies are being used for other deeds...With the help of his older brother and the friendly local Ice Cream Man, Reggie, the three pair up to get to the bottom of what is just about the most bizarre plot you could imagine. Instead of being laid to rest Michael's family and all others taken to the mortuary are being compressed into Jawa-like hooded creatures by the mysterious "Tall Man," who then uses our dead as eternal slaves on his home world.

The most iconic image you may have seen before from this movie is "the ball," a human seeking metallic sphere deployed by the tall man that hunts down human prey, extends spikes and if it catches you, brutally drills into your brain and spews your grey matter out the other side. Sound awesome? Yes it is.

My favorite part about "Phantasm" is that much like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" one of its strongest suits is its excellent and artistic cinematography and soundtrack. While "TCM" lended itself to gritty art house like cinema, "Phantasm" exudes with abstract, disorienting sequences ala Dario Argento and all of Italian horror cinema. It's refreshing that Coscarelli put such work into this, it makes the film stand out amongst others of the genre at the time.

Although the plot may sound completely ridiculous, this is a movie I can watch over and over and still be completely sucked in and not be turned off by its absurdity. Its characters are great and completely memorable (i'll dare say The Thin Man and Reggie are two of the best horror characters ever) and while some of it is laughable, it delivers some seriously unsettling and jump worth sequences. See also the 3 sequels...which get worse as they go along but are still by all means watchable and enjoyable.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Terminator Salvation

Cons
A) Why does John Connor sound a lot like Batman?
B) Why is John Connor so fucking flabbergasted by a Terminator with human skin and characteristics? Didn't one just like it visit him twice in his teenage years?
C) I'm so glad Sony Corp and Oakley survived Judgment Day...and could keep it together long enough to sponsor the Resistance...
D) If mankind was single handily destroyed by technology becoming self aware...why in the hell would the resistance use high tech gadgetry to try and destroy it? I always pictured the Resistance as some down and out "Road Warrior" type bad asses who used the scraps of the post-apocalyptic world to defeat the machines. Not a bunch of way too attractive, gadget carrying super heroes. They're supposed to be the damn helpless underdogs.
E) Acting and screenplay is completely void of any emotion or urgency.
F) Seemingly complete lack of care about original films

Pros

A) All cons are eliminated by the awesomeness that accompanies amazing freaking FX, entertaining as hell action, and robot warfare.

/rant

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Guilty Pleasure: "Veronica Mars" (2004 - 2007)

Guilty pleasures, we all have them...time to air some grievances:

I'll admit it. I spent the entire summer of 2006 catching up on every episode of the CW / UPN, teen noir / detective / awesome drama "Veronica Mars." As far as dramatic teen television goes, I'm not ashamed to contend that this gem was a head above the rest of the crop.

While others fixated on "The O.C." or "Friday Night Lights," for their secret soapish teen drama fix, I myself found fairly latched to this particular brand, solely for it's total dedication to being so damn nerdy, yet incredibly smart, with well written, witty as hell dialogue and solid fuckin addicting story lines.

The show could be basically summed up as a sexed up, t.v. version of Rian Johnson's Brick. The show is completely rooted in detective noir and long winded mystery. The first two seasons of the show followed one overarching mystery that lasted over the entire season. Teen sleuth Veronica Mars (the smoking fucking hot Kristen Bell) navigates through high school bullshit to solve these mysteries (the death of her best friend, her rape, and the death of a school bus load of her classmates) in a episodic narrative page turning fashion akin to shows like "Lost" and "Twin Peaks." Bell's sassy and sci-fi savy (she says "frak" a lot and makes a ton of BSG references...hot) detective is brainy, witty, and for once an intelligent, female protagonist; something that's usually hard to find with shows aimed at this demographic. It's fairly refreshing to watch.

