I have seen the future.

This is just a small sample of the line yesterday morning at the Barack Obama rally.  Estimates on the news said 13,000 people were there.  Sounds about right.  The line wrapped around the block and around another block and on and on...

There were too many people to fit in the Magness auditorium.  So there was overflow into a gym.  And more overflow onto a lacrosse field outside (mind you, it is January and Denver).

People must've been dedicated, because they were there for the full speech.  I was in the gym.

Just based on that, things are looking good, for Colorado at least.  So many young people, so much passion and energy, just seeing such a huge crowd so enthusiastic about the political process, it's something I've never seen before.  Not that I'm old enough to know better.  But there was so much energy on that sidewalk, in that auditorium, on that lacrosse field.  I don't imagine Hilary could inspire so much excitement.  

And before he took the podium at Magness Auditorium, Mr. Obama took the time to talk to the crowd out on the lacrosse field (which must have had VERY minimal security), and then to us in the gym (which did have minimal security.  I didn't get patted down, go through a metal detector, or anything).  So I was very close to this man.  I saw him kiss a baby (of course all politicians have to do this) and pose with it for a picture while the mom took a picture with her camera phone.  He shook hands all over the place, and then spoke to us.  

And his speech...wow.  He was super eloquent and likable and inspiring.  This man can win.  He should win.

Nothing too obscure with this mp3 selection but they can't all be.

Aretha Franklin - A Change Is Gonna Come

This track was taken off the album I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, which can be purchased at amazon here.  It is also a Sam Cooke cover.

i'm a pimp...and pimps don't commit suicide

Yesterday I watched one of the strangest movies I've ever seen.  Part political thriller, part cheesy sci-fi flick, but mostly? Future cult classic.

I have to believe that when he was making Southland Tales, Richard Kelly was aiming to make something cheesy.  The cast was cheesy.  Most of the dialog was cheesy.  The plot was cheesy, even though it made some smart(ish) political statements.

Make no mistake, it's a pretty bad movie.  But I LOVED it.  Every ridiculous line, every cheesy special effect, every random actor (Booger is in it; so is the guy that said "inconceivable!" in The Princess Bride), it all made it more endearing.  It is a movie I plan on getting on DVD and then watching all the time.  

I can't wait for this to play at the Midnight Movies.

there is so much to cover...

i've actually been really busy this past week and i will be for the rest of this week.  but i shall blog again, soon.  here are some topics i might cover in the near future:

-JUNO, which I saw over the weekend

-BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD, which I saw last night

-SOUTHLAND TALES, which I'm seeing tonight

-LOST, which returns tomorrow

-MUSIC, because I haven't really started bringing up some of the great artists I discovered while doing my show back when I had a job, and there are some I have definitely never seen on blogs even though they're great.  and that's probably the main point of this blog.  so watch for posts on some of them.  H2L, for instance.  she's probably up first.

-BARACK OBAMA, who I went and saw this morning.  Seriously, it's time for change and he is very inspiring.  I will tell you why it's so exciting in a future blog post.

just know that i'm still around.

tuesday tomorrow

i don't really like this name but it's what i'll use for now.  maybe i can just start labeling these as "tuesday" and new movie release posts as "friday."  who knows.

things are really starting to pick up, release wise.  i think this means i need to get a job so i can get it all.

NEW RELEASES "TOMORROW" 1/29/08 THAT I HAVE INTEREST IN:

Music

The Mars Volta - Bedlam in Goliath

They totally lost me with their second album.  And I've not really paid them any attention since then.  But now I'm wondering about this new one.  All the weird stories involved with this album at least intrigue me.  And I still think their first album is one of the finest I've heard.

Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin

This is basically a tribute to Dusty Springfield.  I don't know if I have any interest in Shelby Lynne as a singer, but the fact that I love Dusty Springfield at least makes me wonder if I'd like this...

Willie Nelson - Moment of Forever

After his collaborations with Ryan Adams, it's kinda disappointing that now he's working with Kenny Chesney.  

