2011/12/31
2011/12/29
2011/12/27
this alien year end list 2011
ALBUMS
1 mirrors - lights and offerings: this is the album that caused the most excitement for me this year. the band teased very effectively for months leading up to the release (demos, EPs, a video here, new track there). can't say enough how much i love this album, and really hope they get on the road here in the states before too long (and before anymore members leave the group).
2 monarchy - around the sun: still loving this one everytime a track comes up on shuffle. they recently started teasing bonus tracks, as well, encouraging me to buy the hardcopy CD.
3 the sound of arrows - voyage: love.
4 beirut - the riptide: the only reason devotchka's 100 lovers didn't make the list.
5 moby - destroyed: very lush, very moby, very worth checking out.
SINGLES
1 blondie - "horizontal twist": okay, it wasn't actually a single, but it's the track that makes me play my [music device] the loudest. sounds more like debbie harry's last solo album, rather than a bonus track from one edition of blondie's panic album. (three non-US editions of the album included six different bonus tracks, some of which should have been on the album, like this one.)
2 patrick wolf - "together": love the song, love the keyboards, love the fox-wrapped video.
3 waylayers - "hear no lies": i want to hear more from these guys, looking forward to an album release.
4 the vaccines - "if you wanna": the greatest song intro in recent years; the album was not a disappointment.
5 the sound of arrows - "and beyond": b-side instrumental track that really struck a chord.
6 creature - "so high": should have made these guys into some sort of superstars.
EVENTS
1 blondie - panic of girls: really don't need to post anymore about this release and tour. just glad it finally, FINALLY, came about.
2 psychedelic furs - talk talk tour: i'd never seen the furs until this year. so nice to see veterans playing energetic shows for adoring fans.
3 val emmich & the veeries - aide memoire kickstarter campaign: val and his band gathered funding for this gorgeous album from the fans via kickstarter. the campaign gave contributors an inside look in the making of the album, with lots of extra goodies, depending on one's contribution level. every band who values their fans (as much as val does) should do this (for the fans) at least once, and not just out of desperation for funding.
OLDIES DOING THEMSELVES WELL
all of the following released strong albums that were consistent with what the casual fan would expect, and generally reinforced the fact that the 80's was the greatest decade.
1 the cars - move like this
2 duran duran - all you need is now
3 alphaville - catching rays on giant
4 R.E.M. - collapse into now
5 lindsey buckingham - seeds we sow
6 new york dolls - dancing backward in high heels
REDISCOVERIES
1 human league - hysteria: the comeback album that (only kind of) disappointed was the league's credo (it has its moments!), but that disappointment did send me back to re-listen to their classic stuff.
2 hambi & the dance - heartache: bargain bin find in the 1980's, that i liked well enough, sounds more relevant today than it did then. (didn't know of the relationship to a flock of seagulls until several months after i initially purchased it.)
3 go-go's - beauty and the beat: everyone knows this one, of course. i don't know what took me back to it again a few weeks ago. immense love for it, though.
4 laura branigan - the platinum collection: so here's the deal: i'm not a huge fan of branigan, though i found her death a couple years ago sort of affecting. this collection really shows how bad musical arrangements could be back then...one wishes that someone would give these songs a new layer of instrumentals to give her songs the chance they deserve.
5 annabel lamb - the flame: another bargain bin find in the 80's; nice to hear this old friend again this year.
ANTICIPATING
1 adam ant - tour stop, new album feb 2012.
2 waylayers new album?
3 new mackintosh braun
4ummm...
1 mirrors - lights and offerings: this is the album that caused the most excitement for me this year. the band teased very effectively for months leading up to the release (demos, EPs, a video here, new track there). can't say enough how much i love this album, and really hope they get on the road here in the states before too long (and before anymore members leave the group).
2 monarchy - around the sun: still loving this one everytime a track comes up on shuffle. they recently started teasing bonus tracks, as well, encouraging me to buy the hardcopy CD.
3 the sound of arrows - voyage: love.
