Saturday, July 22, 2006

The Return

Current mood: amused
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Well, I can finally say what I've been waiting to say for about 9 years now, and it is "That movie was fucking great." Not an exclamation, but just a simple fact. I know that F-Bomb may make some of my reader's cringe, however I feel like this movie warrents that word in said statement.

The movie in question is brought to all of us by none other than Writer/Director/Producer/Actor/Editor/Puppeteer (only the most diehard of fans will know what I'm refering to)/Spoken Word Artist (ha) and newest addition to my friends on this lovely site. Of course I'm refering to Kevin Smith and his newest movie "Clerks II." Of course we all know that going back to the well for success won't win him any points for originality, however he needed this movie to reestablish himself as a seminal figure of "my" generation. He's a little before my time as he's approaching middle age, but we're all in this together as far as I can tell.

Let's get one thing straight, ever since I saw Mallrats my sophomore year (I think) of high school I have gone to every one in the theatre opening weekend (with the exception of Chasing Amy, because Sioux Falls and Carmike are pitiful, ANYWAY). So this entry is very biased, but it's not a review, so to hell with it. I have been a huge fan for awhile, I even purchased the new Mallrats 10th anniversary edition of that particular film. It's basically no different than the other one I had spent $30 on 4 years ago, just in a different order. Damn you! And Smith belittles us all for living in our parents' basement, and lets DP Dave Klein speak. But I digress...

This movie should be nothing short of saving Kevin's career, and believe me, I was worried for quite some time. Jay and Silent Bob? Loved it, but not too many other people got it. Jersey Girl? Love that as well, loved the Will Smith cameo, loved that J-Lo bit the big one in the first 15 minutes. That alone should have made this film bigger than Titanic. Seriously.

Of course, you have to see the first one for this second installment to make any sense what-so-ever. Brain O'Halloran is great reprising his role as "Dante Hicks" who is the guy who's own laziness and unwillingness to let good things happen to him paint him as the perfect "why me?" former twentysomething. Jeff Anderson is brilliant stepping into the shoes of "Randal Graves" once again. His flare and attitude make you laugh with glee and leaves you with the thought that you shouldn't be laughing at what he says, but he's so reGoddamndiculously over the top you just can't help it. I've learned that I'm in love with Rosario Dawson as well. Maybe not her, but her character in the movie. I'm sure much to the shagrin of my girlfriend (don't worry, I still love you more ) this will come as a bit of a blow. She plays the part so well, I almost forgot that I was watching a movie. I felt like I was watching someone's real life. When I see Brad Pitt eating chicken with Angelina Jolie and then he starts shooting at her in the next few scenes, I don't fucking buy that. That's Hollywood. This is what Smith does, he demystifies the process and the finished product, and that's why no one likes him as much as Quentin Tarantino (another Miramax stablemate), because he's not as "smart." Don't get me wrong, I love Tarantino, but give Smith his due. He's going to be around for awhile, and God bless him for it.

I don't want to give away any of the movie and spoil it for anyone. But if you read this blog, you have to go see this movie. Or a piano will fall on your head and you will also have bad luck and herpes for the rest of your life. Isn't this how you get people to do stuff on MySpace? Make them forward your shit or you'll die of gonorrhea? That's my understanding anyway.

Sincerely,

Big Papi Jr.

P.S. I think I'm obsessed with STD's today...oh well.

Currently watching :
Clerks II

Friday, July 21, 2006

Random Thoughts

Current mood: tired
Category: Life

Did you know that Wal-Mart sells thongs for men? Not that completely astounded by this, it's just that the garden variety male Wal-Mart shopper is neither interested or in proper physical condition to be making this sort of purchase.

Is it strange that I'm on a HUGE, let me reiterate, HUGE early to mid 90's music kick?? Most noteable bands include (in no particular order) Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Pavement, Smashing Pumpkins, and yes, even Nirvana. Right now I am convinced that "Down On the Upside" is right up there with "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Yeah, I think I answered my own question.

I miss my girlfriend even more now that she is in Colorado. This is a little nonsensical given the fact that on a normal day she is roughly 350 miles away from me anyway. Just thought I would share.

Is it just me? I was watching ABC Family re-runs and the Olsen (or Olson, I don't know) twins looked like little twin apes when they were little tots. Now they look like minature anorexic Micheal Jacksons.

Right now I am really digging the director's commentary tracks on almost all of my movies. Tonight I watched the "Music Composition" commentary on my "Seven" special edition double DVD. Oh, I also went out to eat with my Mom. Also, I'd like you to note the day of the week.

I just remembered that it's past 11pm and my updates will cease to exist on my cell phone from ESPN. I stop them on purpose as I'm usually in bed by this time during the week. However, my Red Sawx are playing the Mariners in Seattle. Looks like I'll have to use (gasp!) the internet. Remember when the internet on a computer used to be the end all be all??

