Listening to the “Party Favorites” channel on Comcast, I came across a good song here and there like “Burning Down the House” by the Talking Heads, which I actually felt was more of an eclectic “Party Favorite,” but still definitely suitable. Then comes on this song that I actually confused for a similar sounding King Khan and the Shrines song. Shame on me, because I read the words “Smash Mouth” on the screen! The song? “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby.” I will whole-heartedly acknowledge that I suck at music history (and this post is sure to piss off one Ben Tan if he ever gets around to reading it) so yeah, I didn’t know that ? and the Mysterians did it first and then Smash Mouth covered it. It’s really garage-y and showy hence my WTF this is actually decent party shit reaction. That’s that!
Farewell Harpers, I saw several great artists at your venue including Jay Reatard, Box Elders, Hunx and His Punx, Nobunny, Trevor Hall, Kurt Vile, Real Estate, TV Smith, Pretty and Nice, amongst others. Not to mention the long list of notable artists I did not see perform there. So long!
Full Title: Detroit Rock City Director: Adam Rifkin Year: 1999 Comments: This is straight up fun, fun, fun film about the nightmare of losing your KISS tickets the day of the concert and winding up in every possible adventure to make it to the show and see the HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD!!! Sure, this is over the top, absurd, and lacks many aspects of what typically makes a film decent, but this is just a wacky, fun filled flick to be taken lightly. I will say, I never lose my interest the entire movie; I can’t wait to see what obstacle will arise next in the boys’ journey to seeing KISS.
Grade: N/A, this is just a cool, popcorn movie, so I really don’t think slapping a grade on it is useful. It’s KLYAM Recommended that’s all you need to know.
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Full Title: High Fidelity Director: Stephen Frears Year: 2000 Comments: Our second film regarding life and music, High Fidelity, however is more substance than style and eshews basic Hollywood cliches, creating a masterful love story in the process. HF is quite humorous and should be appreciated by (OBSESSIVE) music fans, such as myself, often hitting too close to home haha. In my opinion, John Cusack’s greatest performance. The acting is great, the script is well-written, and the story nicely unfolds without the aforementioned, cliched Hollywood ending. If you’re a fan of good love stories and pop music, give this some eyetime.
Grade: A ><
Full Title: The Doors Director: Oliver Stone Year: 1991 Comments: For Doors fans, you should know up front this is a rather loose interpretation of their history, a “vision” of what actually happened, if you will. But, you probably will dig the plethora of excellent Doors music, the astonishingly scary depiction of Mr. Mojo Risin from Val Kilmer, and lastly the visual look of the film, which is simply stunning. For accuracy, look elsewhere. For a sad, but genuinely entertaining and thoughtful look at the decadence and tragedy of the Rockstar lifestyle, The Doors is your movie. Without a doubt one of Stone’s essentials.
Grade: A/A-
Full Title: Rear Window Director: Alfred Hitchcock Year: 1954 Comments This is arguably the greatest offering from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Hitch’s 1954 classic more than holds up and is perhaps just as suspenseful now as fifty-six years ago. Briefly, the plot concerns the dull day to day life of Jeff (James Stewart) a wheel chair bound photographer as he has nothing left to do but satisfy his carnal base needs through spying (via binoculars) on his neighbours. As the movie progresses, we sympathize with Jeff because we have, ourselves, become voyeurs just like him as the film is through his point of view. The suspense kicks in further when Jeff stumbles upon a murder from one of his neighbours. The rest of the film is Jeff trying to convince everyone else that a murder took place and the killer should be brought to justice. Only Hitchcock can take this story and make it as thrilling as it is. Fuck Disturbia (2006)! In other words, if you haven’t already, watch this film, it’s amazing; not as good as Psycho (1960), but what is?
>Grade: A
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Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 