Monthly Archive for January, 2008

i’ve got a non-sexual crush on christopher willits


January 30, 2008
errandboy

Artist Review

Christopher Willits processes guitar notes through a series of self-written Max/MSP plug-ins, garbling the guitar’s natural sounds into a series of clicks and hums. It sounds like an auditorium full of crickets underwater, but is sublimely rhythmic, and the cascading melody of his textured guitar clicks can express much more than you would expect. His playing on self-released CD-R “:plateaus, centers, stoma” sounds extremely personal on untitled track #2, which drifts on spare guitar notes and airy background drones with the rhythm of a slow dance.


Christopher Willits - Untitled

On his debut for Ghostly International “Surf Boundaries” in 2006, he brought a full band sound to support his signature style, and dreamy vocals to drift in and out of the mix, and on stand-out track “Medium Blue” the drums accentuate the rhythm that was hinted at in the empty space of his earlier recordings while leaving room for his clicking guitar to be felt.


Christopher Willits - Medium Blue

Cara Del Gato - Green Fingers (2007)


January 27, 2008
morion

Album Review Collective Family

The band is Meg and Wayon Costello who, according to their myspace, live in both Gainesville, Florida and Richmond, Virginia.

Green Fingers is a 15 minute EP recorded in Waylon’s shed. It goes by fast which is fine because you will want to give a good few of the songs multiple listens.

The two that really stuck out at me on first listen were:

“Only Daughter”, a sort of Velvet Underground meets Animal Collective number which pretty much sold me on the release.

“This Town”, a great track beginning with some entertaining dialogues and some how reminiscent of The Unicorns for me. Maybe it’s the keyboards or the spooky childishness…

But, I keep on listening and I keep on liking more of these songs.”Ring Around the Rapture”, for instance, is a folkier number with some grand whistling and then this last song “You’re Aware”….“You’re aware, I’m a werewolf…”

This is brilliant stuff and perhaps a sampler for the many other releases they have available on 001 collective.

I for one am going to go find out!

Secret Owl Society and Colloquial Mage: The Story of the Sand (2008)


January 24, 2008
foggy ruins of time

Album Review Collective Family

Colloquial Mage reminds me of Link from Legend of Zelda only Colloquial Mage is more eager to share his adventures. His collaboration with the ever–so-brilliant Secret Owl Society was a perfect match for Mage to share with us this two song tale Story of the Sand. Sort of an allegory of his fears, anxieties, hopes and dreams about his mission to Taiwan, Story of The Sand is a dreamy surreal tale about a boy falling in and out of a dream. Secret Owl Society’s music perfectly underscores the sense of uncertainty, but reinforces Colloquial Mage’s optimistic outlook.

Divided into two parts, “Sand Creature Part I” and “Sand Creature Part II,” Part I feels like the beginning of those sorts of adventures where the plucky young kid falls into a hole or a cave and emerges in another world. However, the distinctions between reality and dreaming blur almost immediately as he leaves his friend behind to look outward on sand dunes stretching for miles. He finds comfort in the sand, “It would never betray me,” and transforms himself preparing for the adventures ahead. Part II turns into a Mad Max like chase through the dunes as Mage tries to deal with similar, but foreign feeling individuals. Every line can be taken several ways and when I listen I get flashes of a childlike whimsy; that this whole story is part of the type of imagination games we all used to play when we were younger. Again Secret Owl’s dreamy score adds a level of ambiguity to the words coming out of Mage’s mouth, reinforcing this blurring lines between reality and dreams.

I am typing this in an airport in Fiji as I await my new unknown adventures in New Zealand. Like Colloquial Mage who is now well underway on his mission, I know what impending change can do to a person’s mind and his pairing with Secret Owl Society hits on the mark all the feelings I have at the moment perfectly. Yet, anyone who’s dreamed of adventures can see that they aren’t just dreams, they are coming true all the time.