Xiu Xiu - Women as Lovers

This one's tough.  But I'm sure it's great.  I've heard none of it.  But I'm sure it's fantastic.

Chris Walla - Field Manual

The main reason i care at all about this is that it was seized at the border by the US government.  It must be GOOD!  But in all honesty, it's not really my style, even though he name drops some of my favorite artists as influences.  It's kinda the same reason I never really got into Death Cab.  Too "safe" I guess for my tastes.

Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Probably pretty good.

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

It seems too easy to backlash against this band.  I remember reading stories on Pitchfork and Aversion that were all like "OMG! Vampire Weekend signed a record deal!" and "OMG! Watch for the s/t Vampire Weekend in January of 2008!!"  and they were all excited.  I decided to kind of ignore them, but then we got one of their music videos in at the place I worked at at the time.  So I finally heard them.  And now I have no idea how they got so many people so stoked on them.  The Pitchfork review of this new album talks about how it's not exactly groundbreaking, it just inexplicably stays with you and you get addicted to it.  Hmmm.  Reminds me of those really annoying pop songs, such as "My Humps" and "Don'tcha."  I kid.  But I still don't get it.  I should probably give it a chance, but I'm too poor to take that gamble (even though it'll probably be about $8 at Target).

Beck - Odelay (deluxe edition)

a full bonus disc of rarities, remixes, and a couple never-released tracks.  hell yeah.

DVDs

Building a Broken Mousetrap

of everything coming out this week, this is the one that I feel like I really, really need to get.  It's a concert film by Jem Cohen (who directed Instrument), starring The Ex.  The one time I had the opportunity of seeing The Ex live (Touch & Go 25th Anniversary fest), they were phenomenal.  One of the guitarists started bleeding from playing so hard on his super old guitar he's probably been playing for 30 years.  

The King of Kong

Seems too, too awesome.  Haven't seen it.  Should put it on the queue.

Groundhog Day - 15th Anniversary Edition

If I end up seeing this somewhere for cheap I will probably get it.  But it's gotta be for cheap.

Monty Python's Life of Brian - Immaculate Edition

Yeah.  

TV:

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Complete Sixth Season

I assume this show is great.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Vol. 5

I haven't bothered with any of these DVDs, but I do enjoy the show.

Am I missing anything?  I mean, other than Daddy Day Camp?

obama in denver

Barack Obama will be speaking in Denver on Wednesday.  It is free and open to the public, but you should RSVP here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/denver

details can also be found at the above website.  but it's at 8:30 AM at the University of Denver Magness Arena (where I saw the Pixies!)

anybody else going?  I RSVP'd earlier and I'll probably be there all by myself.

and friday is tomorrow

so to go along with my talking about upcoming albums every monday, i will talk about upcoming films every thursday.

but before that, i have to mention that we are ONE WEEK FROM THE RETURN OF LOST!!  i've been waiting for this for so long, obsessively watching the dvds, obsessively figuring out the whole find 815 thing, reading forums and blogs about it, and doing all i can to avoid spoilers.  so excited!  i'll probably make a lost post every thursday night or friday or something, for a whole 8 weeks until it runs out.

ok, new movies of note being released, in some capacity involving denver, TOMORROW 1/25

RAMBO at all the big multiplexes.  haha.

PERSEPOLIS at the esquire.  up for an academy award for best animated feature.  i don't really know much about it, but based on the images i've seen, it looks pretty awesome.

TEETH is back at the starz film center.  future cult classic? probably.  about a girl that discovers she's got teeth in um, a place she wouldn't expect to have teeth.

YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH is also making its way to the starz film center.  did you know i share a birthday with francis ford coppola?  it's true.  and jackie chan.  anyway, this one seems to be getting lots of backlash and hate.  so i'd probably love it!

i think that's about it.  if you invite me to see any of these movies, i will probably accept your invitation.  well, maybe not rambo.  but probably even rambo.  basically, as long as we avoid meet the spartans i will be glad to see a movie with you, thanks for asking!

oscar nominations

Oscar nominations are out, and as usual, I haven't seen most of the movies.  But in some cases, this assures that they'll be in theaters for awhile now, probably even the big megaplexes.  The one good thing about those places is that matinees are actually decent prices.  I saw There Will Be Blood yesterday at one of those and it was $5.50.

