Kaptain Carbon's House Of Monsters

A Guide To Exotica...and Beyond

2011-09-09T15:36:00.009-04:00

A Guide To Understanding Exotica and its Related Styles

So this guide was started before but accelerated at some of the other users questions regarding content. Most of our beloved Exotica also falls under related styles, specifically Space Age Pop, Lounge and Easy Listening. All of these terms fall under the umbrella concept of "Mood Music" which is inherently music aimed at elevating the listener's mood with a relaxed atmosphere. The concept of mood music mirrors the French phenomenon of "furnishing music" or background music, a concept coined by Eric Satie in 1917, whereby music is intended to recede to the background providing incidental atmosphere. Furnishing music still has its place in the avant guade and contemporary classical yet the concept of incidental music would live throughout the decades.

While Exotica maybe the most recognizable, it is merely a piece in a larger network of light, vintage commercial music. Mood music has continued to be a commercial entity throughout the decades yet its height was arguably during the changing social climate of the 1950's and 60's. Lounge and its varieties was the sound of the old regime, the music of the older generations -- one that would eventually be toppled by Rock & Roll. Today, lounge and its related styles have grown into collectors items mostly due to their rarity and dated qualities. The sounds of old waiting room music sparks a certain nostalgia for a time most people never experienced.

**Light Music**

*1900-1960*

Primary a British style of light orchestral music. Lyndon Jenkins was quoted as saying light music was "original orchestral pieces, often descriptive but in many cases simply three or four minutes of music with an arresting main theme and a contrasting middle section." Mantovani popularized this style of music as having "cascading strings." Light music came before the avant of radio and was the less serious counterpart to classical music. It was used as entertainment music for social gatherings.

[Sir Edward Elgar]

[Matovani]

**Beautiful Music / Easy Listening**

*(1940s / 1980's) - Present*

Beautiful Music and Easy Listening are essentially the same thing as they are radio formats geared towards a content geared towards a relaxed atmosphere. Taking the format of Light music, **BM/EZ** encases a large variety of styles including lounge, classical, big band and vocal pop. The term "elevator music" or "Muzak" has been applied to the genre as the format was eventually used by the *Muzak Holdings LLC* to be "weather music" for elevators and shopping malls during the 1940's-1960's.

[101 Strings]

[Ferrante and Tiecher]

[Perry Como]

**Lounge**

*1950s-1960's*

The term Lounge is now being considered retrospective as it describes a section of easy listening played within waiting room areas and restaurants during the 1950's and 1960's. Lounge music also combined *easy listening* with *jazz* for a more commercial, non intrusive variety of background music. Lounge singers, which were a continuation of the *big band* have become popular with this style. Lounge music would continue through the century to absorb downtempo and world electronic. The lounge this subreddit has come to enjoy encompasses the early days of lounge

[Burt Baccerat]

[The Rat Pack]

[Just For Fun]

**Exotica**

*1950's-1960's*

Exotica is lounge aimed at the recreation of a Polynesian atmosphere complete with simulated exotic sounds. It was a commercial attempt to offer adventure to middle American audiences. The style of Exotica came during the height of Tiki - a kitsch decoration motif which was popular in restaurants during the 1940's. The thrust of Exotica mirrors pulp fantasy as the cultures presented are fictional, innocuous and complexity absurd. Due to the incredibly politically incorrect attitudes of Exotica, it exists now in a retro style fashion.

[Martin Denny]

[Les Baxter]

[Aurthur Lyman]

**Space Age Pop**

*Early 1960's*

Space Age Pop is Exotica's twin brother. Space Age Pop is lounge aimed at the imaginations of a futuristic society spurred by the excitement of the space race of the early 60's. Instead of the mystic of foreign cultures, Space Age Pop hinged itself on the fantasies of tomorrow. Space Age Pop is also known for utilizing the Stereo Action feature popular in the early 60's. While the concept of Stereo playback may seem trivial by today's standards, producers went bananas with the effect during its inception.

[Esquival]

[Sir Julian]

**Mambo / Bossa-Nova / Cha-Cha-Cha / Samba**

1960's-Present

This is a grouping of Latin American styles with were incorporated into lounge during the 1950's and 60's. Each of the above styles were developed in another country and eventually imported into the United States. Some styles remained intact while others were fused with a lounge tempo.

[Don Swan]

[Sergio Mendes]

[Joan Gilberto]

Part of my love for this genre is in fact its popularity rested with the population which would eventually be unpopular. All of these genres are now considered "square" when compared to the revolution brewing underneath. It is fascinating to listen to record with no intellectual framework other than relaxation. While it may seem a strange place to start with a genre of music, Exotica (and its related genres) have a strange yet persistent place in contemporary culture. It is the sound a generation right before everything changed. It was the last cocktail hour before the universe shifted.