Mp3:
Secret Owl Society and Colloquial Mage-”Sand Creature Part I (Adapt)”

Links:
Story of the Sand on CLLCT
Secret Owl Society on myspace
Colloquial Mage on myspace

The Lonesome Architects: The Ocean at Night (2007)


January 24, 2008
foggy ruins of time

Album Review

Hey everyone, I’m in Auckland, New Zealand right now and I have a bit of free time. Sorry if I’m posting out of turn, but I know ya’ll understand.

orginal post date: Thursday, August 16, 2007

The Lonesome Architects are a band (Josh and Martin) originating from LA who play dare I say, “Folktronica”? Is it possibly the greatest antithesis to rap/rock? Genre-bending aside, their latest EP The Ocean at Night is a surprising album given their more acoustic background. However there were inklings of the sound on their last record 15 songs of loss, love and longing. This mixing of folk and electronic music is simply stunning and each form compliments each other greatly. The warm intimacy of acoustic guitars entwined with the cold discipline of electronic beats really recreates the surreal landscape we all live in. So what is this EP all about? Well relationships are one big answer and our relationships to those relationships too. It’s very post-modern; the very best kind. I think I really like The Lonesome Architects because of the pervading sense of individualism that comes from these two guys. It isn’t a selfish or self-absorbed type of individualism, it is us the individual who looks and feels and perceives. I could go on and on about this type of stuff (I’m taking culture and film theory at the moment), but I think what will really win you over is their craft at coming up with very memorable melodies and interesting song structures. “Julie Vignon” is an instant classic. It has a very biting edge to it; a synthesized beat intermixed with some screeching guitar, handclaps and a killer hook, “And now I’m living alone/ just like Julie Vignon/you can catch me by/ the swimming pool anytime.” I’d be afraid to be this girl. Josh and Martin mentioned at the Muddy Waters show yesterday (Read my review here) that while making this record they decided to make it a dance record, or an attempt at one. Now I wouldn’t necessarily call this a dance record, but if some DJ were to remix it I’m sure it would be tearing up the clubs. The song, “Was It You?” Is the most obvious of their intentions. It is the kind of dance song all young un-dance oriented guys would make who wished they had moves (like me): earnest, serious, and a bit cute (in a good way!). The poetry is something else when Josh sings, “And in to this field of schemes/ that once was filled with dreams/ but dreams do rot/ and fruit gets soft/it’s true or is it not?” Attempt to get The Ocean at Night any way you can right now. It is necessary for anyone who’s ever thought about our place in this world and with everyone else.

Mp3:
The Lonesome Architects-“Was It You?”

Their Myspace with “Julie Vignon”!
On Virb!

cut & paste yr face


January 23, 2008
errandboy

Artist Review

food for animals

No one knows how to really take white people in hip hop, not that race is a big issue, but you always have to wonder how authentic it really is. That probably opens up a whole other can of racial worms, but I honestly have an inherent distrust of my own race, and I can’t say white people haven’t earned it. We don’t talk about it, but we’re really terrible. We by-and-large can’t rap, we have some good authentic producers, but the only time I’ve been able to take a white rapper seriously has been when they stop being a cop-out and represent their roots (Bubba Sparxxx is the exception, I can’t even look at him without laughing).

Food for Animals kind of personify where they’re from without cheaping themselves as caricatures. They’ve been based out of Washington, D.C. for the formative years of their sound, and on the majority of their “Scavengers” EP they take huge shots at the Bush Administration in between bursts of chainsaw-distorted melodies. Andrew Field-Pickering (aka Vulture Voltaire) and Nik Rivetti (aka Ricky Rabbit) hide hip-hop under layers of drill & bass and glitchy noise that sometimes bypasses all semblance of a beat, while punchlines fly at directly at you with clear delivery and gruff inflection, energetic and pronounced enough to keep the song punchy over the discordant melody backing it. Ricky Rabbit’s production style shows knowledge of hip hop roots on their new album “Belly”, but the band has been lauded more by the IDM crowd and Jason Forrest’s label Cock Rock Disco releases “Belly” this month, after half a year of delays. It’s more cohesive than “Scavengers”, and it’s the first sign of Vulture Voltaire distancing himself from the D.C. political themes of their earlier stuff, while the U.S. gets a licking, he’s frank and vivid on “Grapes”, where he waits around as his mother dies from cancer, laconically dead-panning “every time I hear the word cancer, I need a cigarette/I’m not sure I get it yet”.