Yet apparently the demographic looking for that sort of refreshing change in formulaic teen TV doesn't exist. UPN forced creator Rob Thomas to dumb down the shows mysteries for the third season. The result was mostly single contained, mystery of the week type episodes, rather than one awesome, long and engaging season long mystery. The show started airing sporadically, and was of course canceled before they could get a full third season in.

I highly recommend blazing through the first two seasons of this show if your looking for a good addicting TV fix. Let the heckling begin, I'm sure I'll address more embarrassing shit I enjoy in future blog entries.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Favorite Albums of All Time : The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone (2002)

Favorite Song: Wake Up

Favorite Lyric:
"They're winning, I know it's not fair, but what is? I'm giving up hope. I've stood in line so many times. How could I do it all again?"

Why?: The Walkmen are a band that strike a chord with me unlike any other. Hell, the title of my blog is the title of one of their songs. The songs on their debut "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone" are without a doubt the band at their most simplistic and stripped down, and that is what I love about it the most. I feel as if each of their albums suit me for different mood, albeit they are always ho-hum sort of depressed moods at vary levels. The Walkmen's songs exude sort of an honest pessimistic optimism (if that makes any sense) that can just make everything in life seem alright, as self destructive as that sounds. It's an approach, that for me at least, is one of the most honest, down to earth and real things I've heard a band do in the past 10 years or so, it's unmatched. They tell life how it is, no bullshit, in the most poetically, disturbingly accurate way I can imagine. All this talk of the songwriting though isn't meant to overshadow the incredible beautiful music that accompanies it all. It's simple, sparse, haunting, and really does transport you back about 60 years, back to a time that seems a lot simpler and real. Hamilton Leithauser's voice is chalked full of drunken swagger and slurring, and it's perfect for stories he's telling; their ones you can see yourself sitting around drunk rambling on about with good buddies, songs about love, boredom, reality, and the confusion and frustrations of life. Everything down to this albums title is damn near perfect and relevant to me, it really is my favorite album of the 2000's by a long shot.

I really enjoy this snippet from Daytrotter.com about the band, they can describe what I'm trying to say here a whole hell of a lot better. Later on in the article they go on to compare the band to Leonard Cohen, which I have to completely and whole heartily agree with.

The Walkmen walk and shuffle and juke, their music a corpus of deft reflections of man through the centuries - the dotted line that has met us here from somewhere far off in the distance, only to connect with a new, side-winding or nascent other dotted line on the other side of here. They follow, in both tune and lyric, the never-ending travels of man - no one in particular and no one of any significant importance - just man as he stumbles about out the doors every waking day and finds mischief, confusion, romance, fogginess, temptation and potential enlightenment brewing like a stew before his nose. They seem to subscribe to the idea that you learn something new every day while there are holdovers in the procession of inference and critical processing, of actually digesting those valuable lessons that come with difficulty.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Moon (2009)

Sci-fi flicks these days are all about big budget action and special effects. What happened to the heady curiosity filmmakers used to have when approaching the topic of space? The only recent example of a half decent sci-fi film was Danny Boyle's "Sunshine," which despite it's flaws was a valiant attempt at hearkening back to days of old. Thoughts of Kurbick's "2001," Tarkovsky's "Solaris," and even Cameron's "Alien(s)" came to mind, while watching it, and it was quite refreshing.

Now along comes "Moon," directed by newcomer Duncan Jones (son of David Bowie ?!) and staring THE man, Sam Rockwell. Looks a bit like "2001" (I guess only because of the HAL-esque talking computer companion), yet fresh and trippy. My guess is that it'll be too much for the average theater goers brains to handle so it will only see a very limited release, I hope more projects like this are in the works.


Friday, April 24, 2009

Favorite Albums of All Time: Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die (1994)

Favorite Song: "Gimme the Loot"

Favorite Lyric: "If I wasn't in the rap game, I'd probably have a key knee deep in the crack game. Because the streets is a short stop, either your slingin crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot."