Mostly Dead (dc)

2010-02-14T21:51:00.000-05:00

ASCII: swans

2010-02-14T21:49:00.002-05:00

Fuck Attack (cd sleeve and button)

2010-02-12T14:36:00.002-05:00

TPIH / AC

2010-01-18T11:48:00.002-05:00

Cheap Dinosaurs "S/T"

2010-01-05T10:46:00.004-05:00

Geoff Barone "Piano"

2010-01-05T10:38:00.002-05:00

cd / inside / b ack design

armcannon

2010-01-05T10:05:00.002-05:00

this place Is haunted

2010-01-05T09:53:00.002-05:00

this place is haunted

2010-01-05T09:52:00.002-05:00

rare candy

2010-01-05T09:50:00.001-05:00

shawn phase

2010-01-05T09:49:00.002-05:00

chiptune

2010-01-05T09:44:00.001-05:00

kareshi

2010-01-05T09:17:00.001-05:00

Volume 8 (Fall)

2009-09-24T16:28:00.003-04:00

Volume 8 (Fall)

1. Cookie Monsta - Misunderstood >
2. Cheap Dinosaurs - Gnip Gnop
3. Bob Thompson -Diga Diga Doo
4. Cybotron - Clear
5. Gregory Issacs - Night Nurse
6. The Dead Science - Make Mine Marvel
7. Negativland - Drink It Up
8. Freddie Kigozi And The Hodi Boys-Fumbira Abanna
9. Nosaj Thing - Fog
10. Asobi Sesku - Thursday
11. Irepress - Diaspora
12. Romona Falls - Melectric
13. Charles Aznavour - Monsieur Est Mort
14. Hanggai - Flowers
15. The Plague-The Face Of time
16. Underground Resistence - Jupiter Jazz
17. Electric Wizard - Funeralopolis
18. The Ink Spots - Whispering Grass

NYC UYD flier

2009-09-18T21:05:00.003-04:00

submission for a live podcast show in NYC. runner up in competition < more optimistic way of saying it wasn't chosen. Filed away in "rejected genius."

geoff Barone: The Calm Collection I & II

2009-09-14T21:54:00.003-04:00

design for a progressive rock artist from NYC

The Five Towers

2009-09-11T10:57:00.005-04:00

a low quality cell phone picture of The Five Towers; a series of five laminated drawings on construction paper with crayon and oil sent to five anonymous recipients.

soar and plunge

2009-08-31T17:35:00.001-04:00

vahalla

2009-08-31T17:34:00.002-04:00

the ages

2009-08-31T17:30:00.006-04:00

(the ages) swell and yawn
like lumbering giants
awaking from shallow stages of rest
the earth splits and shifts
floods and scalds
the concave mantle
with delicious
precambian broth
living organisms
bloom and decay
sentient creatures
become cognizant of the breadth
comprising existence
before being hit by a bus

agamemnon

2009-08-27T09:26:00.001-04:00

i dont want to set the world on fire

2009-08-27T08:35:00.001-04:00

Volume 7 (Early Fall)

2009-08-26T17:42:00.000-04:00

Volume 7 (Early Fall)

1. Kishore Kumar - Mere Sapno Ki Rani
2. Deastro - Tone Adventure #3
3. The Mummies - Your Ass (My Face)
4. Roger Harpham - Pastoral
5. Commodity - pathetic >
6. Commodity - dead
7. Django Reinhardt - Dinah
8. Hawkwind - D-Rider
9. James Chance & The Contortions - Flip Your Face
10. Leo Addeo & His Orchestra - Stumbling
11. Pulp - Common People
12. The Story Tellers - Cry With Me
13. Bracewar - Calling Out
14. The xx - Islands
15. YACHT - The Afterlife
16. Genesis - The Carpet Crawlers
17. Mastermind - Mix (Side B)
18. Das Schuricke-Terzett - Das Blonde Kathchen

64BG

2009-08-23T13:03:00.003-04:00

Final Fantasy Poster

this place is haunted

Untitled drawing backstage below a hand drawn "Trail of Dead" logo

Century Lake

2009-08-20T20:07:00.003-04:00

Set of 2 postcards mailed on Friday August 21st and Saturday August 22nd

2009-08-20T13:05:00.001-04:00

Epileptic Peat > Ace Of Clubs > NYC > 9.15.09

2009-08-20T13:01:00.002-04:00

Epileptic Peat > Ace Of Clubs > NYC > 9.15.09

Dawn Land

2009-08-20T12:56:00.002-04:00

Set of 2 cryptid postcards mailed on Thursday August 20th and Friday August 21st

Volume 6 (Late Summer)

2009-08-18T09:50:00.002-04:00

Volume 6 (Late Summer)

1. The Tremolos - Kackle
2. Tapes and Tapes - Insistor
3. jj - my love
4. The Social Outcasts - Mad
5. The Doors - Summer's Almost Gone
6. The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea
7. The Rockbusters - Tough Chick
8. Gregory Issacs - Never Be Ungrateful (12 inch mix)
9. S & H Scamps - Punjab
10.Grizzley Bear - Two Weeks
11. Solitude Aeturnus - White Ship
12. Secret chiefs 3 - Sophia’s Theme
13. Eurythmics - Love Is A Stranger
14. The Exports - Car Hop
15. YOB - The Great Cessation
16. Cass Macombs - Harmonia

Volume 5 (Summer)

2009-08-18T09:39:00.002-04:00

Volume 5 (Summer)

1. Tom Waits - Lucinda > Ain't Goin' Down To The Well (live)
2. Crippled Black Phoniex - paranoid arm if narcoleptic empire
3. Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
4. 80sKidz - Miss Mars
5. Betlehem - Schuld Uns'res Knoch'rigen Faltpferd
6. The Decemberists - East India Lanes
7. DD/MM/YY - They >
8. DD/MM/YY - Infinity Skull Cube
9. Modern English - I Melt with You
10. Green Day - Murder City
11. Akron/Family - Sun Will Shine (Warmth Of The Sunship Version)
12. HP Lovecraft Society - Byakhee Byakhee
13. Tortoise - Prepare Your Coffin
14. Queen - Seaside Rendezvous
15. Pelican - Ephemeral

Volume 4 (Early Summer)

2009-08-18T09:32:00.001-04:00

Volume 4 (Early Summer)