You can see all the nominees here.  And my thoughts are here:

*what? no nominations for Before The Devil Knows You're Dead?  Now, I haven't seen the movie so I can't really make a good argument, but I've heard that Sidney Lumet is back in top form and I've heard that everything about it is amazing.  Whatever.  I guess it just means I better see it SOON, before it's gone from theaters because it got NO nominations.

*Is Daniel Day-Lewis not a shoe-in for actor in a lead role?  That performance was unbelievable.  Like...DeNiro in Taxi Driver unbelievable.  

*my one complaint about There Will Be Blood: Paul Dano did not look like he'd aged 20 years.  I'm sorry, but he looked like a teenage priest throughout the whole movie.

*I really need to see No Country For Old Men.

*And Charlie Wilson's War.  If that's the role that got Philip Seymour-Hoffman his nomination this year, it is one I must see.

*YAY for Laura Linney getting a nod for her role in The Savages.  She was amazing in that film.  I doubt she will win (I hope she does though!), but it's still good that she's recognized.  I'd say she got robbed in 2001 for You Can Count On Me because Julia Roberts won, but in 2001 Ellen Burstyn was the one that got robbed (for Requiem For A Dream).

*Too much Juno love.  Not that I've even seen it.  But now I feel like there's no way I will like it when I finally do.  I'm sure it's a fine, fine picture, and the cast is awesome, but it's like the new Garden State.  Which I do like, but that was before I got so jaded about over hyped movies.  

*I hope Cate Blanchett wins Actress in a Supporting Role for I'm Not There, and not just because that's the only movie listed that I've seen, but because she was my favorite part about that movie.  Well, that and David Cross, of course (where's his nomination?!)

*How come the site lists lead actor first, then supporting actor, and THEN lead actress?  I call BS.

*I hope Persepolis gets best animated feature.  An artsy film is totally "due" to win that category again.  Only once before has that happened.  Usually it's a disney/pixar/etc movie that wins that category, and I guess Ratatouille will win this.  But to be fair, I haven't seen any of the nominations.  Maybe Ratatouille is legitimately a better film.  

*I think it's about time Paul Thomas Anderson won best director.  Not that that category means anything (Kubrick never won it, neither did Hitchcock, Robert Altman only ever got an honorary award), but I consider PTA the greatest "new" director we have (meaning not counting the old people that are still alive and have built great big bodies of work).  

*If Norbit wins an oscar, even for best makeup, I will be upset.

*I wish Jonny Greenwood was eligible to win for best score.  He really brought the already amazing There Will Be Blood to even greater heights.

If anybody reads this I'd like to see some comments!

tuesday tomorrow!

Back when I did a music show online, I did this segment called Freshly Pressed, which went over lots of the new music releases every week.  The mainstream ones were in there, as well as popular underground titles and then the ones I just felt could use the exposure.  It's awesome how much power they gave me, really.

So anyway, I shall do the same on this blog.  But I'll incorporate DVDs in it as well.  And I won't bother to cover what I'm not interested in for this one.  Bad grammar!  But it will help me keep up if I have to look into it every week.  Maybe I'll also do new movie releases every Friday.

Although honestly I will probably only buy one this week.  I am, after all, unemployed.

Let's get started.

Cat Power - Jukebox

This is the one I absolutely plan on buying.  I think I'll get it on vinyl, though it'll be double vinyl and pretty expensive.  But when the option is available, and it comes with a free download, it seems like it has to be worth it.  Anyway, the album only got a 5.3 or something from Pitchfork.  But I don't care.  The one song I've heard, Song To Bobby, is absolutely brilliant.  Although p4k said that was the only song they really liked.  Still, it's Cat Power.  I'm just upset about the fact that original track listings had The Dark End Of The Street on them, and it didn't make the final cut.  So that is the song I'll post.  The original.  SO GOOD.