Why? I don't listen to much rap these days, its such a bloated over saturated market of people trying to imitate the genre's for fathers, but in doing so never paying any homage or respect, and rather are just jerkin themselves off as the next latest and greatest. The thing about Notorious BIG that I've always respected is that you actually believe him, his songs are honest, humble, and a true portrait of rags to riches success. BIG isn't some rapper who claims he was from the ghetto and actually grew up in the suburbs, he lived a tough life, and he's one of the few rappers who could actually convey this without sounding like a total tool. That said the songs on "Ready to Die" are about a lot of the same things other rappers of the era were singing about: big booty hoes, smoking grass, violence and drug dealing, stuff that when coming out of most others mouths can come across misogynistic, asinine and just plain laughable. BIG actually had a sense of humor about these things and his songs are more of a celebration of life. He was just a happy dude who was thrilled he didn't have to sell drugs to feed his daughter anymore. I still love the look on peoples faces when I can out of no where recite word for word "Gimme the Loot" and "Juicy," fairly priceless. See also Nas-Illmatic, one of the only other 90's Rap Albums I can call a favorite.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Favorite Albums of All Time: Misfits - Walk Among Us (1982)

Favorite Song: They're all good

Favorite Lyric: "Brains for dinner, Brains for lunch, Brains for breakfast, Brains for brunch, Brains at every single meal, Why cant we have some guts, HEY HEY HEY"

Why?: Maybe its because i've listened to this album a good 20 times in my car over the last few days (it only clocks in at around 25 mins), but every song on this album is golden. Every single song is a sing along anthem, and about the best things you could ask for: zombies, murder, brains, martians, murder, satan...you know, cool shit like that. Few albums get me as amped up as "Walk Among Us," Danzig's voice has the uncanny ability to make me shout at every utterance of the word "oi" or "hey" and pound my fist on anything with in site (frequently the steering wheel). The album itself is a perfect exercise in punk, short sweet and too the fucking point with no bullshit, and when it's over you don't know what hit you, but you have a bloodlust for more. The bands taste for theatrics and schlocky horror and sci-fi are what got me into them the first place, their have been many imitators of the "horror punk" genre but no one will ever be able to touch the success of their style, and dedication to the craft of it, with a ten foot pole.

Favorite Albums of All Time : Leonard Cohen - Songs From a Room (1969)


Favorite Song: "The Old Revolution" and "Story of Issac"
Favorite Lyric: "Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows"
Why?: Leonard Cohen is a fucking poet. Songwriters are songwriters, but Leonard Cohen is actually truly, first and foremost, a poet, with the aid of simple, apt, and appropriate musical accompaniment. Amongst Cohen's discography, "Songs from a Room" is the one that stands out to me the most. It's such a musically simple album, but the stories its songs tell are some of the most heartbreaking, hopeful and honest, ones about the human condition I have ever came across. Good album for late night pondering.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

My Record Store Day Bounty

Well not really a bounty, I only got one thing, but its pretty damn sweet.
"Psychopathy Red" is Slayer's first new track since 2006's "Christ Illusion" and it came to me in the form of this ridiculously packaged "blood red" 7" available for the first time today. More info on the packaging:
The blood-red vinyl "Psychopathy Red" 7-inch collectors item will be packaged in a special Russian crime scene "evidence envelope," as the song was inspired by the heinous Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, aka the Rostov Ripper, who confessed to brutally murdering 56 children

Yeah...anyways...go find it, only 5,000 copies out there.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Several Things...

These guys are coming to the Nightlight.

Holy Fuck - Super Inuit



So is this guy:

Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate)


And this is my song of the day:

Judas Priest- Take on the World


And hell I just bought this Priest album on vinyl, and the guitar rift in this song is stuck in my head. Double dose of Priest and song of the day.

Judas Priest - The Helion / Electric Eye

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Song of the Day - Portishead- Deep Water

Ignore the weird video...which is actually kind of awesome and fitting. Pretty great song from the classic "Third," which I've concluded, per today, is a great album for a sunny day.



