Sunday, February 29, 2004
As of 8:30 Pacific time, Starsky & Hutch is in the Blogger ad.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
I am going to see The Passion tomorrow night--Dana really wants to see it. But like everyone else here I'd rather see S&H. I think that technically makes me a chump.
And yes, I have seen movies simply because of the actors. I almost went to see Owen Wilson's latest (he's in Hawaii with a girl who is a criminal or something) just because he was the star. Then I read a number of horrible reviews of it (I mean HORRIBLE), and I figured I should save my cash.
Anyone seen Mystic River? I have seen very good reviews of it, but it's not playing in my area, anymore.
Finally, I think it's funny to monitor the ad at the top of the page to see what they're advertising for. It's always something one of us has mentioned in a post (See the Curb Your Enthusiasm DVD).
And yes, I have seen movies simply because of the actors. I almost went to see Owen Wilson's latest (he's in Hawaii with a girl who is a criminal or something) just because he was the star. Then I read a number of horrible reviews of it (I mean HORRIBLE), and I figured I should save my cash.
Anyone seen Mystic River? I have seen very good reviews of it, but it's not playing in my area, anymore.
Finally, I think it's funny to monitor the ad at the top of the page to see what they're advertising for. It's always something one of us has mentioned in a post (See the Curb Your Enthusiasm DVD).
Friday, February 20, 2004
I think that everyone on this blog is living or at one point lived in the Twin Cities. So, I'll post a link to this article from the Pioneer Press.
Friday, February 13, 2004
Okay, politicos, here's my top 10 of 2003 list. There are a lot of colons in there, so watch out.
1. Blur. Think Tank. Best: Ambulance. (#1)
Although there are songs I definitely do not like (Crazy Beat, We've Got a File on You, and Brothers and Sisters) the rest of the album is great. I spent my summer (1) studying for the bar exam, (2) worrying about the bar exam, and (3) listening to this album. There's really not a whole lot of analysis to be done here; I listened to Think Tank about four times as much as anything else this year, and for that reason it's my number one. I'm still poppin' it in the CD player.
Aw hell, let's "analyze" it.
The thing that's striking about Think Tank is Albarn's creativity, versatility, and, dare I say, brilliance. Somehow this one album contains a huge breadth of sounds and styles. Whatsmore, the different styles are, as near as I can tell, unique and fairly original. Think about how different Ambulance, Out of Time, Good Song, Caravan, and Battery in Your Leg are from each other. Then try to think of another song by anyone else that sounds anything like any of those songs. And THEN think about how Albarn completely nailed each of those styles. Blows your mind, huh?
This is Blur's finest album. I hope there are more.
2. Hey Mercedes. Loses Control. Best: It's Been a Blast. (#2)
It's almost official: emo/math-punk-pop is irrelevant. Don't believe me? Try finding a review of this album. Go ahead, I dare you. In any other year, this would have been my favorite album. I like every song, although there are aspects in a couple that I would change. Bob Nanna is a fabulous song writer, and the rest of the guys rock, too.
I have one quibble with Hey Mercedes. On both of their LPs, the guitars and drums sound jammed together--there's no separation. I wish that you could easily identify the bass drum, the snare, guitar #1 and guitar #2 while listening on the headphones. On most of my favorite recordings I can do this easily. With Hey Mercedes, I can't.
3. The Shins. Chutes Too Narrow. Best: Saint Simon. (#5)
When I first started to fall in love with this album (it took, like, ten listens) I was sure it would end up first or second on my list. But for some reason I stopped listening to it, and I haven't started again. Regardless, it is an amazing album. The first three albums on this list are far away the best the three albums of the year.
I hope the Shins inspire other indie rock bands to experiment with melody instead of sound samples and image (White Stripes, the Strokes, other bands I can't think of right now). A lot of the stuff I have seen reviewed on Pitchfork, CMJ, et al is so deconstructed that I find it boring. The Shins is refreshing in that regard. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of bands playing semi-traditional "songs" (see, e.g., Hey Mercedes), but not many of them are indie trend-setters. That's how I see it for here in sleep Corvallis, Oregon, anyhow.
4. The Strokes. Whatever it's called. Best: Reptilia. (#2)
I don't even own their first album, but this one is fab. And I don't understand why it's been panned as it has.