1. Ultravox - Astradyne
2. Slough Feg - Ape Uprising
3. Camera Obscura - French Navy
4. Future Of the Left - The Hope That House Built
5. Black Uhuru - Sinsemilla
6. Deerhunter - Rainwater Cassette Exchange
7. Genisis - Misunderstanding
8. Dozer - Empire's End
9. Human League - Don't You Want Me
10. Sonic Youth - Antenna
11. Martin Denny - Japanese Sandman
12. Gryphon - Second Spasm
13. Future Of the Left - You Need Satan More Than He Needs You
14. Saxon Shore - Tokyo 412am

Volume 3 (Late Spring)

2009-08-18T09:13:00.003-04:00

Volume 3 (Late Spring)

1. Spike Jones - Laura
2. Sporto Kantes - Impressed
3. Jean Jaques Perry - In The Heart Of A Rose
4. Leonard Cohen - Tower of Song (live)
5. W. Wright & The Upsetters - Liquid Serenade
6. Caspa - I Beat My Robot
7. Ghost mice - Critical Hit
8. Paranthetical Girls - Young Eucharists
9. Department Of Eagles - No One Does It
10. 65 Days Of Static >
11. 65 Days Of Static >
12. 65 Days Of Static
13. Epileptic Peat - Avalanche
14. Candlemass - Gothic Stone >
15. Candlemass - The Well of Souls
16. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Twin Of Myself
17. Lindstrom - Tirsdagsjam (Lang Versjon)
18. Patsy Cline - I Fall to Pieces

Volume 2 (Spring)

2009-08-18T09:06:00.008-04:00

Volume 2 (Spring)

1. AC Slater - Rock It Out
2. (untitled silent track)
3. The Bee Gees - You'll Never See My Face Again
4. The Decemberists - The Rake's Song
5. Anamanaguchi - Tempest, Teamwork, Triumph (At Sea)
6. B Flieschman - Broken Monitors
7. Rainbow - Tarot Woman
8. Martin Denny - I Talk To The Trees
9. Pink Mountaintops - And I Thank You
10. the Thermals - When I Died
11. Caspa - Victoria's Secret
12. Uriah Heep - The Wizard
13. Cursive - From The Hips
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle
15. Bon Iver - For Emma
16. Peste Noir - Dueil Angoisseus (Christine De Pisan, 1362-14
17. Epileptic Peat - The Doldrums

Two more tracks were on this cd but the original listing was lost in the flood.

#Waaves - So Bored
*Vashti Bunyan - Another Diamond Day

Volume 1 (Early Spring)

2009-08-18T08:49:00.009-04:00

Beginning in Spring, I began sending mix CDs to various people via the postal service. These mixes consisted of mostly new music segmented by old favorites. I began sending these discs every month along with artwork and photographs. It wasn't until recently that I made artwork for each of them and began cataloging the contents. At first, I enjoyed the idea of having blank song titles and artists names. It gave a sort of mystery to each song dislocated from its artist. Well due to continual interest and piles of fan mail, I have decided to post the artwork and track titles for each monthly mix. If you, the loyal reader would like anyone of these mixes please email me at Carbon@warpath.tv and we will make arrangements.

Volume 1 (Early Spring)

1. Jean Jacques Perrey - Mary France
2. Bee Gees - Lamplight Mail Art
3. Apes And Androids - Hot Kathy
4. Harry Belefonte - Star-O
5. Laserdance - Humanoid Invasion
6. The Lonely Island - I'm On A Boat (feat. T-Pain)
7. The Bee Gees - Black Diamond
8. Dan Deacon - Get older
9. Renaissance - Carpet Of The Sun
10. Apes And Androids - We Don't Understand You
11. Neutral Milk Hotel - Two-Headed Boy
12. Eluvium - Prelude For Time Feelers
13. Hot Blood - Soul Dracula
14. The Lonely Island - Boombox (feat. Julian Casablancas)
15. Bulent - Olmali mi Olmamali mi
16. Apes and Androids - Riverside
17. Riz Ortolani - Cannibal Holocaust (Main Theme)

Utawarerumono (I)

2009-07-06T21:39:00.005-04:00

This past week, I just finished the first disc of the anime series Utawarerumono. The series comes from a Japanese visual novel (a mixture between choose your own adventure and an RPG). The story revolves around a masked character whose is shrouded in as much mystery as he is kindness. He becomes attached to a village as they deal with daily strife in feudal Japan...err fantasy feudal japan with fox creatures and dinosaurs. The masked stranger befriends two tweens, Arurū and Eluluu as they fight against local leaders and hired assassins. I found the protagonist to be very much an fusion of every good quality thought up by an inexperienced writer. This character has no visible flaws besides an unwavering kindness and intrigue. This makes him extremely boring to watch at parts. My girlfriend disagrees with me and tells me that the protagonist is different than most anime archetypes and in fact the hotheaded local Oboro is more akin to the anime stereotype. I do not know. We are getting the second disc. I am disinterested in the series however i do not despise its very existence. perhaps my mind will change.

The Doom Tower

2009-07-01T17:21:00.002-04:00

Digital Prints from dragging things across a scanner...
http://doomtower.blogspot.com/

Before The Throes

2009-07-01T09:57:00.003-04:00

Before the Throes (1-5) available on the "beforethethroes" blog (now available on the side) and also on my main website. A set of 5 will be mailed shortly to five lucky participants.

Department of Eagles

2009-04-07T19:09:00.002-04:00

Lord Flash

2009-03-26T16:00:00.001-04:00

Sin City 2?!?!?!?!