Mainly I just love and am relating to the poetic lyrics:

I'm drifting in deep waters
Alone with my self doubting again
I try not to struggle this time
For I will weather the storm
I Gotta remember
Don't fight it
Even if I
Don't like it
Somehow turn me around
No matter how far I drift
Deep waters won't scare me tonight

Friday, April 3, 2009

Song of the Night (Day)- Converge-Plagues

Talking with Cleanthous and Dave the other night about Converge has got me on a massive kick. This shit grooves. I also had a weird epiphany about the similarity between hardcore music and hip hop...odd. Any who this is what was standing out to me on my stagger home.



Here's another little video they just posted on their site, which features above song, along with and interview with bassist Nate Newton, as well as a snippet of the rad new song.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The Only Movie Starring Steve Guttenberg You'll Ever Enjoy: Diner (1982)

Other than Steve Guttenberg (of Police Academy, 3 Men and A Little Baby fame) Barry Levinson's first entry in his Baltimore films also features the likes of Tim Daly (one of the brothers from "Wings"), Daniel Stern (the not Joe Pesci home invader in "Home Alone"), Paul Reiser ( Annoying as shit Carter from "Aliens" and the god awful "Mad About You," and all around annoying as shit comedian), Kevin Bacon (mofo's in everything), Mickey Rourke (recently resurrected in "The Wrestler") and Ellen Barkin (the cougar in Oceans 13). With their post "Diner" filmography looking like a big steaming pile of shit, who would of thought this ensemble cast could provide such great performances in such a great little film.

The flick surrounds a group of mid 20 somethings who are making their way through post college life during the end of the 50's. The close knit group of friends is lost amongst the bustle of finding love, getting married, sticking together and all around trying to figure out what to do with their lives, with the only thing staying constant is their frequent late night bullshitting sessions at the local diner. The film, much like many other films of its nature ("Dazed and Confused," "American Graffiti") doesn't really follow a strict narrative, rather just unfolds in front of you as if your watching the guys live their daily lives and the confusion and shenanigans that follow.

I think flicks like this transcend any time barriers, it doesn't matter when it was made it's message is something that people from all walks of life can relate to, regardless the era. Life is what it is, and films like this highlight the nuances of everyday life, the hilarity and hardships in the most basic things, and above all the importance of friendship in getting through it all. It was kind of great to watch this movie after watching "I Love You, Man" just a few hours prior (which was also fucking great), they rarely make great movies highlighting the importance of friendship and brotherhood like these do and its a damn shame, because its such an important reality of life. To often movies attempt to do this and get caught up in macho bullshit and objectification of women, which is no where near what this kind of friendship is all about.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Sounders FC Inaugural Game

Words can't describe it. It was just plain nuts. I will go as far as saying it was better then going to 95' M's Playoff Games in the Kingdome or Sonics Playoff Games in 96'. This is an entire new era of incredible Seattle sports, and I'm proud as hell to be a part of it. Click here for a little taste of our night (not all the photos are uploaded yet) Can't wait till next Saturday.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Song of the Day- KISS- Love Gun

The movie "Role Models" has sparked me on a gnarly KISS bender, and that is not a bad thing by any means. If anyone wants to get me a KISS Pinball machine for my birthday, I'd be much obliged.

"You see, the gun is his dick"

"I didn't know Jewish guys could sing like that."
"They can't, it's only when they put the make up on"

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Song of the Day: Judas Priest- Hell Patrol

I feel like a fool for ignoring Judas Priest all these years after hearing 1990's "Painkiller" for the first time. I've really just never been a fan of Priest, and have always fallen heavily on the Maiden side of Maiden vs. Priest debacle. But in all honesty, Maiden never did anything this badass. "Painkiller" is an album that just straight up shreds, it's pretty much a thrash record, which kind of blew my mind. Nearly every track on the album is pure gold, but I chose "Hell Patrol" as just a small sample of this glorious piece of art, enjoy.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Record Purchases for the Week

You can't leave me alone on a Monday in this town. The restaurant is closed, so I always find myself wandering around town, maybe going to the gym, drinking beer, and more than likely coming home with a few new records under my arm.