They’re a tough listen for casual fans of rap or anyone who can’t digest glitchy songs, but if you want something to alienate everyone in the world when you blast it from your car speakers, look no further. (Also see: Hearts of Darknesses)

Food for Animals - Elephants
(off Scavengers EP)

Food for Animals - Grapes
(off Belly)

Manipulator Alligator


January 22, 2008
Tinyfolk

Artist Review

Manipulator Alligator is one of the finest musical projects I’ve heard that absofuckinglukely no one seems to listen to. What gives, guys? This man, one Matthew Hoppock of Kansas City/Salinas/etc., Kansas is the one behind Sanitary Records, and has put out bands like Saturday Looks Good to Me, Boo Hiss, Real Live Tigers, Nedelle, Quiet Bears, Half-Handed Cloud, Colin Clary, Grumpy Bear and lots of others. And you know what, he’s a damn near flawless songwriter, vocalist AND musician, and goes back and forth between acoustic songs and electronic patchwork pieces without it seeming strange at all. He can be super experimental one minute and the next write what basically amounts to a simple, heartfelt country song, and god dammit they’re all so good! Not to mention he’s one of the most kind, gentle, selfless people I’ve met. Oh, AND he’s married, has a kid, works, and is (was?) attending law school in addition to making amazing music and running a wonderful record label. Sadly, I’ve heard say that he’s going to stop making Manipulator Alligator songs, which I completely understand, given his situation, but still think is an EFFING CRIME, because there are so many people who have no idea, NO IDEA, how amazing this man is. Below I’ve posted two of his songs, two that I found on his website/myspace/purevolume, but I don’t even think listening to just these can give you a full idea of how wonderful Manipulator Alligator is. I’m not entirely sure what other releases he has planned other than a split with…ehm…Tinyfolk (which should be out on Sanitary within the next month or so), but I would recommend buying anything you can get your hands on from Sanitary.

MP3s:


Manipulator Alligator - Nina Simone


Manipulator Alligator - You Grow Out of That Bag

LINKS:

Sanitary Records Home
Manipulator Alligator Home
Manipulator Alligator Myspace

FRENCH QUARTER - BUILD FIRES


January 21, 2008
Parade Parade

Artist Review

I’ve been to Arizona once. It was in late July, and it was hotter and drier than any other place I’ve been in my life. It felt like the top racks of ovens. It felt like the air around high-wattage light bulbs. At night, it was still hot, and when it rained, the rain was also hot. It was a hot hot place. Absurdly hot, I’d even say.

However, the band French Quarter does not evoke these images or feelings. Centered around the singing and songwriting of Tempe, Arizona native Stephen Steinbrink, French Quarter instead conjures the image of a road-wizened kid ambling through the nooks and crannies of our country, speeding down highways in beat up cars with only his thoughts to keep him company, a constant cycle of images of home, smells, troubadours of yesteryear and past loves. That’s how I’d like to think of Stephen, anyway, but I’ve never met him.

French Quarter’s self-titled LP (released on Gilgongo Records in 2007) is a strong and wonderful record, ten solid tracks of expressing the gamut of thoughts and emotions of 19 year old Steinbrink (whose lyrics embody a level of self-awareness and articulation that seems way beyond most people of this age). The last track, “Build Fires,” is definitely my favorite and an excellent cap to the record.

Backed by a fairly mellow instrumentation of acoustic guitar, bass, and drums, “Build Fires” is a catchy laid-back jam, evoking cool breezes coupled with the pleasant warmth of a summer sun (the antithesis of my Arizona experience, I believe.) Steinbrink coos simple, beautiful lyrics, and harmonizes pleasantly with himself (which is a hard feat to pull off successfully) during the refrain. “Build Fires” is a wonderful track off an impressive debut LP, and I’m definitely excited to hear French Quarter’s future offerings.

French Quarter is currently on tour, check out the myspace for info.