2009-03-17T16:32:00.003-04:00

Uh UHUUHHUHUHUHUH...oh....its still not made. Well this isn't a surprise. However, Robert Rodriguez, this week, promises that its "in the works," pushing the delayed sequal closer to an eschelon shared by Chinese Democracy. Rodriguez is busy at the moment with Red Sonja and Shorts but plans on throwing "something together." Below is an interview with Miller who makes comments on upcoming films much like a hungover employee in the middle of a performance evaluation. "Its almost done...I promise...I'll get that to you tomorrow."

Macgyver Movie...

2009-03-16T17:25:00.006-04:00

...is finally in the RUMOR stage! Wait. We all know what is going to come from this. Like the new Lethal Weapon reboot, the original star will have either little interest in reprising the role or will not be able to evade a swarm of fire ants like he used to. I think I speak for all people fascinated with early 90's pop culture when I say this movie will only be decent if Richard Dean Anderson was Macgyver, Bruce Mcgill was Jack Dalton and the villain was Murdoc, played by Michael Des Barres. Let us forget about an adrenaline laced reboot. I believe that the writers focused their attention on story rather than feeding steroids into a still respected franchise the newer audience would not care if the majority of the cast is over 50. Sadly everyone know what will come of this rumor. If a movie is made, it will feature Richard dean Anderson and his young sidekick on a zany adventure to save the world. Explosions will be many, Macgyver will spray uzis and I will end up paying 14 dollars to see it alone among a theater of disappointed fans.

Couldn't we just once give the newer generation the benifit of the doubt and make a movie without a hacker plot, fast cars and CGI and trust the story to hold their attention?

AC Slater

2009-03-14T15:19:00.002-04:00

Is it impossible for electronic artists to sit down and write an entire album? Progressive metal bands can write a double album in a weekend. The "single" format is the staple in electronic music. Dubstep is notorious for this prolific output of singles, so is House. This way record stores can charge 10$ for a an imported 12". To somehow combine the two areas of thin but steady work is yet another crossover genre called Fidget House...or Dubhouse. Taking the structure of House, and keeping the "wooble" and heavy beats of Dubstep, Fidget House is a junkyard construction hell bent on crashing through your living room window and starting a party. What fidget-house lacks in street cred from dubstep fans it makes up with in incredibly addictive beats. AC Slater (best name ever) recently released the Rock It Out EP, a combination of 4 songs and two remixes, which is like a triple LP in the world of electronic music. The way AC Slater hooks listeners into a song is almost the same, if not cloned, from the deceased 8-bit candy crunk OCDJ. Enjoy the early summer with a mindless dance record.

pearl

2009-03-13T17:55:00.001-04:00

We're All In This Together...

2009-03-10T09:26:00.005-04:00

Back in the Wiredown days, I wrote a short news blurb about the Phish reunion which turned into nonsensical gibberish. I was only voicing my distaste for public hiatuses and much hyped reunions. I remember getting an comment on that article, by a casual user, which stated that "Phish has more talent than any band you probably listen to." While I think that comment was a little derogatory, my demeanor in the article was a bit aggressive. So it goes, that Phish's entire reunion at the Hampton Coliseum was made available in high quality mp3. A staggering 3 day, 6 set, 12 hour concert was now available for free. I must admit and confess my complete and utter enjoyment thought these multiple days Phish has been playing throughout my apartment. Reviews of this show have been mixed with many people commenting on the limberness of the music after a 5 year hiatus. This show is widely not accepted the zenith of creativity and versatility (sources point to new years 1999), but it is a decent shot. It is like the 40 year old who gets caught up in a 20 something year old adventure. Sure he will be tired in the morning, but he never complained during the time. This Phish reunion soundboard tapes have opened up my jam band scab which has hardened over the years under layers of Metal, Indie Rock and various forms of electronic music. I am now in complete enjoyment of long electric jams and hours and hours of energetic improvisation. To please my critics, Phish does have talent which cannot be ignored, however, whether or not that talent eclipses other bands who are in my library is still up for debate.

Free Mp3's: http://www.livephish.com/

Slim Whitman vs. Vocoder

2009-03-08T17:27:00.000-04:00

Daft Punk vs. Tr2n

2009-03-05T08:46:00.003-05:00

Last time I tried to watch Tron was 2 years ago during spring break. I contracted Strep Throat and fled to my parents basement for three days of eating soup and yogurt. During that time i rented a pile of movies to keep on 24 hours a day. I tried to watch Tron but passed out and never finished the movie. The news of Tron2.0 or Tron2 or Tr2n has caused me little excitement. I missed the movie when I was 2 and thus missed out on the nolstalgic hook. Although the incredibly outdated technology could excite my retro-futuristic fetish; it is just a movie I never got into. The original score for the Disney film was composed by transexual genuis; Walter Carlos. To follow in the hip electronic trend, Disney has hired French Electro-robots, Daft Punk to compose the score for Tr2n. Perhaps this will be interesting. Whether or not Daft Punk will be enough for me to sit in a theater full of families and stoners is another.

Dark is the Knight

2009-03-04T07:50:00.005-05:00

Dear Fan.

Hello, you are receiving this Email because of your membership on the
Knight Rider Online forum.