5. Death Cab for Cutie. Transatlanticism. Best: The Sound of Settling. (#5)
DCFC is the closest thing indie rock has to a "one hit wonder." (See "Company Calls Epilogue" from We have the facts and we're voting yes.) HAD, that is. This is a super album, and I think the DCFC guy has really learned to write a song. I'll buy the next album, for sure.
6. Sloan. Action Pact. Best: Either Gimme That (#1), False Alarm (#5), or Hollow Head (#7). Or I Was Wrong (#9).
Pitchfork's review of Action Pact irked me when I first read it. Damning with faint praise, and all that. But the more I think about it, I think the guy has a point. Sloan, as a band, definitely has its limitations.
But I really like Action Pact. It's great to hear Sloan rocking again. And it's great that Patrick is writing most of the songs ... again. (The guys with the thick-rimmed glasses is Patrick, right? Or is it Christopher?)
7. Radiohead. Hail to the Thief. Best: Scatterbrain (#13). (Close call over There There.)
Two really knock-out fantabulicious songs (There There and Scatterbrain), a couple other really nice number, and a bunch of not very compelling junk. I read a quote from York saying he wanted to make EPs from now on, and after listening to HTTT, I think I understand why.
8. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. Pig Lib + EP. Best: Dynamic Calories (#1-EP)
It's really good. I didn't necessarily get tired of it as others here have (I've listened to is off and on since purchase), but I never fell in love with it, either. I'm trying to decide if SM&TJs is too "clean" sounding compared to Pavement.
9. Iron & Wine: The Sea & the Rythym. Best: none, really.
This really is not that great. As noted below, I loved the 2002 LP. I think I heard this EP is a bunch of tracks not included there. It's interesting to listen to, but the melodies are nowhere near as remarkable as the LP. A good listen, in any event.
10. The Wrens. The Meadowlands. Here's where things start to get really shitty. The Wrens: think Bruce Springteen doing the Get Up Kids lo-fi. I know: ugh!
Other Notes
Like Matt, I discovered Iron&Wine's LP in 2003. Had I discovered it in 2002 it would have been in my top 10. The same can be said for the Sigur Ros LP. It's quite good.
Best Songs of 2003:
Blur: Ambulance.
Outkast: Hey ya.
Hey Mercedes: It's Been a Blast.
Radiohead: Scatterbrain
Hey Mercedes: The Switch
Blur: Out of Time
The Shins: Saint Simon
Radiohead: There There
Hey Mercedes: Quality Revenge at Last
Blur: Caravan
Blur: Good Song
The Shins: Turn A Square
Blur: On the Way to the Club
The Jealous Sound: Hope For Us.
Saves the Day: Anywhere With You.
Some Books that I Read and Enjoyed in 2003:
1. Under the Banner of Heaven. John Krakauer's book on the Mormons.
2. The Da Vinci Code. Fictional thriller centering around the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. Set in France. Light reading, somewhat unbelievable, but a fun read.
3. From Bush to Bush. The latest (and last) Lazlo Toth book. Funny shit.
4. Al Franken's book.
1. Blur. Think Tank. Best: Ambulance. (#1)
Although there are songs I definitely do not like (Crazy Beat, We've Got a File on You, and Brothers and Sisters) the rest of the album is great. I spent my summer (1) studying for the bar exam, (2) worrying about the bar exam, and (3) listening to this album. There's really not a whole lot of analysis to be done here; I listened to Think Tank about four times as much as anything else this year, and for that reason it's my number one. I'm still poppin' it in the CD player.
Aw hell, let's "analyze" it.
The thing that's striking about Think Tank is Albarn's creativity, versatility, and, dare I say, brilliance. Somehow this one album contains a huge breadth of sounds and styles. Whatsmore, the different styles are, as near as I can tell, unique and fairly original. Think about how different Ambulance, Out of Time, Good Song, Caravan, and Battery in Your Leg are from each other. Then try to think of another song by anyone else that sounds anything like any of those songs. And THEN think about how Albarn completely nailed each of those styles. Blows your mind, huh?
This is Blur's finest album. I hope there are more.