French Quarter - “Build Fires”

Brother Bird, Regal Standard


January 20, 2008
morion

Live Music

In my experience, it’s been a rarity to find two musicians sharing a set. In fact, I don’t believe I had ever seen it done before the show on Thursday @ Luminous and Merry( in Decatur) where two acts from Lawrence, Kansas merged beautifully into one.

Brother Bird (aka JB) is the reason I was there. He invited me to play awhile back, with out really specifying that he had nothing to do with booking the show. This turned out to be perfectly alright as I got in touch with the venue’s curator, Wabash (who was the subject of my last blog), and all was well. The first song of his I heard was “Lunar Eclipse” and I was just floored by how amazing it was, I believe Regal Standard (Cody) is singing high in the background.

Really it was just incredible musicianship and vocals from both of them the whole way through. I look forward to listening to their albums which rumor has it are heading toward the collective. Keep your eyes peeled.

They are just finishing up their tour.

If you hurry you can still catch em’:

Jan 20 2008 7:00P
Cream City Collectives Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jan 21 2008 7:00P
HUGE BAND SHOW AT A BAR Galesburg, Illinois

“Lunar Eclipse” is to be on the, as yet, unreleased Brother Bird full length.

http://www.myspace.com/brotherbird

http://www.myspace.com/regalstandard

I just want someone to share my life with- Jens Lekman’s “Oh, You’re So Silent Jens”


January 20, 2008
rhiannon

Album Review

There have been two people overshadowing my week. One has been a long term crush who I am fearful to talk to (but that’s not for here) and the other has been a certain Jens Lekman.

A year or so ago a very nice, but supremely cool, friend of mine mentioned that she thought I would like this chap. She was right. With his happy pop songs filled with pretty intense romance and images of his native Sweden there was no way I could fail to be hooked. Unfortunately, I did not heed this advice straight away. In fact I thought no more about it until two of his tracks (one from a free CD in the wonderful Plan B magazine, the other on a mix from a friend) made their way into my life almost a year later and reminded me what I’d been missing. And so, flash forward to a couple of weeks ago, on a whim I bought “Oh You’re So Silent Jens”, a collection of previously released singles, EPs, and compilation appearances recorded between 2003-2004.

The main dominator of my brain was “I Saw Her In The Anti-War Demonstration”. I’ve been getting obsessed. Opening with a sprawling violin/viola/cello trio it changes direction into something altogether more marchy. With that, in come the vocals, filled with romance and rhyme. The story of Jens’ love for an ex-punk he met on an anti-war demonstration leading to the epic rhyme of six: “And the skies/were clear blue skies/And her eyes/were clear blue eyes/And her thighs/were about the same size as mine/And we were walking in the anti-war demonstration”. Pretty glorious stuff.

Another highlight of the album is the fabulous Maple Leaves (there are two versions on this album, EP or 7”), the story of the best type of miscommunication: “But she said the dreamers just make believe/and I thought she said maple leaves” and “And when she talked about the fall/I thought she meant Mark E Smith/I never understood at all”.

On another album Maple Leaves or ISHITAWD could (possibly) take the cake for most romantic (in my skewed way of seeing the world), unfortunately, everything is thrown off by the Someone To Share My Life With. Unlike most other tracks, the only accompaniment Jens’ voice gets is some low-down guitar and subtle glockenspiel, making the lyrics stand out even more. “I don’t want a girl who hangs on every word I say”, right here Jens, “who shows me off to her parents over roast beef on Sundays”, you have my word, “I don’t want a girl who thinks she has to fake”, seriously Jens, I think we could be good together, “I don’t want a girl who laughs at every little joke I make”, no fear of that, “I just want someone to share my life with/and that someone could be you”. Then it’s settled/Download link http://www.sendspace.com/file/sie81j

New To Theatres: 1/18/08


January 18, 2008
Patrick Ripoll

Cinema/Television

In my first post I was quite gung ho about doing an article every Friday until I died. 2 weeks later I missed an article because I was working as key grip on a music video. I’d apologize, but I doubt anyone really cared. Like I said 2 weeks ago, January is a graveyard and did anyone really want to hear what I had to say about a fucking Veggie-Tales movie? I will say that I’ll eventually catch First Sunday on video, but that’s more for my love of Kat Williams (who IS a hysterical comedian who is smarter than most people give him credit for) than my love of Tyler Perry-esque chitlin’ plays.