Tonight in the US at 8PM EST/7PM CST, NBC will air the finale episode for
this season of Knight Rider. After 17 episodes, the show is starting to
find its groove creatively which will lead us into a strong second season.
But we're not there yet. Because of the economy and weaker viewership
across all episodic television, networks are making tough choices about
next season schedule. It is important that we as fans work together to make
our presence known. Only then will NBC be forced to see that we are an
international community strong in support for Knight Rider

If you were planning on tuning in tonight, thats great - but please tell a
friend, and then ask them to tell one as well (specially if they are a
Nielsen viewer!). If you tuned into the beginning and were turned off,
please try it one more time as the show 17 episodes ago is completely
different then tonight's. If you're a member of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace
or any other social network - let your friends know what you'll be
watching.

It's been an uphill battle for Knight Rider. With little promotion from
NBC, no one has any idea that the show is still on the air - and skipping a
week last week does not help. We need to remind people of Knight Rider -
now.

I received the above email and felt ashamed. I did not feel shame for being apart of the Knight Rider Online Forum community, but rather from a failed project venture. In the fall of 2008, I wanted to view the life of a television show. Every season, shows are lit like fireworks with every good intention only to crack to the silence of an absent audience. Shows that fail to capture massive attention are lined up and shot outside the studio walls. The reboot of Knight Rider promised to give me the scope of a filed television venture. I predicted the show would not live to see a second season. I intended to watch the entire season. I watched two episodes and stopped. Fast forward to this morning when a desperate plea goes out across the internet. Save Knight Rider? I forgot that show was even on. Now I feel shame. I feel shame for letting this television project fail. I feel more regret because it appears that Knight Rider is in its death throes and every prediction I made is coming true. Knight Rider is in line for the proverbial sharpened toothbrush to the kidney. What is even more fascinating is that the online community for Knight Rider seems strong. Whether that support will manifest itself into a second season we have yet to see. Although as this television season comes to a close and undesirables are taken out to the back, we await a new set of shows that promises to contain at least one new candidate for study and analysis.

An Epic Failure

2009-02-28T14:55:00.003-05:00

RIP
2005-2009

I read the Chronicles of Narnia series when I was a kid. I also read it in college when I was a deadhead who loved reading on the lawn (see Bonaroo post). Because of that time, I was REALLY into fantasy and thought the Narnia series was so much more epic than CS Lewis perhaps imagined it. I used to sit on the lawn with my jaw dropped at the monumental forces which were at work in front of my eyes; finding connections with quantum physics beneath the melting pages. These were also kids books, so reading one of them in a few hours made me feel accomplished. I also formed a personal attachment to one of the characters: Prince Caspian. Because I liked the name, I took the title and applied to one of my characters in my novels and artwork. Back in 2005, I was really excited at the announcement that they were going to take the series and make it into seven films. The first film (Lion Witch and the Wardrobe) was released in 2005 to many underwhelmed fans. three years later in 2008, I sat watching the second film (prince Caspian) by myself, surrounded by families. Now in 2009, I have learned that the third film (Voyage Of The Dawn Treader) has been pushed by to 2010. The films adaptation to the story is fair, even to the point of loyal. However this gap between films is corroding my fascination with talking lions and wood nymphs. There are a number of reasons why the seven films will never get made. Despite constant rewrites and lack of directorial vision, the audience for these films is not as strong as it should be. Lord of the Rings had the unwavering support of the high fantasy crowd. The Star Wars series had a stranglehold on the Science Fiction Scene. Chronicles of Narnia is a children's fantasy which has the nostalgia of parents but can never lock into the Young Adult demographic. Perhaps if the movies were released yearly, interest could be kept up, but changing fasincations will certainly delay further pictures. These films are certainly catered to children who identify more with singing high school students and romantic vampires than the magic of talking animals. The fourth film (Silver Chair) in this series is planned but it is anyone's guess whether or not we will see it.

And The Award...(2009)

2009-02-23T12:41:00.003-05:00

It feels like ages ago since I sat through the Love guru trying to drown out the insanity with wine. The Award Season ends with the grand finale of The Oscars and the Razzies. Im sure you have heard by now that the Indie/Indian firecracker Slumdog Millionare swept the Oscars. Additonally it is also garnering hatred from pretentious film critics who sung its praise for just before it gained demigod status. While I still firmly believe the award season has nothing in common with artistic merit, I will still keep an ear open for the worst film awards. As with most Razzie ceremonies, certain movies stand out to be the worst overall and leagues above other movies in poor quality. This years grand slam belongs to Mike Myers cosmic insult to the nation of India in the The Love Guru. I guess the same year India is recognized as a major cinematic force is a poor time to make the Love Guru. Actually I think anytime is bad for the Love Guru.

Worst Picture: The Love Guru
Worst Actor: Mike Myers, The Love Guru
Worst Actress: Paris Hilton, THE HOTTIE AND THE NOTTIE
Worst Supporting Actress: Paris Hilton, REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA
Worst Supporting Actor: Pierce Brosnan, MAMMA MIA!
Worst Screen Couple: Paris Hilton and either Christine Lakin or Joel David Moore, THE HOTTIE AND THE NOTTIE
Worst Prequel,Remake, Rip-off or Sequel (Combined Category for 2008): Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull
Worst Director: Uwe Boll, 1968: Tunnel Rats, In The Name of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, and Postal
Worst Screenplay: The Love Guru , Written by Mike Myers & Graham Gordy
Worst Career Achievement: Uwe Boll, (Germany’s Answer to Ed Wood)

someday...

2009-02-22T17:14:00.003-05:00

Someday, I will make a piece of misleading disinformation that will leak its way onto the internet. Someday I will create a fact that will strike fear in the hearts of everyone's inbox. someday I will be famous. While this list is fake, maybe someday we will be given an advanced copy that will be tacked on a cork board in the hallway. It would save everyone 3 hours of their life. Enjoy the Oscars and the buffett which follows.