4 beirut - the riptide: the only reason devotchka's 100 lovers didn't make the list.
5 moby - destroyed: very lush, very moby, very worth checking out.
SINGLES
1 blondie - "horizontal twist": okay, it wasn't actually a single, but it's the track that makes me play my [music device] the loudest. sounds more like debbie harry's last solo album, rather than a bonus track from one edition of blondie's panic album. (three non-US editions of the album included six different bonus tracks, some of which should have been on the album, like this one.)
2 patrick wolf - "together": love the song, love the keyboards, love the fox-wrapped video.
3 waylayers - "hear no lies": i want to hear more from these guys, looking forward to an album release.
4 the vaccines - "if you wanna": the greatest song intro in recent years; the album was not a disappointment.
5 the sound of arrows - "and beyond": b-side instrumental track that really struck a chord.
6 creature - "so high": should have made these guys into some sort of superstars.
EVENTS
1 blondie - panic of girls: really don't need to post anymore about this release and tour. just glad it finally, FINALLY, came about.
2 psychedelic furs - talk talk tour: i'd never seen the furs until this year. so nice to see veterans playing energetic shows for adoring fans.
3 val emmich & the veeries - aide memoire kickstarter campaign: val and his band gathered funding for this gorgeous album from the fans via kickstarter. the campaign gave contributors an inside look in the making of the album, with lots of extra goodies, depending on one's contribution level. every band who values their fans (as much as val does) should do this (for the fans) at least once, and not just out of desperation for funding.
OLDIES DOING THEMSELVES WELL
all of the following released strong albums that were consistent with what the casual fan would expect, and generally reinforced the fact that the 80's was the greatest decade.
1 the cars - move like this
2 duran duran - all you need is now
3 alphaville - catching rays on giant
4 R.E.M. - collapse into now
5 lindsey buckingham - seeds we sow
6 new york dolls - dancing backward in high heels
REDISCOVERIES
1 human league - hysteria: the comeback album that (only kind of) disappointed was the league's credo (it has its moments!), but that disappointment did send me back to re-listen to their classic stuff.
2 hambi & the dance - heartache: bargain bin find in the 1980's, that i liked well enough, sounds more relevant today than it did then. (didn't know of the relationship to a flock of seagulls until several months after i initially purchased it.)
3 go-go's - beauty and the beat: everyone knows this one, of course. i don't know what took me back to it again a few weeks ago. immense love for it, though.
4 laura branigan - the platinum collection: so here's the deal: i'm not a huge fan of branigan, though i found her death a couple years ago sort of affecting. this collection really shows how bad musical arrangements could be back then...one wishes that someone would give these songs a new layer of instrumentals to give her songs the chance they deserve.
5 annabel lamb - the flame: another bargain bin find in the 80's; nice to hear this old friend again this year.
ANTICIPATING
2 waylayers new album?
3 new mackintosh braun
4ummm...
2011/12/26
the girl with the dragon tattoo
saw this the past weekend: it took about an hour to finally "click", get interesting. at several points in that first hour, i wondered how much i could bear; much of that first hour was also corny (seriously, happy meals?). but when the two main characters finally got together, the movie got good, and stayed good. lots of action, lots of inappropriate sexual situations, lots of gloomy skies, and one great big explosion that you'll be so happy to see, so that you don't have to see that dislocated jaw any longer.
2011/12/25
2011/12/23
2011/12/22
2011/12/17
2011/12/15
2011/12/11
2011/12/10
2011/12/09
2011/12/06
2011/12/04
2011/12/03
2011/11/27
2011/11/21
george clooney - the descendants
another teary movie about someone facing death. (i guess i shouldn't find this theme so uncommon, considering that everyone dies.) though my fandom for mr clooney would probably have lead me to the same conclusion anyway, i liked this movie a lot. it seemed fairly well written, and the conflict between daughter and dad wasn't overworked. all the characters were pretty true, with the exception of the older daughter's not-quite-boyfriend, sid, who was one character that either 1) we didn't much need or 2) could have been utilized more effectively.
couldn't have cared much less for the subplot regarding the real estate sell off, though others in my particular audience seemed to find it intriguing.
here's my very, very minor quibble: there were a couple of scenes that seemed very poorly shot; was it the lighting? i don't know...they just looked like a student film project.
what was most remarkable: in scenes between clooney and beau bridges, mr. bridges' eyebrows won everytime.
