I caned this song at #5 in last months chart. Visually this doesn’t get going until the 2:11 mark, but the song is worth sharing-.
The Presets – My People video January 31, 2008
Bat for Lashes – Whats a girl to do video January 28, 2008
About 40 seconds into this one, prepare to get goosebumps and possibly laugh (Does this remind you of a certain movie with Jake Gyllenhall?). Not a bad song either-.
Movie Matchup: Rambo vs. Death Sentence January 27, 2008
Kevin Bacon, an average Joe who seeks vengeance for his family, is set against the steroid, muscle-popping Stallone mercenary. Both of these movies are very similar in that they have great, visceral action scenes, but are quite awful in between. Ideally, you would want put your subtitles on and fast forward through the muck. Although in Rambo, the normal scenes are kinda funny in a B-movie way. In Death Sentence, Kevin Bacon’s character is a bit easier to empathize and root for, and John Goodman shows up to play a villain. But Rambo has bigger guns to play with that make bigger holes, so: Rating for both: 6/10
Winner by an arrow in the eye: Rambo!
Audiobook Reviews: Anansi Boys and On the Road January 25, 2008
Have long commutes? Traveling on vacation? Or perhaps bored in the gym? Audiobooks may very well be your answer if you want something different than music, especially if you were wanting to read the book anyway. Here are two reviews:
On the Road by Jack Kerouac, performed by Will Patton
This just might be the perfect audiobook, at least for a guy. Will Patton does a fantastic job with this classic American road novel by Kerouac. In fact I would say that every guy should read or hear this novel at least once in his life. Women might enjoy this too, but the perspective is very male, and at times, very sexist. To sum up, it has all the qualities you seek in an audiobook: it’s short, honest, entertaining, and meaningful. Rating 9/10
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, performed by Lenny Henry
Henry performs this incredibly well, and masters a variety of London, African, Carribean, Cajun, and America accents to bring the characters to life. Unfortunately the ”last act” of the novel was really disappointing. Perhaps I grew tired of its length, but the believability of the novel is shattered two-thirds of the way through. I don’t care for the Jumanji, Lion King aspects that the story devolves into, especially towards the end where things come together with magical convenience. I know this is fantasy, but there was too much whimsy for me, and I considered not finishing. The performance by Henry is awesome though, and there are some classic Gaiman moments to make this experience worthwhile, but not recommended to everyone. Rating: 6/10
Vitalic – Poney video January 23, 2008
I just discovered this video to one of my favorite dance songs of the past 5 years. Fun times.
Oscar nominations- January 22, 2008
Well, for the first time in years I feel like the Oscars actually got it mostly right. I’m not crazy over Michael Clayton, but I’m glad Juno got a nod. Other reactions? I’m glad Depp got the nod over McAvoy in Atonement, because the Barber is a bit more complicated role. I hate to say I told you so about Marion Cotillard, but she’ll probably win too. I’m really glad Hal Holbrook was named for Into the Wild, because he really makes that movie, and could possibly split the vote between Hoffman and Bardem for an upset. I’m glad Persepolis was honored for best animated feature, and people need to see this movie in general. Diving Bell got some nods (but not in the Foreign category), and you might as well give the damn Oscar to Day Lewis: he’s already won folks. Also, watch out for Mongol, a Best Foreign movie nomination, which is supposed to be even better than 300. Finally, the biggest snub this year might be leaving Eddie Vedder off the Best Song category for Into the Wild.
January’s Hot 15! January 18, 2008
Every month I’ll be sharing some of the 10 best new tracks and tunes for the month. This month I’ll be reaching a little further back into the last couple of months and grabbing 5 more, but usually these will be just released, hot, and ready to drop in the listening device of your choice. Check ‘em out!
1. Radiohead – All I Need
2. Midnight Juggernauts – Nine Lives
3. Saul Williams w/ Trent Reznor – Break
4. Beirut – Nantes
5. The Presets – My People
6. Grizzly Bear – Knife (covered by CSS)
7. Riot in Belgium – La Musique (J-Bag’s Edit)
8. Partial Arts – Trauermusik (Original mix)
9. Adam Kesher – P-Katherine
10. Dead Disco – You’re Out
11. Modeselektor – The White Flash (w/ Thom Yorke)
12. Trentemoller – Klovn McLaren
13. Compuphonic and Kolombo – Emotion (edit)
14. Snow Patrol – Open Your Eyes (Marky and Bungle mix)
15. Stateless – Crash
The Diving Bell and Butterfly Review January 14, 2008
No one has ever made a movie quite like this, but this true story of Jean-Dominique Dauby is just as unique. Dauby’s life is literally turned inside-out when he falls victim to a severe stroke and becomes totally paralyzed except for movement in one eye. The director Julian Schnabel takes this same inside-out approach with the film, putting us in Dauby’s shoes to the point where you are literally squirming to run out of the theater at times. Thankfully Schnabel, the music, and the cast (with a wonderful cameo by Max von Sydow) paint a rich canvas through Dauby’s impossible world. Schnabel’s past films, Basquiat and Before Night Falls, were excellent, and he seems only to be getting better. I’m not sure I can sit through this one again, but this is unlike anything you’ve ever seen, creating a sublime new cinematic experience. Rating:9/10
Eagle vs. Shark review January 12, 2008