Tekkonkinkreet (2006)

2009-02-22T14:34:00.004-05:00

While I was looking in blockbuster one Friday night for Pineapple Express, my girlfriend chose Tekkonkinkreet as her movie for the night. I have no idea why I was so enthusiastic about watching an Apatow related stoner comedy (but I was.) Perhaps it was because I saw a commercial for Pinnaple Express only a few hours before and trudged my way to blockbuster just to rent it. Tekkonkinkreet is an Japanese animated movie from Studio 4C (The Animatrix).Studio 4c prides itself on straddeling the gap between mainstream animation and independent credibility. The story written by Taiyō Matsumoto revolves around two orphans who protect a decaying metropolis from professional gangsters, street thugs and aliens. While the plot is simple, the charm of Tekkonkinkreet lies in its depiction of dense urban lifestyle and magical action from each of the characters. Additionally, the inner dialogue between all of the characters (side and major) is astounding to the point of poetic. This film ranks in the upper echelons of anime which did not make me fall asleep drooling on the floor. I watched Tekkonkinkreet immediatly following Pinnaple Express. Some of you few readers maybe wondering how the Apatow related stoner comedy faired with his other movies (or even against the broader scope of buddy comedy action). Let me just say everything works out in the end with the majority of laughs front-loaded against a ungodly long climax. Maybe next time Apatow.

Apache

2009-02-18T21:57:00.002-05:00

Bonnaroo 2009

2009-02-03T09:46:00.005-05:00

I specifically remember Bonnaroo being one of the biggest festivals in the early 00's. I spent a considerable amount of time around the turn of the century going to shows and basking in the echoes of the 60's. Festivals, for me, were gathering of free spirits to celebrate music and open thinking. I was in community college at this time and convinced that the music of the jam band scene constituted a second wave of counter cultural activity. I wanted to major in philosophy at this time and engaged in discussions on existentialism in barefeet. I had long hair and I wore a green crystal wrapped in a net of hemp around my neck. I found the archetype of the genius pothead to be incredibly appealing. I carried incredibly ethereal books around with me and tried to read them after my morning rides. Notes on Relativity. Victorian Poetry. Being and Nothingness. I never finished any of them despite me carrying them in my backpack everyday. My unread philosophy books piled up on my shelves. I had terrible attention deficit which prevented me from fully understanding my books. I wanted to be cultured and subvert the stereotype of the slow deadhead. I was also perscribed medication for ADD which I sold and overused for a period. It would just be for tests and days when I could sit on the college lawn for hours talking about things which were important to me. Eventually my stomach hurt from lack of eating and cigarette smoke. I would still be up some mornings furiously sketching out ideas for new Grateful Dead shirts. In the morning I would ride to school and spend my time with other free thinkers. They would also be philosophy students on their 5th year associates. We would all sit together and talk about things we thought were important. My friends would make plans for upcoming shows and we would all talk about the possibility of going to Bonnaroo, Burning Man or Amsterdamn. Five years later, I came home for Christmas and went to a party filled with the very people who I described. They were my alternate selves if I never stopped and left. If I stayed in that college graduated and moved down the street, I would be here right now. Not tallking to myself. I met me in the kitchen with dreads who got into a violent discussion on legalization and psychology. My other self was freindly and helped bring in empty beer bottles with a sense of determination. However, when others refused to hear my point of view, I got fustrated. How could others not see what I think. Could that of been me? Could I of stayed and had stories of finally going to Bonnaroo? Bonnaroo always seemed like an odessey for people willing to invest the time and money into seeing an unbelievable line up. Right now, Cochella and Bonnaroo battle for who can have the more unbelievable act. I still wont be going to Bonnaroo despite an amazing line up. That was another time for me. I threw away my tent ages ago.

2009:
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Phish
Beastie Boys
Nine Inch Nails
David Byrne
Wilco
Al Green
Snoop Dogg
Elvis Costello Solo
Erykah Badu
Paul Oakenfold
Ben Harper and Relentless7
The Mars Volta
TV on the Radio
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Gov’t Mule
Andrew Bird
Merle Haggard
MGMT
moe.
The Decemberists
Girl Talk
Bon Iver
Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabate
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Galactic
The Del McCoury Band
Of Montreal
Allen Toussaint
Coheed and Cambria
Booker T & the DBTs
David Grisman Quintet
Lucinda Williams
Animal Collective
Gomez
Neko Case
Down
Jenny Lewis
Santogold
Band of Horses
Robert Earl Keen
Citizen Cope
Femi Kuti and the Positive Force
The Ting Tings
Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Kaki King
Grizzly Bear
King Sunny Adé
Okkervil River
St. Vincent
Zac Brown Band
Raphael Saadiq
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Crystal Castles
Tift Merritt
Brett Dennen
Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Revue
Toubab Krewe
People Under the Stairs
Alejandro Escovedo
Vieux Farka Touré
Elvis Perkins In Dearland
Cherryholmes
Yeasayer
Todd Snider
Chairlift
Portugal. The Man.
The SteelDrivers
Midnite
The Knux
The Low Anthem
Delta Spirit
A.A. Bondy
The Lovell Sisters
Alberta Cross

