Hey guys,
Let me tell you a story...
Out driving around, trying to decide what to go to get to eat about a month-and-a-half ago, I'm flipping around on my Sirius radio... You see I'm tired of the same old thing and I'd been listening to my stranger favorites... So I stop on the channel: Left of Center, which as you can tell by the title, doesn't play your run-of-the-mill stuff...
I stop because I hear this strange but intriguing electronic sound and a stellar female voice soaring above it all... The song was called "Earth Intruders" by someone who I'd been wanting to get into for a long time, the Icelandic songstress: Bjork...
Well, I had been listening to the Mars Volta for about the week leading up to that Saturday night, so I come home and (as I obsessively do) get onto YouTube and find about every Mars Volta clip I can and watch them... Who does the singer of the Mars Volta, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, give first as his vocal influence as I'm watching a clip... That's right... None other than Bjork herself... He'd seen her with performing with the Sugarcubes back in the day when he had been a roadie or something, helping to set up equipment... Turns out Bjork's latest album is called Volta, as well...
Well, I took this all as a sign and downloaded Bjork's aptly-titled solo album Debut... Man... Wow...
I'm glad I did... I wasn't blogging very much at the time, so I've taken this opportunity to let you guys know about Bjork, since I've recently been spinning Debut again...
AND... (You knew it was coming...) I'm going to post some video clips below...
First, the song that I heard that fateful evening, off Bjork's most recent offering Volta, called "Earth Intruders", and then all the music videos off of Debut... As usual the titles of the songs will appear ABOVE the tunes...
Earth Intruders (from "Volta" - 2007)
Human Behaviour
Venus as a Boy
Play Dead (UK/Japan bonus track, not on US version of "Debut")
Big Time Sensuality
Violently Happy
Some thoughts:
-This whole album is a bit pop oriented and in things that I've read, listeners have said that it's her most pop oriented album which means from here, things should just get better as I listen to more Bjork... Not to slight this album, which is GREAT, but I just think I'll dig her weirder stuff more...
-Above comment being said, though... I think "Human Behaviour" is a timeless classic and I've had it bouncing back and forth through my head since I heard it in the early nineties... My brother and I used to make a joke and say she was saying, "If you ever get close to a bluebird..." instead of "human"... Anyway, love the song...
So anyway guys, there it is: some of what I've been listening to for ya... I may follow up when I get some more dough and thence more Bjork...
Until next time... Peace...
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Open Water
Hey guys,
Think you could spend only $130,000 and make a great film?
Someone did. It's called Open Water.
This film follows the mishaps of a young unmarried couple who are left behind after going out on a diving trip. After they are left, most of the shots are just of the two divers floating in the water... Sounds boring, right?
WRONG!
This is one of the most visceral films I've seen in a while. The shock factor had me clutching the sides of my head and actually saying, "Oh, NO!" in some parts... This matches the sense of panic that I felt while watching some of my favorite films like Saw or Requiem for a Dream...
So, needless to say, I've found this film to be a gem... With the low budget used to make it, the acting jobs of the cast, the mystery surrounding the true life couple that it's based on, and just the sense of panic that the whole film assaults you with, this is a film that I can tell is just going to stick with me...
Thanks to my brother for pointing me in the right direction on this one...
To sum up, GO CHECK OUT OPEN WATER!!! I've found it to be excellent...
'Til next time... Peace...
Think you could spend only $130,000 and make a great film?
Someone did. It's called Open Water.
This film follows the mishaps of a young unmarried couple who are left behind after going out on a diving trip. After they are left, most of the shots are just of the two divers floating in the water... Sounds boring, right?
WRONG!
This is one of the most visceral films I've seen in a while. The shock factor had me clutching the sides of my head and actually saying, "Oh, NO!" in some parts... This matches the sense of panic that I felt while watching some of my favorite films like Saw or Requiem for a Dream...
So, needless to say, I've found this film to be a gem... With the low budget used to make it, the acting jobs of the cast, the mystery surrounding the true life couple that it's based on, and just the sense of panic that the whole film assaults you with, this is a film that I can tell is just going to stick with me...