James Carr - The Dark End Of The Street

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

This is a band that has been getting quite a bit of buzz lately.  So if you read blogs, you probably are familiar with them.  I learned about them when they opened up for of Montreal on tour last year.  I showed up to the show while they were playing.  I can't say I was spectacularly impressed.  They were likable, but not lovable.  Perhaps it was the context, but I kind of felt like they were a poor man's of Montreal.  Although with oM standards, that can't be saying much.  They were like a more boring version though.  Although maybe I was wrong.  I might eventually pick this up, if the hype on it gets too crazy.

Black Mountain - In The Future

I just decided to check them out when they were on the top of elbo.ws because a song had leaked off their new album, In The Future.  I really doubt I'll get this though.  It's good for what it is, but what it is is really not my style.  I can see myself getting into it sometimes, but I do not plan on getting it.  If you like what you've heard, check it out though.  At least it's something different.  Wow, I'm really saying nothing at all about what it sounds like.  Kind of reminds me of Black Sabbath, but more experimental.  There ya go.

Judy Garland - Live at the Coconut Grove

You think this may have been released to cash in on the Rufus tribute?

Julie Andrews - The Lass with the Delicate Hair

and this one?

Rancid - B-Sides and C-Sides

If I was still in high school I'd be pumped.  I used to LOVE Rancid.

Soul Summit - Soul Summit

Lots of great soul singers that I don't know have come together.  I'm sure it's great.

Hot Water Music - Till The Wheels Fall Off

I used to like them, never LOVED them.  Loved a few songs.  But lots of people are pumped because they got back together.  This is just rare tracks and stuff though.  Not "new" material.

and...the DVDs.

let me just say: without Criterion, there would be NOTHING this week.  I looked through it.  But luckily, Criterion has 3 DVDs out this week.

Miss Julie (Alf Sjöberg)

I know nothing about this.  But I just read the synopsis and it should be good.  Swedish movie from 1951.  Pretty dirty by 50s standards.  It's an adaptation of a play about men and women and all that.  You know, what drives most narratives to this day.

The Sporting Life (Lindsay Anderson)

Anderson's first feature narrative film.  Criterion calls it "One of the finest British films ever made," so I assume I have to see this one.  I did enjoy Anderson's If... so if that film is any indication of Anderson's skill as a director, this is a can't-miss.  I'll probably netflix it first though, because those Criterion movies are expensive and I'm poor.

4 By Agnes Varde (Agnes Varde)

This is a box set containing, how about that, 4 by Agnes Varde.  As far as I am concerned, this is essential to film people.  Varde, it seems, doesn't get the credit she deserves.  Scholars consider her first film, La Pointe Courte, to be the kickoff for the French New Wave, so that alone makes her very, very important.  And La Pointe Courte is one of the films included in this set, as far as I'm aware, for the first time on DVD in the US.  A film I have to see.  The other films are from throughout her career as she evolved and matured.  In the set: La Pointe Courte (1956), Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), Le bonheur (1965), and Vagabond (1985).  If you have the money and are interested in film and its history, I cannot recommend this set again.  I don't have the money, so I'll have to put it in a wishlist for my birthday.  Or if I get a job soon enough, I can pick this one up.

this one's actually about cloverfield

when i go to see a movie, i try to go in knowing as little about it as possible. there was a lot of mystery around cloverfield, but basically all i knew going into it was that it's a monster movie about a weird monster that attacks new york.

so that's why i didn't know it was all handheld footage.

and that's my only real complaint. it made me pretty nauseous watching an hour and a half of shaky handheld footage. on the imdb people respond to those complaints saying "well if you paid attention to the trailers..." or "you are weak!" whatever man. i'd think they would've learned from the mistakes of the blair witch project.

other than the seasickness, the movie was well executed and pretty awesome in general. for a popcorn flick, it was innovative in its technique. the imdb also has a list of plot holes and such, but whatever. action movies always have plot holes.

anyway, i've been reading about the viral marketing and stuff and it looks like the big story, stuff beyond what was shown in the movie's limited scope, is pretty blatantly anti-big-oil...so take my last post with a grain of salt. jj abrams is probably not in bed with the republicans after all.

peace out.

thank you 3 doors down

I went to see Cloverfield today.  More on that later.  But when we went into the theater I saw/heard Matt Walsh.  And there up on the screen was the Upright Citizens Brigade (minus Amy Poehler)!  Now, I have not yet seen season 3, so I don't know if this was from that or if it's the gang getting back together to shoot weird random things to play at movie theaters.  That in itself was supercool.  