Myspace Suicide Now Movie

2009-02-02T16:42:00.004-05:00

Back in 2006, a cyberbullying case led to the death of a young teenager named Megan Meier. The case prompted national attention to social networking sites and undo speculation by pundits who know little about the internet. Because the story is fabled; studio execs found it ripe for adaptation. Supposedly, this story will involve original events woven together by a vigilante story. The story will have a grieving mother "dealing out her brand of social justice," to the culprits who caused her daughters death. Awesome. This is strange only because a vigilante story never existed and is the product of ad wizards. Tragedy in Hollywood has always been prime investment. So this story shouldn't come as any shock. I do not know why I am surprised as this movie but this adaptation has prompted more concern than laughter. Maybe it is because it is still fueled by fear of technology no one bothered to understand. To some the Internet is still a breeding ground of sex predators and cyberbullies. A marginal cross section of assholes will define an entire generation. Since it is social networking, I am also weighed down by an incredible lack of care and empathy for all parties involved. I can see no possible gain for this movie existing except the complete trivialization of tragedy. The older generation will fear the Internet more and the younger generation will care less about responsibility because the outcome has been made into a breathing parody. with any luck, this movie will be adopted by schools and shown in special assemblies. The story of Megan Meier will be seen by everyone and laughed at due to poor acting and ridiculous script. You have done again Hollywood. Feel proud.

Black Dynamite (2009)

2009-02-01T12:30:00.002-05:00

An upcoming spoof on Blaxpoitation films from the 70's starring Michael Jai White (spawn, toxic Avenger). This is not the first post 70's Blaxploitation film (Jackie Brown, Original Gangstas) but it seems to be more comedic than others done before. The trailer looks entertaining and promising, however let us wait and see if the joke can be stretched 90+ minutes. The red band trailer can be seen here which not only has nudity and profanity it basically shows you the whole movie.

Genghis Tron - Board Up the house (Renolder Remix)

2009-02-01T11:13:00.005-05:00

The Underworld series for me has slowly ascended from erroneous Hollywoood bullshit to slightly shameful timekiller. Underworld 3 was a suitable installment in an epic guilty pleasure which continues to drain me of money. I believe it is the movies themes of industrial rave / dark Victorian which strikes a chord in my past. This is the movie I would of written when I was 15, if approached by studio execs. Vampires vs Werewolves. Trenchcoats, pale skin, corsets and sub machine guns. The soundtrack for my film would be remixes of popular metal and alternative music. The ending credits for Underworld 3 features a remix of Genghis Tron's "Board Up The House." Daniel Lohner (Nine Inch Nails, Tapeworm, Marylin Manson) has successfully transformed the innovative sound of Genghis Tron into a dripping industrial remix circa 1995. I would be lying if I said I wasn't 100% enthralled in the heavy sounds which rolled over the credits. However, I would also be lying if I said I wasn't blushing during the entire song. Lohner's remix makes my more sensible 28 year old experience battle against my hedonistic 18 year old past self. Who will win? I have no idea.

Remix

Original

Watchmen Soundtrack

2009-01-29T22:01:00.003-05:00

::raises whiskey glass::

here to hoping the movie lives up the the depth showcased by its soundtrack which seems to have as much character as a classic rock radio station. I enjoy Leonard Cohen and it seems that they dug deep into the vaults to pull out his most recognizable song. Wont it be entertaining to hear Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan while thinking about the movie?

Desolation Row
My Chemical Romance

Unforgettable
Nat King Cole

The Times They Are A-Changin'
Bob Dylan

The Sound Of Silence
Simon and Garfunkel

Me & Bobby McGee
Janis Joplin

I'm Your Boogie Man
KC & The Sunshine Band

You're My Thrill
Billie Holiday

Pruit Igoe & Prophecies
The Philip Glass Ensemble

Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen

All Along The Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix

Ride of the Valkyries
Budapest Symphony Orchestra

Pirate Jenny
Nina Simone

goodbye assholes #2

2009-01-29T09:49:00.002-05:00

Im on my way to spain...

Dear: Sir/Madam,

My name is Barrister PERE A DANIS, an Attorney (Lawyer) to late Mr.Yaroslav Zojniuk.

I am writing to notify you of the TESTAMENT of my late client Mr.Yaroslav Zojniuk, a Ukrainian who unfortunately lost his life in the Madrid Bomb Blast on March 11, 2004, in Madrid-Spain.

My late client (Mr.Yaroslav Zojniuk) was a prominent business man who travelled to Spain on business survey/holiday with his wife and their only daughter when they met their tragic death.

My client before his death made a deposit of Thirty Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$37,300,000.00) in his effort to set up a business in Europe .

However, I am searching for a trust worthy person or the relatives of the deceased regarding his deposit, as the holding financial institution wants him to come forward for the endorsement of the re-investment documents, hence I am seeking your assistance to provide you as the next of kin to my late client, since he died with his wife and their only daughter without making a WILL in all his deposit paper works.

This transaction is very confidential as I can re-draft his LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT to bear your name as the TRUSTEE & EXECUTOR. This transaction shall be executed under legitimate and legal procedures that will protect you from any breach of the Law.

It is in this regard that I decided to solicit your assistance, by presenting you as the Executor and Trustee (Next of Kin) to my late client. Although, I have agreed on the following sharing ratios: 35% for your assistance and 65% for me but this is still open for negotiation.

Kindly revert back to me urgently on your kind interest to lay claim of the deposit. You are to send me your complete Names, Telephone and Fax numbers, Present contact address, and Occupation for more information on how to release the inheritance sum via this email address: peredanischambers@gmail.com OR danipereabogados@aim.com

Regards,
Pere A Danis (Barrister).
Attorney At Law.

goodbye assholes...

2009-01-29T09:45:00.002-05:00

I am on my way to China...

Though seems unsolicited, this email is a business proposal to you. I
appreciate the fact that you have every reason to be suspension, please note
this proposal is very real. I will employ you to read it with open mind and
act in the best way as directed by your mind and instinct.