2011/11/19
2011/11/15
2011/11/14
2011/11/13
movie catch up
just a few i've seen in the past few weeks:
- J EDGAR: don't get distracted by the really bad acting and the really bad makeup... but what it was missing was scandal or conflict or something. it was made apparent that hoover had inner demons, but what outside forces really threatened him, other than an oddly weak dig by a senator who discovered that hoover allowed hollywood to glorify him. it was entertaining enough, otherwise.
- IDES OF MARCH: nothing great, but nothing bad. well, george clooney and ryan gosling are both great; but like J EDGAR, above, there was nothing really compelling here.
- A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR 3D CHRISTMAS: funny continuation of the world's favorite not-gay same sex couple. the drugs are just an excuse for them to be with each other, of course.
lots and lots of really uninteresting trailers playing right now, too.
2011/11/12
the sound of arrows - voyage
sound of arrows - voyage
the sound of arrows (of whom i have posted previously) released their album, voyage. what's it like? it's like vangelis (composer of the blade runner soundtrack) called the pet shop boys and said, "let's have a rave while standing in line at disney's space mountain!"
at first i was hesitant to put the PSB reference in there, because they totally do not give off the same arty-pretentious vibe (sarcastically or not); but it's undeniable that the influence is there. and i hear more of a mid-70's synth feel, carried off very successfully.
since hearing "into the clouds" several months ago, i've been eager to get this album...the slow buildup has been worth the wait. and now, i highly recommend it.
(oh, and i didn't mention: one track actually samples a flock of seagulls single, "the more you live, the more you love".)
the sound of arrows (of whom i have posted previously) released their album, voyage. what's it like? it's like vangelis (composer of the blade runner soundtrack) called the pet shop boys and said, "let's have a rave while standing in line at disney's space mountain!"
at first i was hesitant to put the PSB reference in there, because they totally do not give off the same arty-pretentious vibe (sarcastically or not); but it's undeniable that the influence is there. and i hear more of a mid-70's synth feel, carried off very successfully.
since hearing "into the clouds" several months ago, i've been eager to get this album...the slow buildup has been worth the wait. and now, i highly recommend it.
(oh, and i didn't mention: one track actually samples a flock of seagulls single, "the more you live, the more you love".)
2011/11/11
melancholia
just finished watching MELANCHOLIA on-demand, rather than in the cinema. saved probably $20, considering tickets and popcorn and all...and this is definitely not a popcorn movie...ended up kind of loving it.
how would you approach the end of the world if 1) you weren't sure it was really going to happen, but you feared it might, or 2) if you knew it was going to happen, but didn't want to freak everyone out, or 3) if you were manic depressive, living with the most dysfunctional of families (and employer) who couldn't even help through your wedding?
(for number 3, i guess it's just another challenge to your limited coping mechanisms.)
i wish i'd seen this in the cinema, because it had some very striking visuals, and i suspect the sound and music (hinted at in the trailer, above) were gorgeous, in the right facility.
somewhat recommended. like THE TREE OF LIFE, this is one of those movies that you'll either (kind of) love, or detest.
how would you approach the end of the world if 1) you weren't sure it was really going to happen, but you feared it might, or 2) if you knew it was going to happen, but didn't want to freak everyone out, or 3) if you were manic depressive, living with the most dysfunctional of families (and employer) who couldn't even help through your wedding?
(for number 3, i guess it's just another challenge to your limited coping mechanisms.)
i wish i'd seen this in the cinema, because it had some very striking visuals, and i suspect the sound and music (hinted at in the trailer, above) were gorgeous, in the right facility.
somewhat recommended. like THE TREE OF LIFE, this is one of those movies that you'll either (kind of) love, or detest.