However, you take the bad with the good. Another pre-show item that played in the theater was a music video by 3 Doors Down.  This in itself was painful, but not my main source of annoyance.  The music video was a promotional tool of the US National Guard.  And apparently you can get the song for free at the National Guard website, so if you're into 3 Doors Down, you should totally join the National Guard.  Or at least go to the website.  I'm not gonna look it up or link to it, because I don't want to help them out.

During the music video slogans flashed on the screen.  Now, I associate the National Guard with the rest of the US military, so the irony was more about other facets of the military, but some of the slogans were "Never Give Up," "Never Admit Defeat," and the best one was "Never Leave...A Comrade" (the first part came up, followed by the second part).  I guess the editor of the piece couldn't sneak in "Never Learn From Your Mistakes" without being too obvious.

Now that I think about it, I wonder how deep this influence goes.  How many movies does this video play at?  Because when I think about it, the movie Cloverfield paints the National Guard in a (fairly) favorable light.  I'm not saying there was an influence on the movie (at least I hope not!), I'm just wondering if there's an endorsement and if there's a shady reason that propaganda played before the movie.

Plus, 3 Doors Down sucks.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Army Bound

Buy Living With The Living at the Touch & Go Digital store!  (Or get the vinyl, of course.  Probably comes with a free digital download that way.)

enon

So for the first time in awhile, today Pitchfork posted a story that pertains to me.  A band I like (well, love) is on tour and this time they have a Denver date!

I've already talked about this, but let me reiterate.  Enon's last album, Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds was one of the most underrated albums of 2007.  Everybody talked about how it was so one-dimensional, how it was so straightforward and commercial, how it just wasn't weird enough.  That's not what I heard when I put it on though.  I will tell the tale once again, since I think it's important.  When I saw Enon at the Touch & Go 25th Anniversary Fest (I took that picture! yeah!), in between songs, somebody yelled "Brainiac!" and instead of being flustered/annoyed, John Schmersal said "Thank you! I would like to dedicate this next song to Tim Taylor!" To me that is huge.  It's not like anyone would want to forget his late friend and bandmate, but most musicians would get really pissed off if you were to yell their former band at them.  But not only did he take it in stride, he DEDICATED the song to his former band.  Embracing the past while moving forward.  

And then a year later we got Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds.  The most Brainiac-sounding Enon album yet.  The spirit of Tim Taylor and Brainiac is found throughout the album.  Every song is unmistakably Enon, but they've brought the spirit of Brainiac, one of the most important bands of the 90s, into the mix.  That is why I love the new album so much.

You can go to Pitchfork to see the complete list of dates, but April 17 I plan on attending the Denver show.  And here's my favorite track off the album:

Enon - Dr. Freeze

You can buy Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds at the Touch & Go digital store.  At 256 kbps even! Screw itunes for its crappy bitrate!  But I recommend going to your local super hip record shop and picking it up on vinyl, because it comes with a code to download the entire album for free.  Because Touch & Go loves you.

movies movies movies

why are movies so expensive? there are so many movies out right now that i really want to see, but i do not have a job, and i can't go around spending $10 (plus snacks etc) for every one of these movies.  seriously.  

I've wanted to see Before The Devil Knows You're Dead ever since I found it to be sold out at the Denver Film Festival.  I've purposely avoided finding out too much about it, but the combination of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sidney Lumet is just something I cannot resist.  It's been playing here and there around Denver, and luckily it will be here at least another week.  I just need to catch a matinee but even then it'll

 probably be $7-8.  