Thanks to my brother for pointing me in the right direction on this one...
To sum up, GO CHECK OUT OPEN WATER!!! I've found it to be excellent...
'Til next time... Peace...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sweet justice
Hey guys,
I REALLY haven't been blogging enough...
Just wanted to hit you with a quick one about the book I'm currently reading. It's called The Tenth Justice and it's by a fellow named Brad Meltzer. Some of you reading may recognize the name as the one-time writer of comics series Identity Crisis and Justice League of America. That's where I discovered him...
This book is kind of a far cry from those works, though...
I haven't read much in the vein of the legal thriller, but this book just doesn't let up... I read over 150 pages of it just today and I still want more!!!
When young Supreme Court clerk Ben Addison spills the beans on a major upcoming decision before it's actually rendered, his world turns upside down... It's a story of a career on the line, blackmail, trust (or the lack thereof), suspense, and betrayal... There's treats in there for the comic fan, as well... All of the Supreme Court Justices are named after characters in Watchmen... There are casual comic book references... But deep down, there's just an amazing story that makes you struggle to put it down...
If you're so inclined, check out Brad Meltzer and any of his works: comics or prose... You'll be rewarded...
'Til next time... Peace...
I REALLY haven't been blogging enough...
Just wanted to hit you with a quick one about the book I'm currently reading. It's called The Tenth Justice and it's by a fellow named Brad Meltzer. Some of you reading may recognize the name as the one-time writer of comics series Identity Crisis and Justice League of America. That's where I discovered him...
This book is kind of a far cry from those works, though...
I haven't read much in the vein of the legal thriller, but this book just doesn't let up... I read over 150 pages of it just today and I still want more!!!
When young Supreme Court clerk Ben Addison spills the beans on a major upcoming decision before it's actually rendered, his world turns upside down... It's a story of a career on the line, blackmail, trust (or the lack thereof), suspense, and betrayal... There's treats in there for the comic fan, as well... All of the Supreme Court Justices are named after characters in Watchmen... There are casual comic book references... But deep down, there's just an amazing story that makes you struggle to put it down...
If you're so inclined, check out Brad Meltzer and any of his works: comics or prose... You'll be rewarded...
'Til next time... Peace...
Monday, September 15, 2008
Cinematic adventures
Hey guys,
I've been trying for a long time to come up with a list of my top 50 movies...
I'm using a kind of database to do so. This is a website called DVD Aficianado. Kind of as a tool for myself and to let you guys know how that's coming, I'm going list the movies that I've watched and reviewed on DVD Aficianado that will be strongly considered for my Top 50...
Don't get excited. My list is probably another 5 years in the making at least, but here goes:
-28 Days Later
-Amercian Beauty
-The Big Lebowski
-The Elephant Man
-The Fountain
-Saw
-Shaun of the Dead
-Sideways
And maybe more towards the bottom of the list, but maybe still making my top 50:
-300
-About Schmidt
-American History X
-Crash
-Hard Candy
-The Illusionist
-Pi
-Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
I know that those of you who know me will notice that I've excluded some of my obvious favorites, but I haven't watched those recently enough to include them in the ranking on the database... Nonetheless, those might include:
-The Matrix
-Fight Club
-Pulp Fiction
-Clerks
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Buffalo '66
-Interview with the Vampire
-Mulholland Dr.
-Memento
-Night of the Living Dead (Maybe both the original and the 1990 version)
-Reservoir Dogs
-What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
-Se7en
-Requiem for a Dream
-MANY OTHER FILMS I'VE YET TO SEE OR REWATCH
Anyway... Any of you can let me know your thoughts on this or suggent any movie that you like and I may check that out... Your feedback will be greatly considered and appreciated!!!
Peace...
I've been trying for a long time to come up with a list of my top 50 movies...
I'm using a kind of database to do so. This is a website called DVD Aficianado. Kind of as a tool for myself and to let you guys know how that's coming, I'm going list the movies that I've watched and reviewed on DVD Aficianado that will be strongly considered for my Top 50...