I'm a huge fan of the music of old, don't get me wrong I'm all up on today's tunes, but most days you will find me listening to the shit your parents listened to. That said my purchases for this week are two classics of 1966.

Buffalo Springfield - s/t (1966)
Nearly every track on this album is a pure gold. Kicking off with the 'Nam era classic "For What It's Worth," it's hard to think this is an album that the band wasn't too pleased with. Along with The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield is pretty much solely responsible for bringing country music and rock n roll together. The psychedelic trends of the era where just starting to take off at this time, and while Buffalo Springfield doesn't completely ignore them, they blend them with classic blues and country music and created their own stamp on the era, one of which many other great bands would follow suit.

Jefferson Airplane - Takes Off (1966)
While Buffalo Springfield strayed away from the psychedelic sound, Jefferson Airplane went on to define it. Although this album is pre-Grace Slick era Jefferson Airplane it still serves as portrait of where the band would be headed, and how they would end up challenging even the Beatles and Stones on the pop charts in 1967 with the release of "Surrealistic Pillow."

Other recent purchases: The Clash - London Calling, Minus the Bear - Acoustic, Sleep - Dopesmoker

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Eloise's Wee Heavy Scottish Ale

Since Cleanthous deleted his blog (lame ass), I guess it's up to me to inform the world about our brewing endeavors. Currently we've been enjoying what I think is our first really good beer, the "We Want Blood I.P.A." It's crisp, hoppy, not too sweet and delicious. Recently our Daisy Red Ale was enjoyed, and endorsed by Mr. David Bazan, we're working on some sort of deal there...

Our current bun in the oven, "Eloise's Wee Heavy Scottish Ale," is a few days from bottling. For you non Lost lovers, Eloise is the name of the rat Daniel Faraday used in his time travel experiments in the season 4 episode "The Constant." We're nerdy as shit...deal with it. I acquired Adobe CS3 today, and made my first sad attempt at making a label for the new beer. I promise the quality of these will improve as time goes on.



EDIT: Here's Take 2, Featuring: A less creepy picture, a mediocre Photoshop Filter and a Nu-Metal Font. Getting better, but I think it needs a few more drafts.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Vals Im Bashir (2008)

For you non-Hebrew speakers out there, that is "Waltz With Bashir," a 2008 Israeli documentary, which recently held the honor of being the first animated feature to be nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

I really enjoy when I catch a movie at The Pickford that I don't know much about, and end up absolutely loving it. All I knew about "Waltz With Bashir" before heading in was that the animation looked spectacular. At first glance the film looks like it may be solely utilizing rotoscoping techniques, but upon further viewing you can see it really is a hodgepodge of different types of animation, that all lend incredibly well to the films absurdly surrealistic feel.

What really makes "Waltz With Bashir" so unique is that it is essentially an animated documentary. The filmmaker, Ari Folman, is a veteren of the 1982 Lebanon War. Haunted by the wars events he has actually completely blocked all memories of it out of his mind, as if it never happened. After hearing about an old buddy's reoccurring war-related dream, Folman remembers something about the war for the first time in 20 years; himself along with two fellow men, emerging from the ocean and entering Beruit after the Sabra and Shatila massacre. Puzzled by the events surrounding this memory, Folman searches out fellow vets of the war, unraveling the events of the was after 20 years.

What transpires is truly a unique and revolutionary look into the psyche of a war vet, the fact that this film is animated really lends to the surreal, and terrifying mind set of individuals during times of massacre, and ungodly violence, that a live action documentary would of never been able to portray.