One movie I just HAVE to see is Southland Tales, which finally reaches Denver tomorrow.  Mostly I'm just interested in seeing what all the fuss is about.  It's a very dividing movie, from what I hear, but those are usually my favorites.  But who knows.  Maybe Richard Kelly just started to believe his own hype and thus created a super pretentious movie that just goes over the edge.  Maybe, though, in a good way.  Basically I don't know what to think of this, and that's why I have to see it.  And that's about all I have to say about that.  

For now.

Also out tomorrow in Denver (holy crap, this is a huge weekend) is Cassandra's Dream.  Woody Allen just keeps pumping them out, doesn't he?  So it looks like this one is another non-comedy, and to me that is good news.  I think at this point, he is better at those.  Just look at Match Point vs Scoop.  I was very pleased with Match Point, even though some people hated it (something to do with stiff, unnatural dialogue, etc...personally I think that adds to the fable-like situation.  It's a simple, straightforward tale).  So I have a feeling I'll like this one.  The thing with me and Woody Allen is I always at least like the experience of watching his films, even if they don't stack up to Annie Hall, Manhattan, Interiors, etc.  You make a movie every year, not all of them are going to be great.  But to me, Woody Allen is always at least good.

Oh, and Cloverfield.  That's out too.

And of course I still haven't seen tons of those big ones that everybody wants to see (Juno, There Will Be Blood, No Country For Old Men, Atonement, etc).  Why did I have to get laid off in the middle of Oscar season?  All the great movies are out NOW, and I don't have a steady income.  At least music is slow these days.  Well, I mean, there was only one album I wanted that came out this week.  I think it picks up next week.

I also would like to take this opportunity to write an open letter to Amazon:

Dear Amazon,

Thank you kindly for your Availability Alert feature.  You have just informed me that David Lynch's classic film Lost Highway is finally getting its proper widescreen release on DVD.  As many are well aware, the film hasn't had a real domestic release, and the import version was pan & scan fullscreen.  And as many are aware, this is not the way to watch a David Lynch film!  So I'd just like to again stress how happy I am that the film is going to be available on widescreen DVD on March 25, 2008.  Maybe I'll have a job by then.  But hey, that's about 2 weeks before my birthday.  So maybe somebody can get it for me!

Yours Truly,

Brandon

distortion

Yes, the day has come!  Most bloggers have already talked about this one, because most bloggers already downloaded this awhile ago.  But as I stated before, I don't do leaks.  So today I woke up, went to the local record store, and picked up the CD you see pictured above.

New Stephin Merritt albums are always something to look forward to, and last year we had none.  The year before, you see, we had two.  So I've been excited, as I've loved just about everything he's done.  Future Bible Heroes are a bit questionable, as are the very first Magnetic Fields albums.

OK, what am I getting at?  I've been excited about this album for some time now.  Especially since it has that Magnetic Fields name.  Such anticipation can only lead to disappointment, right?  HA! Mr. Merritt has met my expectations.  I need to give it a few more spins to see if he's exceeded them, but he's definitely met them.  It's Stephin Merritt and his lovely lyrics, lovely melodies, the return of Shirley Simms, all over a huge wall of distortion.  People call it a "new" sound, but I think it generally sounds like a return to the pre-69 Love Songs sound.  Lots of layers of sounds that threaten to overtake the vocals, but the words still manage to come out and we get all our awesome Merritt trademark turns of phrase.

People also have been saying the only theme is the sound, that nothing really ties the songs together otherwise.  I'd like to propose that a "loose" theme to this album is dreams.  There are several references to dreams in the lyrics, and the whole sound of it is sort of like a dream.  Distortion and all, it's messy like most dreams.

So that's that.  If you are too lazy to go buy this one, you can also order it at the Nonesuch Records Store.  You get an instant download while you wait for your physical CD to arrive in the mail (plus you get a bonus track).  Which is almost as cool as what Yep Roc does, which provides instant downloads for mailorder but you can also get vinyl from them.  off topic.