2011/11/10
2011/11/06
"weekend"
just finished watching WEEKEND with the husband. goodness, i forgot how sweetly crybaby i can get. give a couple guys 60 hours or so to run the gamut of emotions, and what comes out the other end…something sentimental, to be sure, yet…fairly complicated and very familiar, pulling so many emotions from this viewer.
(photography was great, too.)
washed out - call it off
saw this guy (and bandmates) at the cut copy concert a couple of weeks ago (oh yeah, i never posted about that!), and this album was my big takeaway. reobsessing over this track today.
2011/11/05
the rum diary
caught johnny depp in the rum diary the other day and loved it. great capture of the era (early 1960’s); consistently funny and entertaining.
just a moment or two of “oh god, don’t get all activist-heroic please”…and fortunately, they did not. stayed true to the puerto rico is a sorta beautiful and exotic, yet exploited colony of the US, where US citizens can go for seemingly legitimate reasons, but get in lots and lots of trouble.
aaron eckhardt is generally watchable, but a real gem is the true co-star of the movie, michael rispoli, playing the best imaginable buddy to depp’s character. and yes, that’s giovanni ribisi in there, too.
i have to ask, though, how is it that j depp hasn’t aged a spot in 20+ years? seriously.
2011/11/04
sigue sigue sputnik - love missile f1-11
sigue sigue sputnik - love missile F1-11
do you remember where you were when you bought each record you own? well, neither do i. but some of my records i distinctly remember: sigue sigue sputnik was found at lou’s records in encinitas, california, during one of the rare visits my then-idaho sister made to (my) san diego. the record was playing in the store, and i lit up immediately. idaho sister looked over in my direction, knowing that this would be the sort of record that would provoke that response in me.
i didn’t follow SSS much further than that first record, in spite of their pedigree, which crossed generation X, the clash, giorgio moroder, and others.
2011/11/03
2011/11/02
2011/10/28
2011/10/22
2011/10/21
2011/10/11
2011/10/10
siskel & ebert - changing attitudes toward homosexuality (at the movies)
arguably the most famous movie critics on tv,siskel and ebert have a sort of TV version of “the celluloid closet”, but investigating contemporary movies (early 80’s).
bow wow wow - do you wanna hold me
heard this one as i was walking the monsters past the dog wash this afternoon (no pun taken).
2011/10/09
2011/10/08
blondie - live in LA
blondie in concert: club nokia, los angeles, CA, USA
just a quick write-up of the blondie concert from earlier this week. who knows how many times i've seen them (or debby as a solo performer), but they honestly get better and better and better. this round is in support of their fine new album, panic of girls, which i sometimes thought would never be released.
of course the set list featured several of their big giant hits (because who doesn't want to hear new interpretations of those classics?), but for me, highlights were the new material.
"d-day", my favorite track off the new album comes off well in concert. lots of energy, lots of noise. same for "horizontal twist" (unfortunately not on the US version of the album), which is probably my favorite debby / blondie recording of the past dozen years (fits in very well with her last solo album).
the LA audience was actually cheering during "wipe my sweat"...when do u hear cheering in the midst of a new song? surprisingly, remarkably well-received.
though "love doesn't frighten me" holds up well enough on the album, for me it was another highlight of the concert. strong, chugging rock guitar drive against a giant synth wall.
dr. clem burke was given a satisfying number of drum spotlights throughout; new guys, guitarist tommy kessler, and keyboardist matt katz-bohen got several moments as well. oddly, longtime bassist, leigh foxx only came forward once or twice.
zz top encore? totally worked, with a continuation of the big arena guitar sound built upon through the set, plus debby's cheeky facial expressions, appreciating "a sharp dressed man".
so maybe this is the last post regarding blondie for a while (unless they pop out another video). this whole release season has been so very fulfilling for this fan. looking forward to another album, which is well on track for being released in the next couple of years.
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