There's video above, FeedReader
Yesterday, someone commenting on last week's BSG thread at Sepinwall's blog posted a link to the Old 97s video above. Then a little while ago, friend-of-the-blog Sarah sent me another link to it. I figured the world wanted...
There's video above, FeedReader
Okay. I have to admit I have a weakness for power ballads. I think I just happened to fall into that sweet age spot that thinks Meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler and their comparables are the bee's knees. No matter how many times that Bat comes out of Hell, or Bonnie Eclipses her Heart, I'm there.* So when I saw this video...man, I was in power ballad heaven. I'd never heard/of Kareen Antonn before this, but I'm going to seek her out. She obviously has taste, and I like her voice a ton (none of that nasty "diva" oversinging.) It doesn't hurt that she's a hottie, either.
via Pamie.com
Huh. I'm usually so careful. I always wear protection when I blog. I never get tagged. Oh well, best to go to the free clinic and get a shot. Fortunately this one'll be cleared up in a few days.
Mike at A Mike Life tagged me with this meme, so here goes:
Books:
I've got multiples in play as usual. Finally decided I should read H.G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights
TV:
Lots and not so lots. I'm a couple weeks behind on Breaking Bad, so I need to catch up on that. There are UConn games be watched, Gonzaga games to be watched, and...well...not much else on the tube right now. At some point this month there should be a production of Sondheim's Company on my PBS affiliate, so I'll have that, and there are still four more episodes of Cupid to rewatch along with Alan Sepinwall and the rest of the Strike Survival TV Club. And in a few months, fates allow, new television again, including BSG.
Music:
This is the easiest. Not much new for me right now. I've got Dean Gray's American Edit spinning in the car stereo, might switch over to Live'r Than You'll Ever Be from the Kleptones if the mood strikes me, and I've got a bunch of episodes of the Coverville podcast backed up on my 'puter at work.
Now that I've been infected, I've got to touch five others...
Michele
Michael
Jared (who really doesn't post often enough)
Kari
Tosy
There's video above, FeedReader
I don't watch Kimmel much, especially now during the strike. However, he is a consummate professional and a funny guy. Plus, he's got the dirtiest, nastiest, J-Date girlfriend *ever*. Who doesn't want to date Sarah Silverman?
doffs hat to casualheap
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Hamas has a Boy Band!
Formed in the summer as part of the arts department of Hamas's domestic security service, the Executive Force, the group has performed for police units around Gaza City.
But Maj Abu Abdu, who also uses his fine voice to call the faithful to prayer at a mosque, outlined ambitious plans for Protectors of the Homeland — to produce their first recordings for distribution, to build a theatre in Gaza City and even to start public dancing.
There's an adlink above, FeedReader. And yes, that's right. I'm a goddamn moneychanger. I'm going to review my blog-buddy's pop's album and try to make a buck. Actually, it'd be about 8¢.
Amazon was a bit slow getting this CD out to me, especially on a week where I had like two or three other orders show up lickety split (thank you, Amazon Prime.) It finally showed up today, and after making a small effort at catching up with the last two weeks' worth of TV - "my cousin Tim fixes NBA games" - reading a few of last week's comics, and writing three whopping lines of a short play I'm working on for a friend, I finally popped in the disc. I'm not disappointed.
I'm still on the first listen, but I've already been struck by a few things: Allison Krauss has a jazz singer's knack for sliding around her notes perfectly; Robert Plant's voice sounds sweeter than it should for a rock star rapidly closing in on three score years; and Beckylooo's pop can do more with a ¿mandolin? and muted bongos than most producers can with a wall of dead starlets.
I'm no damn good at reviewing music, so there's no way I can do this disc any justice. I can sing okay, know a smattering of theory, and can slowly pick my way around a piano and bass. Very slowly. I haven't the patience or drive to study harder and my appreciation of music suffers for it. Really hurt the couple times I've read GEB
Okay, that's enough of me whingeing about my inadequacies. Let me try to say something substantive.
Because of the spareness of the arrangements and the subdued way in which the instruments are woven through the songs, I actually can pick out some of the more interesting musical statements. When Krauss and Plant harmonize, their subtle timing imperfections enhance rather than detract from the songs. T Bone Burnett is generally gentle with the board, rarely doing much (that my ear can pick up) to the natural qualities of the instruments, but when he does - applying a heavy dose of reverb to the Everly Brothers' "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)" for example - it serves to remind me I'm listening to a rock song instead of folk.
I'm skimming through the disc a second time now, trying to pick a favorite song (I can't; they're all good) and note some exceptional passages. The aforementioned version of "Gone Gone Gone" is a good place to start. Then again, so is the amazing cover of Plant's "Please Read the Letter". It's one of the few places I hear Robert Plant: Rock God singing. "Your Long Journey" could almost make me believe in a higher power, the same way the best gospel and choir music can. It's as simple as a song can be, but heartrending, nonetheless. "Trampled Rose" is a Krauss solo song that feels like...a spaghetti western. I could point to the features of the song that make it feel that way to me, but it wouldn't make sense. Just go listen to it.