Some zany New Zealanders follow in the footsteps of Napoleon Dynamite and somehow find their way in this charming movie. It seems women identify with this movie more than Napoleon and its understandable, because Loren Horsley as Lily really carries this film. At times the quirkiness feels forced and derivative, but somewhere the movie finds its voice and becomes very affective. Nerds and loveable losers are so in right now… Rating: 7/10
Golden Door review January 10, 2008
What a gorgeous film about a family of Sicilians immigrating into America through Ellis island. The cinematography is the best I’ve seen this year, and the director Crialese is an immense talent to watch (Even Scorsese says so in the film’s intro-). The last shot has to be seen to be believed. When you let your eyes unfocus you see an incredible image. The trip across the ocean is a little tedious, but otherwise this was a fantastic voyage. Rating: 9/10
Big Bang Love, Juvenile A January 9, 2008
Miike is back! Not that he really has gone anywhere when he’s making four pictures a year, it’s just we westerners have to wait for him on DVD. If you’re unfamiliar with Miike, start with the classic Audition, and then maybe slip into One Missed Call or Ichi the Killer. He is a very controversial director that is unafraid to take on anything (insert shocking subject of your choice here___). Here, Miike goes Brokeback with sci-fi prison existentialism. He switches modes like a madman, going from mockumentary to play to German Expressionism with Japanese ghosts. This script is absolutely bonkers, and I’m not sure even Miike did justice to it: His pretentious techniques occasionally fall flat on their face. But there is enough here to keep me mostly enthralled. But you should see his other films first, unless this sounds like your cup of tea . Rating: 7/10
Eastern Promises Review January 9, 2008
Its never a good thing to start a review by saying, “I’m not gay but…”, but thats exactly what I’m going to do, because this movie gets its payday by having a ripped and tattooed Viggo kickin’ some Russian mafia ass with nothing but his birthday suit. Leave it to Cronenberg to make the last bit of the scene strangely orgasmic. He wasn’t afraid of introducing car crashes and sex in Crash, so what is going to stop him here? And Cronenberg delivers with the violence which looks ultra-real. If you watch this and Sweeney Todd you’ll start to wonder how soft your neck really is. Viggo, Naomi, and Cassel all shine in what seems like half a great movie. I seriously hope there is going to be a sequel because this movie has no third act. Rating (with no sequel): 7/10
Juno Review January 8, 2008
You cannot deny the irresistable charms of this movie. It’s impossible. It’s just too damn sweet and funny. This one deserves a bigger box office, more than Knocked Up or Superbad, and really is almost like a marriage of those two movies. The soundtrack is this really cutesy lo-fi folk music that you might find in a Wes Anderson movie. I’m a quick reviewer and am not going to spell the plot out, but this is one of the better movies of the year. Rating: 9/10
The Kingdom Review January 5, 2008
All you really need to know about this movie is that it is a serviceable action movie anchored by a great cast and a 20+ minute balls-to-the-wall action scene that makes Jason Bourne look like a cheerleader. Chris Cooper, Jeremy Piven, Jason Bateman, and Foxx are hard not to like, even if they are Americans acting arrogant in a foreign land. Rating: 7/10
BEST of 2007! January 2, 2008
Music Albums
1. PJ Harvey (White Chalk) – Bloodcurdling intensity from the witch on Bald Mountain.
2. Matthew Dear (Asa Breed)- Arty, freaky, and the soundtrack to that Hummer commercial.
3. Midnight Juggernauts (Dystopia) - The new ELO.
4. Justice (Cross) – Their take-over of the rock and rave world is almost complete.
5. New Young Pony Club (Fantastic Playroom) – Think Blondie meets Talking Heads.
6. Unkle (War Stories) – Ian Astbury of The Cult is officially alive and sounds fresher than ever.
7. Joakim (Monsters and Silly Songs) – Emotive dance rock by a Frenchman who had to re-record this whole album with a band after his hard drive crashed.
8. Calyx and Teebee (Anatomy) – Before its time, and some of the sickest synth buggery and assault of beats you’ll find anywhere.
9. Pinch (Underwater Dancehall) – Dub-step album that is better than Burial’s heralded new album.
10. (Tie) Feist, Band of Horses, LCD Soundsystem, The Arcade Fire, and Roisin Murphy all brought their A-game this year.
Best Sleeper Films you may have missed-
1. Sicko – I lost alot of respect for Michael Moore after Fahrenheit 911, so I was shocked to find that he not only made a great documentary, but this will possibly influence a monumental change in American life.
2. La Vie En Rose – The French biopic of Edith Piaf which might be better than Walk the Line. Marion Cotillard gives the performance of the year.
3. The Orphanage – A haunting ghost story that makes you . . . cry?
4. Murder Party - Funniest horror movie of the year, and perfect to show at your own party.
5. Air Guitar Nation – Rocking out with your c**k out has never been funnier.
6. Reign Over Me – As long as you don’t feel like you’re being manipulated, Adam freakin’ Sandler might sneak right up on your emotional sensibilities. More of a guy movie though.
7. Stardust – Lost in the Harry Potter hoopla was this gem that is a better fantasy movie.
8. Paris, Je t’aime- Very cool tribute to Paris.
9. Deep Water – Doc about the first sailors to circumnavigate the globe without stopping, and you’ll be shocked at the results and depth of this movie
10. Exiled – Probably my favorite Asian movie this year. A modern spaghetti western.
Happy New Year Amigos! January 2, 2008
Happy new year all ya’ll! I’m starting off the New Year with a blog, so voila, here is another way to keep in touch. This might eventually turn into an electronic music blog, but for now I will share reviews of movies and personal creative stuff. Hope you enjoy! Here’s to blowing up in ‘08!