2. Hey Mercedes. Loses Control. Best: It's Been a Blast. (#2)
It's almost official: emo/math-punk-pop is irrelevant. Don't believe me? Try finding a review of this album. Go ahead, I dare you. In any other year, this would have been my favorite album. I like every song, although there are aspects in a couple that I would change. Bob Nanna is a fabulous song writer, and the rest of the guys rock, too.
I have one quibble with Hey Mercedes. On both of their LPs, the guitars and drums sound jammed together--there's no separation. I wish that you could easily identify the bass drum, the snare, guitar #1 and guitar #2 while listening on the headphones. On most of my favorite recordings I can do this easily. With Hey Mercedes, I can't.
3. The Shins. Chutes Too Narrow. Best: Saint Simon. (#5)
When I first started to fall in love with this album (it took, like, ten listens) I was sure it would end up first or second on my list. But for some reason I stopped listening to it, and I haven't started again. Regardless, it is an amazing album. The first three albums on this list are far away the best the three albums of the year.
I hope the Shins inspire other indie rock bands to experiment with melody instead of sound samples and image (White Stripes, the Strokes, other bands I can't think of right now). A lot of the stuff I have seen reviewed on Pitchfork, CMJ, et al is so deconstructed that I find it boring. The Shins is refreshing in that regard. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of bands playing semi-traditional "songs" (see, e.g., Hey Mercedes), but not many of them are indie trend-setters. That's how I see it for here in sleep Corvallis, Oregon, anyhow.
4. The Strokes. Whatever it's called. Best: Reptilia. (#2)
I don't even own their first album, but this one is fab. And I don't understand why it's been panned as it has.
5. Death Cab for Cutie. Transatlanticism. Best: The Sound of Settling. (#5)
DCFC is the closest thing indie rock has to a "one hit wonder." (See "Company Calls Epilogue" from We have the facts and we're voting yes.) HAD, that is. This is a super album, and I think the DCFC guy has really learned to write a song. I'll buy the next album, for sure.
6. Sloan. Action Pact. Best: Either Gimme That (#1), False Alarm (#5), or Hollow Head (#7). Or I Was Wrong (#9).
Pitchfork's review of Action Pact irked me when I first read it. Damning with faint praise, and all that. But the more I think about it, I think the guy has a point. Sloan, as a band, definitely has its limitations.
But I really like Action Pact. It's great to hear Sloan rocking again. And it's great that Patrick is writing most of the songs ... again. (The guys with the thick-rimmed glasses is Patrick, right? Or is it Christopher?)
7. Radiohead. Hail to the Thief. Best: Scatterbrain (#13). (Close call over There There.)
Two really knock-out fantabulicious songs (There There and Scatterbrain), a couple other really nice number, and a bunch of not very compelling junk. I read a quote from York saying he wanted to make EPs from now on, and after listening to HTTT, I think I understand why.
8. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. Pig Lib + EP. Best: Dynamic Calories (#1-EP)
It's really good. I didn't necessarily get tired of it as others here have (I've listened to is off and on since purchase), but I never fell in love with it, either. I'm trying to decide if SM&TJs is too "clean" sounding compared to Pavement.
9. Iron & Wine: The Sea & the Rythym. Best: none, really.
This really is not that great. As noted below, I loved the 2002 LP. I think I heard this EP is a bunch of tracks not included there. It's interesting to listen to, but the melodies are nowhere near as remarkable as the LP. A good listen, in any event.
10. The Wrens. The Meadowlands. Here's where things start to get really shitty. The Wrens: think Bruce Springteen doing the Get Up Kids lo-fi. I know: ugh!
Other Notes
Like Matt, I discovered Iron&Wine's LP in 2003. Had I discovered it in 2002 it would have been in my top 10. The same can be said for the Sigur Ros LP. It's quite good.
Best Songs of 2003:
Blur: Ambulance.
Outkast: Hey ya.
Hey Mercedes: It's Been a Blast.
Radiohead: Scatterbrain
Hey Mercedes: The Switch
Blur: Out of Time
The Shins: Saint Simon
Radiohead: There There
Hey Mercedes: Quality Revenge at Last
Blur: Caravan
Blur: Good Song
The Shins: Turn A Square
Blur: On the Way to the Club
The Jealous Sound: Hope For Us.
Saves the Day: Anywhere With You.