Don't get excited. My list is probably another 5 years in the making at least, but here goes:
-28 Days Later
-Amercian Beauty
-The Big Lebowski
-The Elephant Man
-The Fountain
-Saw
-Shaun of the Dead
-Sideways
And maybe more towards the bottom of the list, but maybe still making my top 50:
-300
-About Schmidt
-American History X
-Crash
-Hard Candy
-The Illusionist
-Pi
-Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
I know that those of you who know me will notice that I've excluded some of my obvious favorites, but I haven't watched those recently enough to include them in the ranking on the database... Nonetheless, those might include:
-The Matrix
-Fight Club
-Pulp Fiction
-Clerks
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Buffalo '66
-Interview with the Vampire
-Mulholland Dr.
-Memento
-Night of the Living Dead (Maybe both the original and the 1990 version)
-Reservoir Dogs
-What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
-Se7en
-Requiem for a Dream
-MANY OTHER FILMS I'VE YET TO SEE OR REWATCH
Anyway... Any of you can let me know your thoughts on this or suggent any movie that you like and I may check that out... Your feedback will be greatly considered and appreciated!!!
Peace...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
My time of the month...
Hey guys...
No I haven't recently acquired a menstrual cycle, but it got your attention, didn't it?!
The time of the month that I was referring to was the time when the comics come out that I've really been enjoying lately... I'm now going to offer up the titles and a couple of quick synopses on each... (Is synopses a word?)
Wolverine
The title Wolverine has been running a story arc called Old Man Logan as of late. It's a story that takes place fifty years in the future and Wolverine (though he insists on NOT being called that) hasn't popped his claws or done battle in that missing span of time. The villains have taken over. Nothing is as it was. THE STORY IS AWESOME!!!
This great story by Mark Millar (Wanted, The Authority, etc.) with art by Steve McNiven (Civil War) and Morry Hollowell is definitely one worth checking out...
Hulk
So there's a red Hulk now?
Yeah, there is... And he's killing and beating the crap out of a lot of people... Even the real green Hulk... Perplexing...
The Sword
This series about a young parapalegic girl who finds a mystical sword and vows to exact revenge on the god-like beings who killed her family just isn't letting up... I've raved to a lot of people about this one...
This one is true excellence by the Luna Brothers (Ultra, Girls)... Check it out...
The Walking Dead
Someone summed it up recently in a letters column somewhere or something by saying that waiting for another issue of The Walking Dead was like waiting for another episode of LOST... I couldn't agree more...
Again, this is a series that, after 51 issues, just hasn't let up... A true "zombie movie that never ends", yet so much more than that... A masterpiece written by Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Brit, Marvel Zombies, etc.)...
Until next time...
No I haven't recently acquired a menstrual cycle, but it got your attention, didn't it?!
The time of the month that I was referring to was the time when the comics come out that I've really been enjoying lately... I'm now going to offer up the titles and a couple of quick synopses on each... (Is synopses a word?)
Wolverine
The title Wolverine has been running a story arc called Old Man Logan as of late. It's a story that takes place fifty years in the future and Wolverine (though he insists on NOT being called that) hasn't popped his claws or done battle in that missing span of time. The villains have taken over. Nothing is as it was. THE STORY IS AWESOME!!!
This great story by Mark Millar (Wanted, The Authority, etc.) with art by Steve McNiven (Civil War) and Morry Hollowell is definitely one worth checking out...
Hulk
So there's a red Hulk now?
Yeah, there is... And he's killing and beating the crap out of a lot of people... Even the real green Hulk... Perplexing...
The Sword
This series about a young parapalegic girl who finds a mystical sword and vows to exact revenge on the god-like beings who killed her family just isn't letting up... I've raved to a lot of people about this one...
This one is true excellence by the Luna Brothers (Ultra, Girls)... Check it out...
The Walking Dead
Someone summed it up recently in a letters column somewhere or something by saying that waiting for another issue of The Walking Dead was like waiting for another episode of LOST... I couldn't agree more...
Again, this is a series that, after 51 issues, just hasn't let up... A true "zombie movie that never ends", yet so much more than that... A masterpiece written by Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Brit, Marvel Zombies, etc.)...
Until next time...
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