RIP
P.S. I dig the badass song, “Threw My Girl A Party” by BBQ aka Mark Sultan.
Chris
Movie Review: Phoebe In Wonderland
I recently watched a film called “Phoebe In Wonderland.” I might say this is an excellent movie. “Phoebe In Wonderland” tells the story of Phoebe (Elle Fanning), a “unique” 9-year old girl who gets cast as Alice in her school’s production of “Alice in Wonderland.” Then, the various characters come to her to give her advice on her personal life, for she is as I said before “unique.” Bill Pullman, Felicity Huffman and Patricia Clarkson also are featured in this. This film is done very stylistically. It has a, dare I say, “Wonderland”-like quality to it in the various sequences when Phoebe sees her Wonderland friends. Director/Writer Daniel Barnz really makes you feel sympathetic for all the characters involved. Now, this movie could be categorized as a tragicomedy. At some points, you feel really upset for what Phoebe has to deal with and the lack of understanding expressed towards her. At other points, it is genuinely funny. One point is a certain monologue by Ms. Dodger (Patricia Clarkson), the eccentric director, about how when she was 10-years old, she “played Cleopatra and held the asp to her breast. You could hear a pin drop everyone was so entranced.” Also, one of my new favorite lines, “Is it AIDS?” is in this movie. A very touching film that deals with the modern child and the apparent ADHD epidemic that is sweeping the nation.
Overall Grade: A
EP Review: Abnormalities (2010)
Band: The Spill Canvas
Release: 2010
Label: Sire
1. “Gateway Drug” – B-
2. “Don’t Let Your Enemies Become Friends” – C-
3. “Good Graces, Bad Influence” – C+
Comments: I liken this band to Head Automatica, with evident styles in pop-punk and power-pop. Like HA, the Spill Canvas manages to (mostly) stay outside the obnoxious zone that so many bands of today tend to fall in. HA is a lot catchier, but this definitely is comparable.
Grade: C (76)
AOL YOU SUCK
Top headline is something about the Earthquake disaster in Haiti. The next big headline? Something about American Idol.
Song of the Day
Gaye Blades- Please Don’t Get Married (year?)
I admit not as fabulous as the classic, “Bobby Is A lover,” but I just heard this one so, I decided to share this great music with y’all whom couldn’t possibly discover such fine art on your own. Gaye Blades = Music to poppy for the Black Lips catalog. RIP Bobby Ubangi!
Chris
BLACK LIPS + BOX ELDERS !!!!
BLACK LIPS
BOX ELDERS
WHATTTTTTTT?
TRUE STORY. MARCH 25 @ MID EAST DOWNSTAIRS
TICKETS ON SALE JANUARY 15.
FUCK YEAH!
CD Review: Realism (2010)
Band: Magnetic Fields
Release: 2010
Label: Nonesuch Records
1. “You Must Be Out of Your Mind”- B+
2. “Interlude” – C-
3. “We Are Having A Hootenanny” – C
4. “I Don’t Know What To Say” – C-
5. “The Dolls Tea Party” – D
6. “Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree” – D+
7. “Walk Alone” – C
8. “Always Already Gone” – C-
9. “Seduced and Abandoned” – B-
10. “Better Things” – B+
11. “Painted Flower” – C-
12. “The Dada Polka” – C
13. “From A Sinking Boat” – C
Comments: Realism comes off as a joke, considering the lyrical content and light instrumentation. Even at their most amateur, Merritt and crew fail to win “cute” points, if that’s what they were shooting for. Jens Lekman, oft compared to Merritt, does well in that department (which, by the way, is a musical aesthetic not a physical characteristic). Some songs succeed when the cheese level is turned down. This album isn’t utter shit, but you have to be a patient listener to appreciate it.
Grade: C (74)
Quote of the Day
Posted on No Age’s wall on Facebook:
“Weirdo Rippers made me start eating meat again.”
OBLIVIANS!
Paved the way for the young Reatard and other Garage enthusiasts. You can especially hear the influence in the percussion.
Chris
My Top Five Favorite Sequels
Shot of young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) gaining his first taste with murder as he is about to shoot public enemy Don Fanucci in the Godfather Part II
1) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (James Cameron, 1991)- Perhaps the greatest action flick of all time and certainly a milestone for special effects. An overall fun time by all!
2) The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008)- One of the greatest (summer) blockbusters of modern times. You couldn’t turn your head without hearing a patron poorly imitating the Joker’s, “why so serious?” Action was entertaining, characters were well developed, dialogue was memorable, and the story closely followed the original comics. All in all, far more enjoyable than it’s predecessor. RIP Heath Ledger
3) Clerks II (Kevin Smith, 2006)- Quite frankly, I was shocked this film was so marvelous! Being a huge fan of the original Clerks (1994) (# 3 on my list of all time favorites), I honestly did not anticipate Smith’s sequel to the live up to the first film’s greatness, but I was dead wrong. The unlikely duo of Dante (Brian O’ Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) are just as funny and pathetic (perhaps more pathetic!) in their 30s as they were in their 20s. Smith maintains the witty raunchiness we love in our View Askew joints and simultaneous creates a heartfelt masterpiece.
4) The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)- How do you top The Godfather (1972) arguably the greatest film in cinematic history? Well, you can’t! On the other hand, audiences fell in love with this sequel and many fans favor it over numero uno. In fact, it was awarded Best Picture at the Academy Awards, I believe the only sequel to do such a thing. Anyway, this picture continues the disturbing story of Michael Corleone and follows him into his darkest hour. By the end of the film, Michael is truly all alone with his sinister self.
5) Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kirshner, 1980)- The darkest and for many the greatest of the original Star Wars Trilogy. There are no victories, no happy endings and no cuddily ewoks. This time the good guys don’t win, but it leaves we, the viewers lingering for more, like any good story should. With the introduction of the incredibly small, but sagacious Jedi Master, Yoda, the shocking revelation that Darth Vader is actually Luke Skywalker’s papa, and the badassness of Boba Fett, Empire is Fantasy Drama at it’s finest.
Note: Technically, Kill Bill Volume 2 (Quentin Tarantino, 2004) should be number one, but I do not think of it as a sequel, rather I view both Volume 1 and 2 as an entire, epic masterpiece.
Chris
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 