CONTEST: This article needs a name. You could be the lucky person to name it! Whoever wins will receive a Patrick Ripoll prize-pack which includes some DVD’s, some mixtapes, maybe some candy, all sorts of glorious shit. So get naming! All entries can be left in the form of a comment on the blog, e-mailed to me at soybomb@care2.com, AIMed to me at soybomb43, or sent as a private message on the Collective forums. Whatever it takes to get it to me.

A quick word on the Golden Globes: No one gives a fuck about the Golden Globes.

And now, onto this Friday, or as Hollywood would like to call it, “The Official Start of the New Year”. We got the much-hyped about Blair-Witch meets Gamera “Cloverfield”, a new Woody Allen movie(!!!!), some generic looking romantic comedy featuring the star of the best romantic comedy of last year, a low-profile Diane Keaton/Queen Latifah caper, and a movie about a girl who’s vagina eats things AKA Patrick Ripoll’s favorite movie of all time, ever.

Let do this like nudists!

Cloverfield (Trailer)
Starring Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, and the fucking singer from Yellowcard
Directed by Matt Reeves
This sure as hell better be better than the 1998 Godzilla
The Premise: Monster(s?) battling in New York City, as captured by a 20-something with a camcorder.

The Lowdown: Ever since the teaser trailer hit last summer the internet has gone crazy with speculation. Thanks to clever viral marketing by Mr. J.J. Abrhams, that buzz has nearly lasted all the way til now. Will the movie live up to the hype? It’s an intriquing premise that could be great or shit, but fortunately the early word coming in has been almost unanimously positive. Nothing earth shattering, but all involved seem to agree that at worst, it’s a very entertaining film.

Is It Worth Seeing?: For a brief (75 minutes!) good city-stomping time at the theatres, this is a safe bet.

27 Dresses (Trailer)
Starring Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Judy Greer
Directed by Anne Fletcher

The Premise:  After being a Bridesmaid 20-something times (I forget the exact number) Katherine Heigl fights to win back the man she loves from her sister.

The Lowdown: Katherine Heigl may feel that Knocked Up was sexist, but if I were her, I’d be more concerned about not knocking the best film I’ll probably ever be in. Especially if she’s going to appear in middling garbage like this. Besides, what’s a more sexist trait of the romantic comedy than the persistant idea that there is no greater prize for a woman than to win a handsome and successful man to marry? And while I don’t believe that Knocked Up is sexist (then again, I’m one of the few people who really felt for Leslie Mann’s character and didn’t think she was a shrew bitch), Judd Apatow’s crew is certainly a boy’s club, so it’s not likely that Heigl will ever be in a movie as funny and heart-felt as Knocked Up again. On the plus side, at least she probably won’t ever have to have a sex scene with someone who looks like Rogen again. So maybe it’s not all bad for her.

Is It Worth Seeing?: Let’s not kid ourselves, there are those of you who have girlfriends, wives, or very clingy mothers who aren’t going to want to see a docu-drama about giant monsters decapitating Lady Liberty. So, for some of you out there, it’s not going to be a choice. You’re going to see this flick whether you want to or not. At least take comfort in the fact that the very lovely and funny Judy Greer has a supporting role, which should make it a bit less painful.

Mad Money (Trailer)
Starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, and Ted Danson
Directed by Callie Khouri
If The Coens couldn't pull it off...

The Premise: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes try to rob a bank but strike COMIC GOLD INSTEAD! GABBA GABBA HEY!