Some Books that I Read and Enjoyed in 2003:
1. Under the Banner of Heaven. John Krakauer's book on the Mormons.
2. The Da Vinci Code. Fictional thriller centering around the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. Set in France. Light reading, somewhat unbelievable, but a fun read.
3. From Bush to Bush. The latest (and last) Lazlo Toth book. Funny shit.
4. Al Franken's book.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Adam, I think that's a good point. In Oregon, a notoriously polarized state, everyone here is under the impression that the split lies geographically between the East (liberal) and West (conservative). But really, the liberal pockets are the urban areas (Portland, Salem, Eugene) while everywhere else is conservative. It's quite striking, really.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Wow. Adam comes back and this place EXPLODES!
Nolan and I saw Hey Mercedes at the Entry on Saturday. They were opening for a really happy band called Wheat. We weren?t really sure why they were opening for them. Anyway, HM were awesome.
That's cool. HM is playing with The Fire Theft, Saves the Day, and Grandaddy in Portland on April 15. I'm pretty excited. Where did they play in Minneapolis? The Quest, 7th Street ... the Triple Rock?
I, too, want a big 'ol yellow and blue Visa card. Or an orange and yellow MasterCard. A definite design inefficiency going on the credit card market. (They're all over the place.)
Your trip to Spain sounds fabulous. Think a Spanish-speaking American could live over there? I mean, like want to stay for more than a year? I'm curious to hear about Barcelona. For some reason I picture it as a relatively modern city. True?
Joel: when you sing an Aina song to yourself, do you mimic the singer?s accent? Or do you sing with an American accent?
Ah, Aina's major flaw: can't understand the singer even though he's singing in English. I don't even try to sing along, although I'd like to.
I was only able to find the Bipartite and Chrysanthemum cds. I like them both, and would like to hear the one you say is their best.
Well, I obviously haven't heard Chrysanthemum. And to be honest, I wasn't overly impressed with Bipartite (recorded by J. RObbins). I liked it, but I don't love it. I still like Aina's selt-titled and Sevens LPs the best. I still think Aina is a super band. There's something about their simplicity that I totally dig. I'm dying to hear the Chrysanthemum EP.
Have you looked at the Barcelona Core website? (www.bcoredisc.com). It?s all in Spanish, but I was wondering what some of the other bands sound like.
I have been there, but as you say, it's in Spanish and I can't really navigate my way around there because of that.
I think the O'Reilly stuff is hilarious. That comment is part of much larger "drama." Back in May of 2003 on Good Morning, America he said something like: "If we go in and take Baghdad, remove Saddam, and find no WMDs, I will apologize and never trust the Bush administration again." It was seriously almost exactly that. Then this fall, when asked about that quote he said something like "I only said I would apologize if we find that Bush lied." (Obviously back-tracking.) Since then he's been called on it so many times that he can't really deny what he said. So now I guess we get quotes like the one you found. I'm kind of embarrassed that I even know that much about such a minor human. And to be honest, I am surprised that the US found absolutely no WMDs. I mean, wow.
Which brings me to Matt's post. Matt, nice post. Re: the 2004 election I will say this: I do not feel "good"--I am not confident at all--but unlike two months ago, I no longer feel bad. I'm feeling "better." At this point I think it is conceivable that Kerry will beat Bush. Bush's performance on "Meet the Prez" '(as the Daily Show called it) was really, really bad. I mean, he sounded HORRRRRIBLE. And quite frankly, Kerry sounds good. I don't know, as a Democrat I don't think we could have realistically hoped for a better candidate. He's articulate, he looks (physically) strong, he's a military man, and he's not crazy-left-winger-man (he's not Dean). Unfortunately he's from Massachussets, but you can't have everything.
And the polarization discussion is interesting, too. I have always thought that America is a nation clustered around the middle, and I still think it is. But it's becoming increasingly clear to me that that little axiom applies only to fiscal issues. Social issues just tear people apart. And sometimes when I am talking to someone I don't really know very well, I think "you know, I'm talking to you and we're agreeing that (insert boring coversational topic, e.g., "it sure is rainy here in Oregon")." But if we exchanged our views on gay marriage, or preemptive miliary action, or even evolution, for G(g)od's sake, we'd probably disagree on half of those issues, and probably dramatically. Diversity is nice, but not really.
Finally ...
Joel, it's just for sampling purposes. If/when I like it, I'll buy more online.