I feel like I should be better about making an effort to not only hang out with my friends, but just contact them more in general. Maybe that's why a lot of my friends think I'm an asshole sometimes. I think I'm just getting boring.

I'm so ready to move. Beneficial in KC now has 4 possitions open in areas of town that I would love to be around. Especially Lee's Summit as that's where I see me spending a good portion of my next, oh I don't know, rest of my life. At least at this point, who knows where we'll end up.

I ate like total shit today. Egg bake in the morning, for those not in the know it's something like this...Take eggs (obvious) cheese, hash browns, sausage or bacon, and any assorted omelet ingredients and put in a cake pan (I think that's what it was) and bake it. It's actually better than it sounds. Papa John's pizza, and Chinese for dinner. Blah, I feel like the back of my toilet looks after a week of not cleaning it. Too graphic? Sorry...not really.

I'm also really getting into my library of comedy CD's. God I forgot how much sense Denis Leary makes. He makes even more sense today now that the country is even more P.C. and even more politically polarized. I wish when he is on a break from "Rescue Me" that he'd do some stand up special, maybe HBO. Maybe Comedy Central, but not in prime time. You know, the time slot where they play SouthPark: Bigger Longer Uncut every other Saturday night. Just a note, I hate every comic on the Blue Collar Comedy tour except Ron White, the least famous of the four. That dude is hill-air-ee-us. Larry the Cable Guy is quite possibly the worst thing to happen to stand up in like, well, forever.

I've got the first free weekend I've had in a long time. Which is good/bad at the same time. It's means that I don't have to work a minute, but it also means I won't be seeing Stephanie at all. Next weekend though! I'm planning on seeing Clerks II, doing a little golfing tomorrow afternoon, and maybe bothering one or two of my friends for some cocktails. Sunday will be fun, Wild Wings, Beer, and the first Storm playoff game. I say first because they're going all the way, again...

And with that, I'm going to get away from MySpace to make me feel better about being home on a Friday night with nothing to do in the morning.

Connichiwa bitches!

P.S. Why is it that like everytime I put up an entry, the Playing(Music) field NEVER fucking works?? I'm listening to Pearl Jam's "Vs." by the way.

(This later would be edited on Saturday, July 22 in the year two thousand and six.)

Currently listening :
Vs.
By Pearl Jam
Release date: By 19 October, 1993

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MontERNa

Quite possibly the BEST blog I've read in ages. LOVE IT!

Posted by MontERNa on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 3:08 PM
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Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Favorite Albums...Part 2

Current mood: working
Category: Music

Rather than staying in the same mode and writing about another album from years ago, I'm going to go with my favorite "newer album of the past year or two." For those of you that are in contact with me on a regular basis, this selection should come as no surprise to you. The next album from my library of albums is Bloc Party's "Silent Alarm."

This disc is part of the final era of decent music recommended by my former favorite magazine. I was very skeptical at first as they were being labled as a Franz Ferdinand protege band as they were supporting that band on their European tour in 2004. Not that I don't like Franz Ferdinand, because I like their quirky tone, I just don't like copycat bands so much. However, once the album broke in the States I decided to give it a whirl like any good student of music should do.

The buzz was not without it's merit. More often than not, bands that are catching a lot of critical and mild commercial success often fall prey to any number of pitfalls, not in any order of importance, but usually they don't live up to the hype. This particular album spiked way above my expectations. I downloaded "Banquet" and "So Here We Are" (the latter made somewhat famous by the eMusic.com adverts late last and early this year). With that I rushed to the local music store (still give love to Ernie November's overpriced CD's and Vinyl) and picked up "Silent Alarm" along with Sleater-Kinney's "The Woods" and The Boss' "Devils and Dust" on LP.

So, on to the material itself. The first song starts out almost sloppily and all parts musically seem to be on a different page as the whirling guitar affect used to open the track hangs above the almost jolting bass note repeating over and over. It would get nerve racking to someone with no patience. About thirty seconds into the song's intro, Matt Tong's thumping drum beat ties everything together and holds it on course, as it does much of the album. Not long Kele Okereke's vocals shoot into the "almost melody" and begin to take shape in the "I'm English and hard to understand" type of way that I loved about 80's New Wave bands. After the opening lines, Gordon Moake's bass settles into a steady groove and coupled with Okereke's rhythm guitar along with Russell Lissack's additional guitar work, the train that was once coming off the tracks beings to barrel down the line into one of the best chorues I've heard in quite some time.

