In all seriousness, this was a solid piece of work. Especially as a debut from first time director Brian Goodman. The whole Boston crime world has been tread so heavily in movies over the past few years, but this film does not make the city its focal point. Ruffalo just takes over this movie. I don't understand how this guy doesn't get more work. Whatever he's in he kills.
This is better than expected. I definitely won't be deleting the whole thing. It was a good idea to put Maybach Music II here. Listening to a full album of Ross talk about Gucci can be a chore, but throw one or two tracks here onto a playlist and it works.
The first of two great films out right now that were marketed terribly. Adventureland trailers make it seem like it is going to be Superbad 2 and it has little in common with director Greg Mottola's hit last summer. The film is a wonderful piece of throwback 80s comedy/drama that deserves all the John Hughes comparisons being thrown its way. There are a number of laughs in the film, but it is more about the characters within instead of one liners. The cast is superb, even Kristen Stewart. She might be the most boring person on the planet when not on film, but her performance here is confident and heartbreaking at times. Jesse Eisenberg continues his string of strong roles with a starring turn here. I just thank God Mottola didn't give this to Cera. Eisenberg has Cera's awkwardness down, but he also brings a level of confidence never found with Cera. Also, it is always wonderful to see Martin Starr and he kills here.
If you're not watching Eastbound & Down yet you must get on it. I hate hearing people call this "dumb" comedy because McBride and his writing partners (Hill, Gordon Green, etc...) have crafted one of the smartest comedies on TV right now. It could easily just be Talladega Nights 2, but there is depth to these characters as well as intense hilarity week in and week out. It's been nice to look forward to HBO Sunday nights again these past few weeks. Big Love has been stellar this season, one of the best overall shows on TV right now. It's too bad Flight has to swoop in between Eastbound and Love with its mediocrity. They need a Murray spinoff or something.
New Grizzly Bear has made its way onto the internet machine. It's an awful rip and I almost wish I hadn't listened to it because there is so much going on within this album. Listening to a sub par rip doesn't give the music justice. This time around it sounds as if songwriting was the major focus and less on relying on production. "Two Weeks" is killer. Here's the live version from Letterman, the album cut is even better.
The Tumblr experiment is over. I've decided to do a little work around this space, revamp somethings and make the overall layout and experience more enjoyable for the lucky few who stumble up on it.
So, postings will resume shortly as I work on some things.
New website for the Daily Egyptian this semester. The Pulse section, which I'm editing these days, has been turning out some pretty good stuff so far. The new website has given us some great opportunities to write a bit more and start working with video. Check out Chris and myself with our first foray into the online video landscape for our little section of the paper today.
A bunch of new music floating around. The Boss, M. Ward, blah blah blah. Hopefully I'll have some time to write some of that up on here.
Go see The Wrestler if you can, it's near-perfect.
As we listen to the underwhelming The Carter III at Chris' apartment, Shoot Me Down is a highlight. The only thing is, the Kanye beat sounds like it could be a Linkin Park B-side. Oh well, at least Wayne decided to rap on it instead of sing through the vocoder.
My dad got the Joe Strummer documentary, The Future is Unwritten, from one of his employees for Christmas. It's put together pretty well and really gives some insight into how important Strummer was to punk and pop music as a whole. Watching the documentary also got me to dig out the records he made with The Mescaleros at the beginning of this decade. I loved these albums when I was in high school. Strummer was grabbing from numerous genres creating some great work before his untimely death in 2002. They're certainly worth your time if you were a fan of The Clash or just well made rock 'n' roll.
It's guilty pleasure time folks. Here's a few that have been plaguing me over the past year. Don't even try and hate, these are top notch records through and through that I listened to near as much as the ones that made the year end list.
1. The Gaslight Anthem- "The '59 Sound" The best record of the year is also the simplest, sonically, on the list. The Gaslight Anthem is not out to re-invent the wheel. They have produced a record steeped in punk and Americana ethos which many artists have visited before. The result is a wonderfully honest record full of heartache and redemption.
2. The Hold Steady- "Stay Positive" The best rock band in operation. On its fourth record in five years, the band's hooks are still as killer as they were from day one and Craig Finn's lyrics are just as introspective as ever. The band stepped up its ballad game on this year's release, crafting gems like "Lord I'm Discouraged" to go along with fist pumping jams like album opener "Constructive Summer."
3. Kanye West- "808's & Heartbreak" A cold, calculating turn of events from one of pop music's greatest artists. Basically stripping his sound of everything which made him the star he is today, Kanye has turned out an ambitious record full of icy synths and pounding drums. His decision to abandon rapping for the most part and sing through an autotuner only magnifies the record's pitiful, inward looking agenda.
4. TV on the Radio- "Dear Science," The most accessible record the band has produced is also a layered, sonically thick listening experience. Grasping the dance, funk aesthetic the band has hinted at over past releases has made their newest one of the most engaging records of the year. The band might be laying on the Bowie and Talking Heads influences a bit thick, but doing it with enough originality and musicianship to remain fresh as ever.
5. Blitzen Trapper- "Furr" On the band's sophomore effort, it has fell face first into the Americana landscape. Borrowing heavily from folk, Southern rock and psychedelia from previous decades, the band has put together the exact opposite of a sophomore slump.
6. David Byrne & Brian Eno- "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today" Those expecting a record full of Eno ambience and Byrne spitting nonsense over frustrating soundscapes need to check themselves.This is a pop record through and through. The hooks are sticky sweet and choruses sore over the two men's amazing penchant for crafting near-perfect pop gems. A rare, unexpected treat.
7. Bon Iver- "For Emma, Forever Ago" Recorded in a secluded cabin in the bare, bleakness of a Wisconsin winter, "For Emma, Forever Ago" is a heartfelt, tear stained masterpiece. Guitars are sparse and when percussion and strings pop up from time to time the instruments are welcome additions to each song's torment. Justin Vernon's aching falsetto only adds to the record's turmoil. A great record for the winter months.
8. The Tallest Man On Earth- "Shallow Graves" The Tallest Man On Earth is in actuality Scandinavian folk singer Kristian Matsson. His debut record has been tagged "Dylan-esque" by nearly every publication who has taken the time to give the record the publicity it deserves. The tag has been applied rightfully so. Each year an artist or two gets slapped with the tag but for few does it actually resonate. Matsson's plucking guitar and banjo and seamlessly engaging voice are the makings of a rich, elegant folk record which should not be missed.
9. Young Jeezy- "The Recession" In the past, tough economic and political times fostered great music. I cannot and will not compare Jeezy's latest to Dylan or "Born in the U.S.A." or Public Enemy but it has its moments. The rapper shows his flow is more than just adlibs and and tough talk by discussing the perils of hood life and the importance of our new President elect.
10. Jason Anderson- "The Hopeful and the Unafraid" Anderson's 2008 release is a great exercise in fun, anthemic rock 'n' roll. Grabbing from The Replacements, Springsteen and contemporaries The Hold Steady, this throaty, barroom stomping rocker is full of jams which are locks to be stuck in heads for days.
Welcome to Breakfast for the Block. This space is just for quick thoughts on whatever media is occupying my time. Any download links are for preview purposes only, let me know of any beefs and they will be removed.