Here is a great article about the filmmaker Folman, his life, and a little more about the film. "Waltz With Bashir" is only at the Pickford until Thursday so go check it out if you have the time.

This worries me

I present to you a 14-year-old kid who is surely the spawn of Satan.



He just learned the word "ferver" and liked it so much he had to say it twice.

More from this "whunder-kid" who is more than likely spouting off the ideologies ingrained in his mind by his conservative parents during home school sessions. I enjoy that the party is now finding solace in the kid who is has clearly not even hit puberty.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Michael Cera Pulls His Head Out of His Ass

The A.V. Club's headline says it all, Holy. Shit., this is finally happening.

Holy. Shit. Michael Cera finally on board for Arrested Development movie
by Genevieve Koski February 24, 2009


Seriously, could this day get any better, entertainment-news-wise? After months of infuriating Arrested Development fans by holding out on the much-discussed movie adaptation, it seems that Michael Cera finally managed to negotiate a deal to his liking, and is reportedly a go for the movie, according to "inside sources." Cera has been the lone holdout of the ensemble cast for a while now, so this announcement, combined with Ron Howard's almost-confirmation at the Oscars ("It's looking very much like we're going to make [the movie], but we've now been asked to stop offering any details. It's cloaked in a little mystery, but it's looking good."), is a good omen for the perpetually on-again-off-again project.

Chickens don't clap!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Andy Richter Controls the Late Night Universe

Watching the final episode of Late Night with Conan O' Brien the other night was bittersweet. Conan is the only late night host I have ever really enjoyed, his brand of humor is unparalleled. Instead of funny headlines, ads, and kids doing the darnedest things, he chose introduce us to a Masturbating Bear and give us a glimpse into The Year 2000.

A lot of this humor early on of course was due to the inclusion of Conan's sidekick Andy Richter, who left Late Night in 2000. Richter went on to be featured on several amazing Fox comedy series...which were of course, cancelled. While I know Conan wouldn't be the type to sell out, I can't help but be worried that NBC will make him tame the show down a bit with it being on an hour earlier, or make him do things that are more in tune with the "Tonight Show" name, when he takes it over from Jay Leno in June. But today, comes the amazing news that Andy Richter will in fact be rejoining Conan for The Tonight Show come June and once again perform sidekick duties. The chemistry between the two is the stuff of comedic legend, and I cannot be more pleased. Now all we need is for Conan to get the Max Weinberg 7 to stick around and I'll be a happy man.

One of my favorite Richter sketches from Late Night.


Then there's Mr. Weinberg:

Monday, February 23, 2009

Song of the Day: Faraquet- Cut Self Not

Faraquet is a band that died off way too early, they never really got their chance to shine. Their one full length "The View From this Tower" was released in 2000 by Dischord Records and is easily one of my favorite, pure Math rock records. I really think the band had a big influence on early Minus the Bear stuff, although it is a lot louder and rougher cut. Recently the band released "Anthology 1997-98," which features 10 previously unreleased tracks, from these unappreciated and long forgotten D.C. gents.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Song of the Day: Fear - I Love Livin In the City

Mr. Peter Dobson introduced me to Fear, along with a bunch of other similar punk bands about a year ago. While it's not my absolute favorite brand of music, I still appreciate it quite a bit, it's just pretty damn fun to listen to. I don't know how many times this song has been drunkly shouted out in Pete's car. I watched Decline of Western Civilization today, so this seemed fitting for the song of the day. Follow the bouncing ball and revel in the absurdly ridiculous vulgarity of Lee Ving.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Black Thunder

From Lamb Goat:

"Doomriders is currently at Godcity studios in Massachusetts with engineer Kurt Ballou recording their next Deathwish Inc release. The group has recorded twelve new songs in addition to several covers and according to the band, "everything is sounding amazing." Slated for release later this year, this will be the first proper Doomriders album to feature former Cave In drummer JR Conners."