The music is furious and almost desperate sounding and grabs ahold of anyone that has a pulse. It doesn't make you move, it doesn't politely ask you to get out of your chair, it tells you to move. It orders you around. The opening track moves almost seamlessly into "Helicopter" which continues the up tempo beat and driving guitar work. "Positive Tension" brings the Party back to a more stable pace as to not "blow their wad." These guys have obviously watched "High Fidelity" a time or two. The song is almost deceiving except that you remember the first two songs and are almost waiting for the pace to quicken and kick you in the teeth, which it does about halfway into the track to an almost anarchic pace.

Alarm's crowning achievement resides in the forth slot on the CD, therefore cementing that most awesome songs on every album will generally appear on the forth track, which of course is "Banquet" and I'm sure you've heard this song before. But try this trick sometime sometime, you'll see that I'm right. Bloc Part seems to be able to master the "slow to quick" transition that most bands don't have a clue how to do in their entire musical career, let alone their first full length LP. The chorus is also unbelievably good and the hook is as catchy as apple pie. These guys seem to have a knack for taking the Verse/Chorus/Verse transitions to a new level.

The next two songs are more or less filler tracks that would otherwise, be unable to stand on their own two legs. However, as far as filler songs go, "Blue Light" is a good break from the Verse/Chorus/Verse formula used in the opening of the album. A good sign of a great record is the ability to switch gears multiple times and have it go almost unnoticed. "She's Hearing Voices" brings the pace back up a tad with an awesome opening drum beat and a surefire way to start the concert crowd clapping before Kele gets into the vocals of the song. It's the song that the band uses to "pump the crowd up" if there seems to be a lull at a live show (hard to imagine). Audience participation is a must, however I digress from my essay.

The next song is the VERY 80's sounding "This Modern Love." If the song would have been written and produced in 1985 it no doubt would have ended up in the part of a John Hughes film where the protagonist sees the girl he is pining over make the wrong decision and decides to kiss the starting quarterback at prom. More than likely said protagonist would be played by none other than Michael Anthony Hall (like you were thinking of someone else!). You can feel that nostalgic desire tugging at your heart strings right now, can't you? I know when I hear it I have my own personal story to attatch to it.

After the bright spot that is "This Modern Love" the desperation and longing of "Pioneers" and "Price of Gas" take the feeling back to the mood of the opening track of the album. If these guys sucked, these would have been the second and third tracks on the album, but luckily for the good of all humanity, these guys do not suck. "Pioneers" makes you feel (after deciphering the lyrics about five times) like you could have overcome those events in life that you kick yourself in the butt for not accomplishing. The song "Price of Gas" starts out with not only a marching drum beat, but marching itself! Genius! Brilliant! Sorry, anyway... Singing about the price of gas these days is about as poingant as Robert Plant telling the 4,689th groupie he slept with on the song "Black Dog" that he was "Gonna make you burn/gonna make you sting." Ouch Bob, thanks for the description.

Usually the ability to do something new and frest on an album that stretches itself over the 9 or 10 song mark will eventually lose it's ability to surprise the listener. However "Little Thoughts" takes that notion and kicks it squarely in the common misconceptions. Another upbeat and hopefully desperate song. I swear this album is perfect for every melodramatic guy who never got the girl that he really wanted in high school. Where was this album in 1997? The steady rhythm and melody of the song is what keeps this song going from start to finish and is surprisingly tight for a band that thrived on playing with the idea of becoming derailed and any second on any track. Not that it makes the song any less exciting, it's just a good change, which if you have been reading along I get a tremendous amount of enjoyment from.

"So Here We Are" is a gentle and melodic near masterpiece. It ranks up there with my favorite dreamy and airy songs of all time, and I happen to be an expert in this category. It makes you feel on top of the world and almost melancholy at the same time. The mix of emotions that I feel on this track are something that is rare in music for me, but is also a very moving blend that I enjoy only so often.

Just when you think the album is going to fall off again, Luno breaks out right away with another furious beat and melody that hits you hard upside the head with it's crazy lyrics and unbelievably fast beat. Did I mention that Tong's drumming was fast?? Also, the perfect metronome timing is also something to marvel at.

Now with all the love I've been giving this CD, you'd think I was going to have some criticism right? Well, you are stark wrong. I like that the album ends on two almost foreign and haunting tracks. The second to last song "Plans" yanks you out of the fast paced bonanza you experienced on the last track. It's slow moving beat begin to pull you off the rollercoaster ride you have just experienced for the past 35+ minutes. It's a great setup for the very downtroden "Compliments" that caps off the album. It's almost a mechanical sounding song that is in stark contrast to the rest of the record, and leaves you almost in a chill, which is probably what you did not expect about halfway through the album.

