Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Someday...I'll Get Around to Writing About These

Rendition > B-
We Own the Night > B
Red Road > A-
Into the Wild > A-
Saw IV > B-
Gone Baby Gone > B+
Halloween 4/5 Double Feature > C+

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

More Lehane on the Big Screen

Apparently, this news came out sometime last week...but...apparently, Martin Scorcese will be directing "Shutter Island", the latest screenplay of a Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone) novel. In addition, Leonardo Dicaprio is already on board. Let's just say this looks quite promising.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Yes, It's True...Tony Almeida Is Back!

Yup, after a horrifically awful season/day 6 (at least by it's own standards), I'm already liking the direction that season/day 7 is looking like it's going to go. Should have known there was a reason there was no silent clock!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Hot Water Music...back again?!

In another year full of break-ups, this is simply the best news I have heard in a while. Hot Water Music is Back! Awesome!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Going back to the Series! Sorry Cleveland (yeah, you're right, I'm not)

"Tessie" - Dropkick Murphys

Tessie is the Royal Rooters' rally cry
Tessie is the tune they always sung
Tessie echoed April through October nights
After serenading Stahl, Dinneen, and Young

Tessie is a maiden with a sparkling eye
Tessie is a maiden with a love
She doesn't know the meaning of her sight
She's got a comment full of love

And sometimes when the game is on the line
Tessie always carried them away
Up the road from third base to Huntington
The boys would always sing and sway

(chorus) 2... 3... 4..
Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only only

The Rooters showed up at the grounds one day
They found their seats had all been sold
McGreevey led the charge into the park
Stormed the gates and put the game on hold

The Rooters gave the other team a dreadful fright
Boston's tenth man could not be wrong
Up from third base to Huntington
They'd sing another victory song

(chorus)

Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only only
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Boston, you are the only only only
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Red Sox, you are the only only only

Friday, October 19, 2007

It's Movie Weekend Indeed

I think this is about as good as gets in one weekend for movies opening in wide-release at the same time. All of the following are hitting theatres this week; Rendition, Gone Baby Gone (from all accounts as good as the book I just read), Things We Lost in the Fire, Into the Wild, The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D and 30 Days of Night (kinda looking like Josh Hartnett isn't asked to do much, which is a good thing). And Reservation Road and Wristcutters are opening in select theatres (i.e. not Columbus - it's okay, I'll be patient).

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Davey and Dan Make Good on the Promise

I'm not real good at writing about music, but I am pretty decent at knowing what is good. Ask those who know me. But what I can tell you is that the new Maritime album, Heresy and the Hotel Choir, is absolutely amazing.

After the break-up of The Promise Ring in 2002, the emo world let out a collective moan, even if many hated the direction that their finale, Wood/Water, moved towards. Soon after, lead singer/guitarist Davey Van Bohlen, fellow Promise Ring member, Dan Didier (drums) and Eric Axelson (bass) of the recently defunct Dismemberment Plan got together and made what Glass Floor, which was kind of like an acoustic Promise Ring record. Oh, don't get me wrong, it was good. It just wasn't great and didn't break any new ground sound-wise. Publicity was minimal, including AP deeming them one of the top 5 bands we would never hear about again (or something like that). Touring was fairly sparse and rumors of a break-up emerged. Still, We, the Vehicles, came along 2 years later and signs of what a true collage of TPR and Dismemberment would sound like appeared. More upbeat and quirky than its predecessor, it harkened back to TPR's more poppy moments without ever disintegrating into cheese.

Once again, break-up rumors persisted but these were soon quelled by information of a new album to be released a little over a year after Vehicles. Well, it arrived a few weeks ago and I've been blessed with it (thanks Brian!), after I completely forgot about it coming out. Ah...depression does wonderful things. Anyway, I highly recommend it to all as a pop masterpiece (even with the departure of Axelson).

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

If We Could Just Resurrect Josh...(But That Would Imply He Was Alive Before)

So yeah...I hit up the cheap seats today. Since I saw Ratatouille last week and wasn't in the mood for the The Simpson's Movie, I thought check out one of the year's box-office bombs, Resurrecting The Champ. Hehe. Ah...what this movie might have been without Josh "Sideburn" Hartnett. Oh...you know what I mean. Growing the sides of your hair out and having the wings hang down...uh...no, those do not count as sideburns. For real, there is two things you can always count on Josh Hartnett for; shitty haircuts and the most wooden acting this side of Steven Seagal. And its a shame, cause Sam Jackson turned in one of his better performances. Bout' a B-/C+ or so.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

A certain lack of magic...among other things

I've seen a few people write about the new Bruce Springsteen album (apparently though the E Street Band is backing him, they receive no credit...at least on the outside). I haven't acquired it yet, but a few things are coming through from those who are talking about it. First of all, its a bit-forced. Studio-tricks take precedent and make it feel like its a bit phoned-in. Secondly, some have said it's incredibly political, and not in the non-partisan ways of old for him. I guess that's not really a surprise, since its all the rage to be political (i.e. to the pseudo-progressive left) these days, but a shame nontheless. I guess when I finally get ahold of it I'll know.

Ah...apparently Radiohead "released" a new album last week, hehe. And are now bathing in money due to the "ingenious" method they used to release it. I want to make something clear. I don't hate Radiohead. In fact, The Bends and OK Computer are two of my favorite albums of all time. And while the sound isn't the same, it seems that Radiohead began to follow a path of similarity about a year or so before Wilco did. Heavy on atmospherics and studio-trickery, Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief kinda turned me off. Not that they aren't good albums and not that they can't be listened to...they just remind of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born...completely overrated, pseudo-organic examples of waaay too much time in the studio. (And I will still hold to this day, regardless of how I Am Trying To Break Your Heart made him look, Wilco will never be the same without Jay Bennett). Just my two cents, which I know seem to be heavily disagreed with, but that's cool.

Friday, October 12, 2007

The Worst Ever and the Best of This Year?

Blender has published it's list of 50 Worst Songs Ever. I have an idea there are some much worse than these which I can come up with. Not that these are good by any means.

AllMusicGuide also has their Best of 2007: Mid-Year Report up. Not sure how long its been there, but this is the first time I saw it. Lots of good, some suspect, and plenty my ignorant ass hasn't heard.

Oh, did I mention that I'm really tired of hearing about Radiohead's new album?

George Michael

Yep, Michael Clayton is pretty much as good as the critics are saying. I won't say it's in that best movie of the year column, but the shit is still pretty hot. The story is nothing new but one, in the case it is done right, will keep you glued to your seat the whole time. I suppose it reminded me a lot of The Insider, Michael Mann's masterpiece, with its muted colors and constant scenes at night/early morning. Also similar to The Insider, Clayton is a slow-moving expose that requires your full attention. Don't worry though, you will be rewarded that you did.

George Clooney thankfully dials the smarm down a decent amount, somewhat reminiscent of his role in Syriana. And then there is Tom Wilkinson (the dad in In the Bedroom among other great performances), who could have made his role of high-priced corporate lawyer gone nutty with a conscience into a completely unbelievable farce. However, as good as Clooney is, I think Wilkinson is what holds this together as his role could have easily gotten out-of-hand and been made into a sideshow distraction by lesser actors. Perhaps more than you realize until you are finished with it. My only possible problem is a certain characters moral flip-flop towards the end which seems a little sudden for me. But hey, you can't always have perfection. Grade: A-