OFS Unlimited

and while I'm talking about "O" artists, I have to blog about OFS Unlimited.  I don't really know anything about them, but this Christmas I got a compilation called Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label.  It seems to be #15 in the Eccentric Soul series, which seems to be just about the greatest series of compilations I've ever heard of.  Even though I only own one of the discs.

Anyway, #15, as its name implies, is about the Prix Label, a small Columbus, OH label that seems to have been as full of talent as any of the big names in soul at the time (Motown, Stax, Atlantic...).  I'm not going to claim to know what I'm talking about here though, because I really don't know my history.  All I know is what I've read on other blogs and liner notes.  So instead of trying to comprehend what this all means, I will get to the point.

OFS Unlimited was a short-lived project of the early 70s that was on the Prix Label.  And they recorded one of the funkiest songs I have ever heard.  They have two songs on this compilation, but "Mister Kidneys" is just too good not to share with the world.  I encourage you to pick up this compilation, and all of the others in the series.  I know I will be doing just that.  

Special kudos to whichever soul blog first alerted me to the existence of this series.  Sadly, I can't remember which one and I don't have time to look it up.  But I'm sure it's somewhere on that column to the right.

Here's the track:

OFS Unlimited - Mister Kidneys

revisited

So a project I've been doing for the past year or so is listening to all of my music in alphabetical order (by artist).  When I started, I had about 11,000 songs.  Now I have about 15,000.  But now that I'm unemployed I've had a lot of time, and I've gotten through the O's pretty quickly.  There are a lot of great O artists.  Of Montreal.  Okkervil River.  Out Hud.  Operation Ivy.  Oingo Boingo.  Oasis.

And of course Outkast.

Listening to The

 Love Below, for the first time I'm really starting to get excited for Speakerboxxx.  I've always loved The Love Below, but it's a little exhausting right now, and I'm really excited for the energy Big Boi will be providing.  The album is always called "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" but when you're listening in alphabetical order, it's the other way around.*  But Speakerboxxx is such an incredible pop hip hop album, and in fact, the first 9 tracks (up until the first damn interlude) all have 4+ star ratings from myself.

Both discs have high ratings from me in general, although The Love Below has more stupid interludes.  Seriously, when will the hip hop world realize that interludes kill their momentum?  Interludes are rarely entertaining upon the first listen, let alone after repeated engagements.  Kudos to Ludacris, by the way, for including NONE on his last album, after being one of the worst in that way.

I am off topic.  But does that really matter?  

My point, really, is that Speakerboxxx is a great, great album that often gets overlooked.  I'm not gonna post an mp3 because chances are you own it yourself.  If you've overlooked it or ever thought of it as inferior to TLB, please give it another listen.  It really holds up.

*and yes, if you know your Outkast discography and your alphabet, this means I don't own Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.  Sorry to disappoint.  I will be sure to pick it up soon.

Savages

I just saw The Savages.  But before I talk about the movie, I have to mention where I saw it.  There's a new theater in Greenwood Village, from Landmark.  It's a brand new theater, and I don't think people really know about it yet.  Mostly because I was the only person in there for my movie.  It is a bit pricey ($12 for a ticket!!) but you get free popcorn and soda, so it kind of evens out.  I almost always end up getting popcorn and soda anyway, and it usually costs me more than $12 in the end.  So there's that.

And being the only person there meant there were a bunch of bored ushers, so I was actually ushered to my theater.  And the dude opened the door for me because my hands were obviously full with popcorn and soda.

Anyway, the movie.  It stars Laura Linney (LOVED her in You Can Count On Me) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (my favorite actor).  I'll let you look at the synopsis and such if you are so inclined, but I just kind of want to spread awareness about this movie.  It's very well done.  Reminds me of those depressing Swedish movies I love so much.  There is a little bit of humor in there, but the whole time I was just kind of blankly depressed.  I wasn't bored really, just saddened by it all, which made it pretty hard to laugh at the mildly humorous bits.