"Silent Alarm" makes no apologies for it's almost sloppy composure, because it makes up for something that has been lost in popular music for some time now, and that's unexpected excitment. I'm going to use the cliched line that I hate, but it fits so well. This album to me last year was like a breath of fresh air. It gave me hope right when I thought music was going completely shitty, even the underground music I listen to that you've never heard of. (My obligitory snob comment). I like that these guys are not famous, but I also hate it. It's the conundrum that every indie music fan has dealt with since the day they purchased a CD that wasn't on a major label, or stepped foot inside a locally owned insense smelling record store, or got their first taste of local music. You think they are good enough to take over the world, however you want to keep them for your own and not share them with the 35 year old lady who lives down the hall or street that is shopping at The Buckle and trying desperately to remain "hip." I make no bones about getting older, I'll always listen to "cool" music because it's in my blood. And this album may be the best one that I experience in the next ten year period.

Cheers!

Currently reading :
Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story
By Chuck Klosterman
Release date: By 28 June, 2005

7:36 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Stephanie

Who needs Spin when the world has you!

Posted by Stephanie on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 9:57 PM
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Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Favorite Albums...Part 1

Current mood: happy
Category: Music

Disclaimer: As this is my first entry in the series, it could be updated and edited later

So I thought I'd try a little change of pace and write about something that is important to me, and that is music. We'll see how long I can continue this adventure series I like to call "Favorite Albums" (haha).

First up is one of my favorite "lo-fi" or "indie" artists of all time, even though she really has sort of crossed over this decade. Of course, it should be as no surpirse to some of you, that this individuals is none other than Liz Phair. The album that stands out for me is not the minimalist break through album of "Exile in Guyville" although that piece is very catchy and beautiful in it's simplicity, "Whip-Smart" was my first introduction to her. I read about her in my former favorite rag (the magazine formerly known as Spin, I now call it Spun, not funny but I was having a non-creative day that day. I was angry, see previous posting for more information) Spin.

On one rainy Sunday August afternoon in the year of 1994 while my mom was shopping at the Half Price Store for school supplies I walked over the the neighboring Best Buy (when you could still actually walk through the Western Mall to get to it from the inside. Remember that??). Anyway, I was going to pick up her latest album because of it's solid review in the magazine and the fact that it was a little more heavy (now with drums! as opposed to "Exile") so of course that interested me. So I picked up the album with a drawing of a strange boy holding up flowers who looked like the fellow from the cover of "Mad Magazine" and a circle in the middle of the cover with and extreme close up of a woman who I guess was Liz.

Of course I had my discman with me so I could listen to it on the way home. You have to understand that after my 8th grade year I was coming off my "metal year" and was still a little freaked out by this "indie" music, but something inside of me said I needed to grow up musically.

The first track is a rendition of the classic piano novices' "Chopsticks" So far so good, although the line "He asked if we could do it backwards/I said that's just fine with me/That way we can fuck and watch TV" was a little raw for a 14 year old boy to hear. Of course the next song that kicked in was the mildly popular "Supernova" which is still one of my favorite Phair songs of all time. It currently resides in the "Best Songs Ever" playlist on my iPod. The "heavyness" (a word? hmm) of the song combined with the smooth yet somewhat raw vocal stylings of Ms. Phair made for an interesting mix that has had me hooked for the last 12 years. Even after her eventual crossover into "Mall Music Era Liz Phair."

The next several tracks, especially "Shane" and "Nashville," were the staple sound of the mid to late 90's Matador Records efforts. They are very haunting to me and and resonated immediatly with my changing musical tastes.

The songs following in the later half of the album are mostly cheery and upbeat but still in the vein of being simplistic enough in their arrangements to still be considered "indie." Although this portion of the album may not have the most memborable tracks, it does however turn into one of the most solid backbones of any Matador album in existance. At least in my humble opinion. The track "Jealousy" contains a small tribute to one of my favorite bands of all time, where at the end of the song is a mixed up backwards guitar chord that closely resembles the same effect on the final track of Led Zeppelin IV (so it's called by me, please, no debating as it is just a preference) "When the Levee Breaks" so, kudos to Ms. Phair. The 3rd and 2nd to last songs are a little downtrodden but segway quite nicely into the slow starting but energetically climaxing "May Queen" which is one of my favorite closing songs on any album that I'll put up here.

So there you have it, one of my favorite albums of all time. All of these records will bookmark a certain section of my life that while listening to the album, usually brings me back to the exact time and place of first falling in love with any particular piece of music. This offering brings me right back to the fall of '94 and the first semester of my freshman year at Washington. Not exactly into Nirvana anymore, but wanting something a little more my own so I could seperate myself from what everyone else was listening to at the time. This type of music led me down the path that I'm still traveling, and while most indie rock purists have abandoned Liz, I still love her work and embrace most everything she continues to put out. I just wish she wouldn't try as hard to be a people pleaser and stick to making music I believe she would rather make. Although I'm very against stifling any artist and which direciton they wish to take their music.

Stay tuned for more...

Currently listening :
Whip-Smart
By Liz Phair
Release date: 01 October, 1996