You're back, good. Did you notice how Krauss made her voice sound like a violin throughout that song? Damn, that's control.
Alright. I'm done. You've got a link to listen to the album; you've got a link to buy the album. What are you waiting for?
There's video above, FeedReader
Here's the official trailer for Repo! The Genetic Opera! Reminds me of some of the great B-movies of the 80s, before all the indies (other than Troma, of course) became obsessed with creating the next arty, Sundance breakout hit.
I'm thrilled at the prospect! A return of cheap, pulpy, fun, bad movies!
It's an interesting time to be a fan of movie musicals. I'm not 100% sure it's a good time, but it's certainly interesting. This December, of course, we've got Sweeney coming to the big screen. Despite my misgivings, I'll certainly be there opening weekend (partly to avoid any potential negative word.) And coming next April, Repo! The Genetic Opera!
Alright. I'm intrigued. Here we've got a film from the writer/director of Saw II, director of Saw III, and, if IMDB is to be believed, a honey wagon attendant on The X Files - Darren Lynn Bousman who went ahead and shot a short of his horror-musical to shop around the studios. Once he got financing, he put together an eclectic cast for the big screen bonanza. Let's take a few at "random":
Click this link!!!
I promise that not only will you not be Rickrolled, but that you be thrilled. At least I'd imagine anyone who'd bother coming here would be. It doesn't look perfect, but it looks a LOT better than I'd feared. I'm now, get this, excited!
via Tosy and Cosh
There's video above, FeedReader!
This week's HIMYM was not well-loved. I am personally shocked by this, as I think it was funnier than the season premiere (then again, I despise Mandy Moore.) On Sepinwall's blog, it got pretty well beat up, first by Alan and then by most of the commenters. Opined I, early on, that I liked it a lot, because the cold open was so smooth, with a perfect rule-of-3 gag for Ted that paid off in spades.
One other commenter had much love for the episode and I followed links to her blog and wouldn't you know it, she's a spec monkey. Shoulda guessed! Anyway, taking a look over her archives, I found the great clip above. I can't believe I'd never seen it before. I just wish they'd done a three-part harmony instead so Megan could have joined in on top. Ah, Rosemary.
There's video above, FeedReader
A fun clip, from the SF performance of Sweeney Todd in Concert
There's video here, FeedReader
Someday, damn it, Matt and Trey are going to put Cannibal! on Broadway so it can get the proper orchestral arrangements it needs. It's a pity such lovely songs have to be backed by a Casio.
There's video here, FeedReader!
Apparently, ladies in their sensibilities don't like it when we make with the longshoreman talk. For those delicate flowers, I offer the video above.
Goodness me. For this, I might even put up with Spurs-style basketball. Maybe Shirley Bassey can cover that drippy Pussycat Dolls mess next!
via Rogers
Rudely stolen from: The Illustrated Smiths
I, um, don't know what to say. Granted, Morrissey is our greatest living singer-songwriter, but who knew he had so much to say about the philosophy of language.
Here are some cool auditory illusions. I especially like the Shepard's Paradox.
I don't like The Office. Specifically, I don't like the American version. I like Steve Carell, but I dislike his interpretation of Michael Scott as a fool, a tool, and an ass. As a talented comic actor, I'm sure his choices are intentional, but they completely miss the target set by Ricky Gervais with his sad, pathetic David Brent.
I've watched about a half-dozen episodes of the American version (and even blogged about it when Joss Whedon was directing) and have never had more than a couple chuckles. I don't care about Jim-Pam or Pam-Jim or whatever it is the 'shippers call that star-crossed couple, and other than the pranks, find nothing compelling at all. I know I'm in a small minority amongst tv-philes, but I just don't dig it.
I'd heard for years about how funny the British version was and how much I'd like it. Last year, visiting friends, in went episode 1.4 - "Training". Hell yeah! This is what I wanted from the American version! I finally got around to getting the DVDs and ripped some episodes to my Zune this weekend past. I've been watching while working out and my initial sense of Gervais' version stands. David Brent's not just a fool and tool. Gervais played him with such subtlety that I can see the little boy who was, running around the house with a towel for a cape and a colander for a helmet, or telling jokes at his parents' parties, trying to get laughs. And key to Gervais' performance is believing that David Brent could get those laughs and could get that attention. In an interview earlier this year with critic Alan Sepinwall, Gervais indicated just that:
Brent's motivation was fame and glory. That's why he's acting like that. He's in free-fall, in a bit of a breakdown, and he's going, "I'm going to show the world now that I'm not just this jerk. I'm a philosopher, I'm a philanthropist, I am a singer/songwriter, I am a poet." He can't get to it quick enough. And, of course, the lesson learned is, if someone's filming you all the time, they're going to show the bad bits, too. Through the power of editing.
But what were the good bits for David? Do you envision there were times when he successfully delivered a joke?
Yeah, but why would a documentary team put that in? The important thing there is, you're not in charge. TV's in charge. TV's in charge.