The Lowdown: Against my better judgment, I am damned proud of Diane Keaton. There was a point where she had the potential to be one of the all-time great comediennes, right up there with Lucile Balle and Gilda Radner. However, Love & Death (the most underrated comedy of all time) was a long long time ago and her career path didn’t quite go that way. But flash forward to now, and you see that she’s done alright for herself. Through some clever career moves, she’s established a niche for herself as “the hot funny old lady” that should keep her working until her teeth fall out. And while the films she’s in are far from great (though I do have a soft spot for The Family Stone), it’s not often an actress is able to stay relevant in Hollywood once menopause sets in. Hollywood is kind of cruel that way.

So good for you, Diane Keaton. Even though the movies you have been in have been shit (Because I Said So being a particularly big offender), you stay on top. Of course, being dumped in the middle of January against Katherine Heigl and giant monsters with little advertising support isn’t exactly “on top”, but at least you’re doing better than Mia Farrow! Congrats!

Is It Worth Seeing?: Listen, if the goddamned Coen Brothers already made this exact movie (Ladykillers, anyone?) and it wasn’t worth seeing then, there’s no fucking way the director of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood is going to be anything better than shit.

Cassandra’s Dream (Trailer)
Starring Collin Farrell, Ewan McGregor, Phil Davis, Tom Wilkinson
Directed by Woody Allen
Woody Allen returns, hardcore.

The Premise: Ewan McGregor and Collin Farrell are in over their heads in debt, and get entangled in a dangerous and sinister series of events to clear it.

The Lowdown: Woody Allen is awesome. I need to make that clear as possible because it’s easy to forget how good he is. Match Point helped people remember that he can still turn out a killer movie, but it’s important to realise that Match Point was no fluke. Woody Allen is up there with Scorsese as one of America’s greatest living and working filmmakers, and the fact that every movie he releases isn’t an event (even the bad ones, like Anything Else or Hollywood Ending) is a real shame. His last film, Scoop, was a light comedy (reportedly) designed solely to show off the comedic acting chops of Scarlett Johanson, and while it was funny, it was a mere appetizer for Cassandra’s Dream, which is the kind of film Woody should be focusing on now. It’s being dumped at the beginning of the year because the Oscar race is already too crowded and this film doesn’t have the benefit of surprise that Match Point did, but Allen was never one to court awards anyway. So this isn’t going to be pushed and promoted as the important movie it is, but don’t be fooled, this is just as important to see as Atonement (and probably more so).

Is It Worth Seeing?: You bet your ass it is. It’s still in limited release, but look for it when it goes wider.

Teeth (Trailer)
Starring Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Josh Pais
Directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein
New meaning to the phrase

The Premise: Jess Weixler’s vagina has teeth and is hungry. I’m not shitting you.

The Lowdown: Why is this not already an established genre? Why is there not a “vagina dentata” section at my local Best Buy? I don’t need to know any more about this movie to know it’s going down as one of the all time greatest movies since Nashville. This girl’s hairy scar has teeth! Her cootch! Teeth! Do I need to spell it out for you??

Ok, let me calm down a second. Suffice to say, this kind of premise alone sells me on a movie. Whether this film is a cheap tawdry monster movie, a romantic comedy, a documentary filmed in real-time, it doesn’t matter. The premise alone already has my ticket. But, as if you needed any more reason to see this film, it’s also supposed to be hilarious, terrifying, daring, and disgusting. Also, Jess Weixler’s performance evidentally sells the whole thing. So on top of a great premise worthy of early Cronenberg, it’s supposedly all pulled off well too.

Not that it should matter. Chick’s pussy is hungry, s’all I’m sayin’. If you aren’t the kind of person who gets excited about a movie like this, you aren’t the kind of person who gets to be my friend.

Is It Worth Seeing?: I don’t care how far away from you this film is playing, see this shit. There’s no bonding experience like going on a 5 hour road trip with your fam to see a movie bout a girl who’s snatch devours shit.

This week kicks off another exciting year in film, and I for one, can’t wait for what ‘08 has in store for us. Next week has Sylvester Stallone (or as I like to call him, ”the male Diane Keaton”) becoming Rambo again and kicking all sorts of ass. Then again, there’s also another shitty dance movie that defies all grammatical logic, “How She Move”. So maybe it won’t be such a great year after all. Who knows.