Song of the Day: Bob Dylan - Desolation Row

It recently came to my attention that My Chemical Romance did a cover of this song to be featured on the "Watchmen" soundtrack...and I want to freaking puke for so many different reasons. It boggles my mind why they didn't use the actual Dylan song for the film, why give the song over to some two-bit emo-goth hacks, whose version is a completely blasphemous 3 minute iteration of the original, nearly 12 minute long epic. The mention of the song in the novel is in fact brief, but it's meaning in relation to it in general is pretty damn cool.

This makes me even more nervous about the "Watchmen" movie than I already. I want it to be good, but my hopes are dwindling. What makes me want to puke even more is the number of kiddies who will eat up this ridiculous cover, and never know the beauty of the original song.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Song of the Day: Okkervil River - Singer Songwriter

In my last post I talked about how the majority of singer / songwriters these days don't have much going for um. They for the most part are poor imitators of things from a better time, and rarely exude any sort of originality in what they do. They're ultimately forgettable amongst the terribly over-saturated market, because their music all blends together. Well...this Okkervil River song is pretty much about just that.

Favorite verse:
And this thing you once said disappeared from my head
in the time that it took to be amazed.
And this thing you once did might have dazzled the kids,
but the kids once grown up are gonna walk away.
And your world is gonna change nothing
And our world is gonna change nothing




That said I won't try and act all high and mighty like there is no one these days doing anything worth a shit, you just really gotta sift through the lot. Some of my favorites: David Bazan, Chuck Ragan, M. Ward, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Damien Jurado, and Rocky Votolato.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Song of the Day: Leonard Cohen- The Old Revolution

I know its the second Leonard Cohen song, but deal with it. It's a sad day when you realize that music really just isn't what it used to be. No one sings about the types of things songwriters like Cohen, Dylan or Lennon did anymore, granted they were in a different day and age. Anyone who tries to attempt their subtle yet insightful lyrics and somber melodies these days for the most part falls flat on their face, and comes across all too self righteous and contrived.



The reason I picked this song for today though is because I came across a cover The Walkmen did of it for a Daytrotter session. Listening to the bands rendition of the song, and thinking about their music in general, really made me realize that they are the closest thing we've got to these previous masters. They sing songs and make music for the old souls who are still out there, it's really a timeless approach, and one that I relate to more then most other music period.

The Walkmen have two separate sessions on Daytrotter, the first, which includes their cover of Cohen's "The Old Revolution," is comprised of all Cohen covers. The second is a bunch of Neil Hagerty covers. You can freely (and legally) download both sets. Enjoy.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Song of the Day: M. Ward - Requiem

One of my favorite songs on M. Ward's 2006 classic "Post-War." Everyone and their mom is a singer/songwriter these days, but M. Ward does it with style. His unique voice, keys, guitar plucking ability, and honest, lo-key, minimalist approach set him above the rest by miles. His new album "Hold Time" is out today, I'll probably be buying it tomorrow.

Sasquatch hoooo

The Line Up (So Far):Jane's Addiction (feat. all four original members), Kings of Leon, Nine Inch Nails, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Silversun Pickups, Bon Iver, Santigold, Of Montreal, Explosions In The Sky, Devotchka, Peter Bjorn & John, Gogol Bordello, M. Ward, The Avett Brothers, Doves, Calexico, Grizzly Bear, M83, Girl Talk, The Gaslight Anthem, The Walkmen, Chromeo (dj set), Deadmau5, Mugison, Sun Kil Moon, Airborne Toxic Event, Blitzen Trapper, Shearwater, BLK JKS, The Wrens, Tobacco, Monotonix, King Khan & The Shrines, St. Vincent, Passion Pit, John Vanderslice, Bishop Allen, Blind Pilot, AA Bondy, Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Knux, Ra Ra Riot, The Dodos, Beach House, Arthur & Yu, The Submarines, Owl City, Viva Voce, James Pants, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, The Builders & The Butchers, The Dutchess & The Duke, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele, Fences, School of Seven Bells, Death Vessel, Horse Feathers, Hockey, Point Juncture, WA, The Pica Beats, Loch Lomond, Vince Mira & more to come.

