Welcome to my side of the 'net. I ruminate over music, books, movies, places, or people that have somehow made me what I am or continue to influence me to this day. I usually post links to mp3s of songs I find interesting.
ATTENTION:
The mp3s linked to this site are for evaluation and sample purposes only. The files are only hosted temporarily, so if they're unavailable, it's gone for good. If possible, some of these links are sourced back to the musicians's official website. Please make sure to support the musicians featured herein by buying their records, going to their shows, and purchasing their merch.
The Crane Wife is the latest effort to come out of the creative collaboration of Portland-based combo The Decemberists. Colin Meloy continues to stretch his songcraft skills in painting vivid images with his lyrics as he takes on more ditties on war and separation. This is the group's debut effort for major label Capitol Records. They continue to retain the studio-side core by reenlisting Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla to helm production. The warm rings of each arpeggiated note on guitar, piano, strings, and xylophone is such a welcome delight to accompany the booming bass drum and crisp snare crackle. Be on the lookout for a guest appearance by local folkie Laura Veirs on today's selected track, Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then). This is a highly recommended download for the vocal interplay alone. From the repeat listens that I've already done with this CD, it looks like this will be another entry in my Best Albums list for the year.
The Decemberists will be playing The Paramount Theater on November 17 (Bonus, A Friday evening show!!!).
13 Tzameti (pronounced 'zah-meddy') is a riveting and suspenseful movie from France. This is the maiden effort of director Gela Babluani. It's shot in gritty black-and-white, perhaps to contrast all the gray-line conclusions that the main character has to go through in the movie.
We follow the events that transpire through the main character, Sebastien (played by Georges Babluani). He is a roofer who needs money to support his family. He comes across some information regarding an opportunity that can be a huge financial windfall as the occupant of the house that he's been fixing suddenly encounters his demise. He takes the train ticket and hotel reservation in Paris meant for the deceased and assumes the task that's been entrusted to him. Little does he know that he's going to be involved in an underground high-stakes Russian Roulette tournament. This ain't fight club, Betty Sue.
This film is now perhaps one of the best I've seen all year long. I relished the moments of tension as the time of sheer panic and relief is only literally separated by a hair trigger. The confined space where everything takes place only proves to emphasize how the participants's private anguish is now public spectacle. They don't even have any semblance of control and desperately hang on each time the gamble results in an empty chamber. Never have I thought that impending doom and salvation could all be found at the flick of a switch.
You should check out the trailer for the film adaptation to Frank Miller's 300. It looks like a graphic novel come to life. 300 Spartans against a whole Persian army. Badass!!!
Math & Physics Club will have a record release party on October 14 at The Sunset in Ballard. Finally, a debut album! They've come a long way since the two EPs and a split single. If you've worn out your copy of Belle & Sebastian's If You're Feeling Sinister, try tracking down their music.
For now, here's a b-side to the Graduation Day single (Note: Morrissey fans will find interesting vocal inflections):
Speaking of lies, intrigue and deception--they will all again rear their ugly heads for a new season of Battlestar Galactica. Will the Capricans find their way out of the clutches of the Cylons? Will The Pegasus and The Galactica return to rescue the populace of New Caprica? Will Apollo lose all that weight from having one too many Krispy Kreme donuts? All will be answered as we really gear up for a rockin' fall TV season. I don't even have to mention the return of sexy Cylon Sharon Valerii Agathon (looks like she's Helo's wife now!). Is it me or has it gotten a bit hot in here?
Cat Power's latest album, The Greatest has been repackaged with different slip covers. It's nice to see that Matador has given a bigger push for Chan Marshall. She's been touring acoustic lately. Prior to that, she had a backing band complete with horn section to replicate the albums Southern bent. I feel uneasy whenever she does her tours by herself. She seems to end up with either a genius live performance or a worrisome glimpse of incoherent rambling and half-assed noodling on her guitar or piano--talk about getting one or the other!
I've been digging through sites and found this remix of Cross Bones Style from the Moon Pix album. This was the first song I ever heard from her. I don't think I could turn back now.
I wanted an excuse to write about her and post a picture. So there!
There's been quite the glut of Radiohead-influenced acts that have been coming out of the woodwork. Some bands prefer the group that did The Bends (Travis, come on and fess up!) while some prefer to carry on where the pioneering group left off in their (in my opinion) magnum opus, OK Computer. Mew is part of the latter. With more mood shifts than a manic depressive having an episode, this band brings on the grandiose pomp of prog-rock and marries it with more ambient touches. The Danish collective is on tour with Kasabian and will be hitting Neumo's on October 16. Their new album is entitled And The Glass Handed Kites Up. Here's a track off that platter:
Things to know about The Haunted: 1. They're from Sweden. 2. They were former members of death metal band At-The-Gates. 3. The difference between The Haunted and At-The-Gates is that The Haunted has more of an 80's thrash metal influence, perhaps more along the lines of DRI. 4. Their new album, The Dead Eye, will see release on Halloween day.
Here's a video to No Compromise off their last album, rEVOLVEr.
The people at the A&E channel are the biggest cockteases on earth right now. It's Friday night and it's almost 11 PM. It's supposed to be time for one of my favorite shows, MI-5 (a.k.a. Spooks in the UK). I checked my cable TV guide to make sure that I'm not missing it, and...
...it's not scheduled to broadcast at all!!!...
...I'm upset...
I checked online at the A&E channel to find out what the heck's happening. The channel still has a section on the show, yet there wasn't anything regarding when they're airing again. I had to check the posts on the messageboard and some folks are awful pissed about what they've done. How could they only air two episodes and then replace the show with marathon CSI airings?
Once I get done with that marathon broadcast, I'm done with that channel. They can show all the Dog, The Bounty Hunter they want and I could care less. Fuckers...
Why do I fall in love with TV shows that are so damn good, they disappear (see Arrested Development, Undeclared, Freaks and Geeks, and Chappelle's Show, to name a few)?
The slick sound of The Jam is revived with Juan Pablo Dream; a group hailing from Bulacan (a locale north of Manila). The group consists of frontman Bing Austria, bassist Alexander Dumlao, guitarist Aurelio Castro, sax player Eman Tabujara, and trumpet player Christopher Carpio. Bing used to be the vocalist for ska band Put3ska. The band first wanted to do bossa nova tunes but fortunately for us listeners, didn't pan out that way. They decided to go the Northern Soul mod route the way Paul Weller and his mates at The Jam went. The rest is...well, you know.
Their debut album Soul Up! is now out. Here's a tune off that platter.