Okay. Keep me posted, and "cc" me on all future correspondence.
Nolan and I saw Hey Mercedes at the Entry on Saturday. They were opening for a really happy band called Wheat. We weren?t really sure why they were opening for them. Anyway, HM were awesome.
That's cool. HM is playing with The Fire Theft, Saves the Day, and Grandaddy in Portland on April 15. I'm pretty excited. Where did they play in Minneapolis? The Quest, 7th Street ... the Triple Rock?
I, too, want a big 'ol yellow and blue Visa card. Or an orange and yellow MasterCard. A definite design inefficiency going on the credit card market. (They're all over the place.)
Your trip to Spain sounds fabulous. Think a Spanish-speaking American could live over there? I mean, like want to stay for more than a year? I'm curious to hear about Barcelona. For some reason I picture it as a relatively modern city. True?
Joel: when you sing an Aina song to yourself, do you mimic the singer?s accent? Or do you sing with an American accent?
Ah, Aina's major flaw: can't understand the singer even though he's singing in English. I don't even try to sing along, although I'd like to.
I was only able to find the Bipartite and Chrysanthemum cds. I like them both, and would like to hear the one you say is their best.
Well, I obviously haven't heard Chrysanthemum. And to be honest, I wasn't overly impressed with Bipartite (recorded by J. RObbins). I liked it, but I don't love it. I still like Aina's selt-titled and Sevens LPs the best. I still think Aina is a super band. There's something about their simplicity that I totally dig. I'm dying to hear the Chrysanthemum EP.
Have you looked at the Barcelona Core website? (www.bcoredisc.com). It?s all in Spanish, but I was wondering what some of the other bands sound like.
I have been there, but as you say, it's in Spanish and I can't really navigate my way around there because of that.
I think the O'Reilly stuff is hilarious. That comment is part of much larger "drama." Back in May of 2003 on Good Morning, America he said something like: "If we go in and take Baghdad, remove Saddam, and find no WMDs, I will apologize and never trust the Bush administration again." It was seriously almost exactly that. Then this fall, when asked about that quote he said something like "I only said I would apologize if we find that Bush lied." (Obviously back-tracking.) Since then he's been called on it so many times that he can't really deny what he said. So now I guess we get quotes like the one you found. I'm kind of embarrassed that I even know that much about such a minor human. And to be honest, I am surprised that the US found absolutely no WMDs. I mean, wow.
Which brings me to Matt's post. Matt, nice post. Re: the 2004 election I will say this: I do not feel "good"--I am not confident at all--but unlike two months ago, I no longer feel bad. I'm feeling "better." At this point I think it is conceivable that Kerry will beat Bush. Bush's performance on "Meet the Prez" '(as the Daily Show called it) was really, really bad. I mean, he sounded HORRRRRIBLE. And quite frankly, Kerry sounds good. I don't know, as a Democrat I don't think we could have realistically hoped for a better candidate. He's articulate, he looks (physically) strong, he's a military man, and he's not crazy-left-winger-man (he's not Dean). Unfortunately he's from Massachussets, but you can't have everything.
And the polarization discussion is interesting, too. I have always thought that America is a nation clustered around the middle, and I still think it is. But it's becoming increasingly clear to me that that little axiom applies only to fiscal issues. Social issues just tear people apart. And sometimes when I am talking to someone I don't really know very well, I think "you know, I'm talking to you and we're agreeing that (insert boring coversational topic, e.g., "it sure is rainy here in Oregon")." But if we exchanged our views on gay marriage, or preemptive miliary action, or even evolution, for G(g)od's sake, we'd probably disagree on half of those issues, and probably dramatically. Diversity is nice, but not really.
Finally ...
Joel, it's just for sampling purposes. If/when I like it, I'll buy more online.
Okay. Keep me posted, and "cc" me on all future correspondence.
Monday, February 09, 2004
I thought I owned every Aina LP. What is Chrysanthemum?
Thursday, February 05, 2004
I watched Adaptation again last night. I love the scene where Donny is explaining to Charlie how he's going to put a "cool chase scene" into his screenplay. The line he has goes something like, "There's a cop on a horse chasing the killer on a motorcycle. It's really a battle between motors and horses. Like, technology versus . . . horse."