Who I'm actually excited to see:
Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Erykah Badu: Four acts I don't absolutely adore but in the festival setting will no doubt be pretty incredible.

M. Ward, Animal Collective, Gogol Bordello, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Shearwater, Beach House, John Vanderslice, TV on the Radio, Blitzen Trapper: A bunch of acts I've been dying to see for years but have never got the chance. I've heard that Animal Collectives live sets are a sight to behold.


The Walkmen, The Dutchess and the Duke, Girl Talk, Monotonix
: Old favorites who have never disappointed live.

Explosions in the Sky and King Khan and the Shrines: These are the two I am easily most excited about. Neither of which I've seen live, but whose music just seems so incredibly conducive to the live open air setting.

Chromeo: Only if I'm trashed enough and this is a 3 a.m. dance tent event...

Zack Galifinakis, Demitri Martin, Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job: Comedic Genius

Someone I'm not excited at all to see...AGAIN: Ben Harper, why in the hell is he continually booked at these things.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Song of the Day: David Bazan - Cold Beer and Cigarettes

Bazan has an eerie and endearing voice that resonates through all of his painfully honest music. This is my favorite song from the "Fewer Moving Part's EP" which was released on Barsuk Records, what seems like 2 years ago now. Oh yeah...did I mention he's playing in my living room on Feb. 28? Check out a great performance of this song on the Seattle installment of the Burn to Shine series. This You Tube video is sort of annoying, as apparently everyone in the audience is 12, and giggles continuously after the "Trying to focus his high hopes on a vagina or two" line in the song.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Song of the Day: The Flying Burrito Brothers - Lazy Day

This is the kind of music I've been really into the last few months. Country music of the 60's and 70's that took the formula presented to them by their forefathers and reinvented it with the psychedelic, jammy, bluesy and straight up rock of a new era of music. It really is just music that makes you smile and and want to stomp your feet and clap your hands. It's all a product of the resounding genius of the legendary Gram Parsons (although he isn't in this clip, even though he wrote the song and originally sang it), who along with the Flying Burrito Brothers was also a member of The Byrds, and had a pretty kick ass solo career. Long live the country rock of the 60's and 70's, cause god knows its better than anything that gets passed off as country music today. See also: The Allman Brothers Band, The Band, James Gang and Townes Van Zandt, and more recently Seattle's own The Moondoggies.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Song of the Day: Blitzen Trapper - Furr

This song completely made the album for me. This is exactly the direction I loved to see the band venture further into after the already amazing "Wild Mountain Nation." It really has the makings of a classic, one of Portland's finest.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Song of the Day: Murder City Devils - Rum to Whiskey

Spencer Moody was far to drunk, drinking his own bottle of whiskey on stage, to sing virtually ANY of the verses to this song at the reunion show at the Showbox last night (Let alone the right words to a number of songs.) He pretty much just jumped right to the chorus and repeated it over and over...I'm not going to try to complain though, the audience (including myself) ate it up. After listening to the band since my junior year of high school, I'm pretty damn ecstatic to have finally seen the crew live, they tore the house down, and I without a doubt will be first in line to get a ticket the NEXT time they decide to reunite. One of Seattle's best contributions to the realm of music, period.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Song of the Day: The Walkmen - Four Provinces

The Walkmen truly are, without a doubt, my favorite band. Their music is a sparse, depressing, multi-layered menagerie of drunken hopefulness. This video seems to convey that quite well. Pretty pumped that they are heavily rumored for Sasquatch this year, because seeing them live is an incredible treat.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Song of the Day: Leonard Cohen - Diamonds in the Mine

Forgot how awesome this song was until I stumbled upon it on one of my mix cd's while driving to Seattle today.