The real reason I watched the movie was for Philip Seymour Hoffman.  After a draught in films starring him ever since Capote (let's just pretend MI: 3 didn't happen), he has a bunch out right now.  He is a brilliant actor as always in this film, but I was kind of surprised to see him play the character that kind of "has it together," much moreso than his sister.  Hoffman is so great at playing the character that's just falling apart, and seeing him in this light was pretty refreshing.  

Laura Linney did a great job taking the lead role in this movie, dealing with her problems with much less grace.  It was really a character driven piece, but only those two characters.  The dad, the centerpiece of the whole thing, was really more of a mcguffin to explore these two characters.  Interesting device.

this song has really nothing to do with the film, other than the title meeting the theme a little bit.  just a little bit.  i'm still new at this whole mp3 blogging thing, you see.

Black Eyes - Fathers of Daughters

buy Cough at dischord.com for only $10!

bender's big score

on this blog, you can expect me to be a little bit "behind."  back at my old job, i could've seen advance screenings for some movies, but now i don't really get anything in advance.  and as far as music goes, i don't really do leaks.

and that is why i just, last night, saw the new Futurama movie, Bender's Big Score.  what the hell?

i loved the series.  it was unjustly cancelled.  it was brilliant but got killed with its time slot (football preempting it all the time).  but like family guy, it got resurrected.  but unlike family guy, it's taken a dive since its cancellation.  i looked and i was surprised to see that it had the same writers as the series originally had (David X. Cohen and Ken Keeler).  I figured they'd brought on random fans of the show and had them write it.  it seriously just feels like fan fiction.  a pale imitation of something great.  it seems kinda lazy that they had so many references to old episode of series.  lazy or an insult.  and by about the 40 minute mark, i was so bored i figured it was almost over.

so i don't know what went wrong here.  maybe the show is best as a half hour episode, and not an 89 minute movie.  because i rarely even chuckled at this.  

they're making a few more of these movies, and i'm sure i'll watch, just hoping for something better.

and here's a song you may sort-of recognize if you're a Futurama fan.  I discovered this on the Pop A Paris vol 2: More Rock 'n' Roll & Mini-Skirts compilation, which I highly recommend.  You can get it on amazon here.

Les Yper-Sound - Psyche Rock

unemployed

you know, now that i don't have a job, i have lots of free time.  so now i shall blog.  because i like to write.  i shall write about the music i enjoy, the films i enjoy, and the stuff i hate.  because i can.  because everybody is doing it.

i don't know how this will pan out, but maybe it will go well.  i hope you enjoy it.  i hope people read this.

i will start off by telling you what blogs i enjoy, because then you may know what sorts of things to expect.

*my first favorite blog was The Number One Songs In Heaven.  sadly, that one ended...but the same guy started a new blog called Crying All The Way To The Chip Shop.  it lacks the soul of number one songs, but it's got diversity, and he just seems to put some real thought behind his selections.

*Absolut Noise.  Super cool Swedish music.  I love Nordic music in general, and there are so many great bands that haven't really gotten distribution/exposure in the states.  so this blog has a lot to share.  this is why i love the internet.

*Free Hiphop Now Syndicate.  your guide to free (and legal!) hip hop.  so many underground hip hop artists put out EPs, LPs, songs, etc, for free, and this blog just about covers it all.  

*I'm Learning To Share!  Kind of a show & tell blog.  more than just music.  magazine scans from the 50s, old cartoons, comics, and much much more.  

*Tuwa's Shanty and The Roots Canal.  rarely updated, but awesome source for great forgotten blues/roots/etc artists.  the main reason i'm jazzed about it is because it just alerted me to this awesome new movie I probably wouldn't have known about.  It's called Honeydripper, sort of about the birth of rock & roll.  it's out in NY/LA, and will probably come to other markets in the next couple of months.

*and of course all those elbo.ws indie rock blogs (stereogum, my old kentucky blog, brooklyn vegan, etc) but you already know those.

and i plan on learning the "read the rest after the jump" trick soon...sorry for the longish post.