My name is Lin Yong, operations manager of the Bank of China (Hong Kong).
It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because you
do not know me but I have a lucrative business proposal of mutual benefits
to share with you.

In June, 2001, a late client of mine, a Crude oil merchant from your
country whom we presumed (rightly or wrongly) to be a relative of yours made
a numbered fixed deposit of Twenty-one million Five Hundred Thousand United
State Dollars (US$21,500,000.00) only in my branch. Upon maturity several
notice was sent to him Five years ago (2003) with out response. We later
found out that he and his family had been killed in a plane crash.

After further investigation it was also discovered that he did not declare
any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank
deposit and he also confided in me the last time he was in my office that no
one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So, Twenty-one million five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one
will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me most is that according
to the laws of my country at the expiration of seven {7} years the funds
will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies
to claim the funds.

Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a
foreigner to stand as the next of kin so that you will be able to receive
the funds.

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I have an attorney that will prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin (AT NO COST OF YOURS), all
that is required from you is to provide me with your Full Names and Address
so that the attorney can commence his job. After you have been made the next
of kin, the attorney will also file in for claims on your behalf and secure
the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for the movement
of the funds to an account that will be provided by you. We are going to
adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary
documents in your favor.

There is a reward for this project and it is a task worth undertaking.
There is no risk involved at all in this transaction, I have evaluated the
risks and the only risk I have here is for you refusing to work with me and
alerting my bank. I am the only one who knows of this situation, good
fortune has blessed you with a name that has planted you into the center of
relevance in my life. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all
matters concerning this issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your
nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio of 50% for me, 10% for
legal and other miscellaneous expenses and 40% for you but this can be
subjected to further negotiations. I send you this mail not without a
measure of fear as to the consequences, but I know within me that nothing
ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on
a platter of gold. Please observe this instruction religiously.

Should you be interested please send me your,

1, Full names,
2, Current contact address,

And I will prefer you reach me on my private email address:
llinyong@yahoo.cn and finally after that I shall furnish you with more
information's about this operation. Your earliest response to this letter
will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Lin Yong

Outlander (2009)

2009-01-28T16:17:00.001-05:00

Alien vs Viking

Crank 2 (2009)

2009-01-28T16:12:00.008-05:00

And doesn't it look amazing...Lets hope Crank 2 is better than Transporter 3.

Crystal Method's "Name of The Game" movie count: 8

Academy awards

2009-01-28T15:47:00.003-05:00

Since the abrupt hiatus of the greatest movie podcast ever created, I have found myself falling away from movie news despite my best efforts. Am I disenchanted? Maybe. Am I jaded to the constant grime I am exposed to when reviewing cinema? Perhaps. Have I thrown my arms up at current cinema? Not yet. This is why I am almost a week late on reporting the Academy Awards for 2008. Why do I feel the need to report? Simply because I paid very close attention to 2008 and now have a vested interest in the awards season despite how frivolous and unimportant it is. Grab your seat mark your horses folks, its going to be a long race.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year

“Bolt” (Walt Disney), Chris Williams and Byron Howard
“Kung Fu Panda” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount), John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction

“Changeling” (Universal), Art Direction: James J. Murakami, Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Art Direction: Michael Carlin, Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway
“Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Art Direction: Kristi Zea, Set Decoration: Debra Schutt

Achievement in cinematography

“Changeling” (Universal), Tom Stern
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Claudio Miranda
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design

“Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor
“Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Glicker
“Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Albert Wolsky

Achievement in directing

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard
“Milk” (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature

“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)” (Cinema Guild), A Pandinlao Films Production, Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
“Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment), A Creative Differences Production, Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser
“The Garden” A Black Valley Films Production, Scott Hamilton Kennedy
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall in association with Red Box Films Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn
“Trouble the Water” (Zeitgeist Films), An Elsewhere Films Production, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Best documentary short subject

“The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki
“The Final Inch” A Vermilion Films Production, Irene Taylor Brodsky and Tom Grant
“Smile Pinki” A Principe Production, Megan Mylan
“The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in film editing

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lee Smith
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
“Milk” (Focus Features), Elliot Graham
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year

“The Baader Meinhof Complex” A Constantin Film Production, Germany
“The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France
“Departures” (Regent Releasing), A Departures Film Partners Production, Japan
“Revanche” (Janus Films), A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production, Austria
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (Universal), Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Alexandre Desplat
“Defiance” (Paramount Vantage), James Newton Howard
“Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Elfman
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Best motion picture of the year

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
“Milk” (Focus Features), A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production, Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Donna Gigliotti and Redmond Morris, Producers
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film

“La Maison en Petits Cubes” A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato
“Lavatory - Lovestory” A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit
“Oktapodi” (Talantis Films), A Gobelins, L’école de l’image Production, Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
“Presto” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland
“This Way Up” A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best live action short film

“Auf der Strecke (On the Line)” (Hamburg Shortfilmagency), An Academy of Media Arts Cologne Production, Reto Caffi
“Manon on the Asphalt” (La Luna Productions), A La Luna Production, Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont
“New Boy” (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie
“The Pig” An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorte Høgh
“Spielzeugland (Toyland)” A Mephisto Film Production, Jochen Alexander Freydank

Achievement in sound editing

“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Glenn Freemantle and Tom Sayers
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
“Wanted” (Universal), Wylie Stateman

Achievement in sound mixing

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
“Wanted” (Universal), Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Achievement in visual effects

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Adapted screenplay

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
“Doubt” (Miramax), Written by John Patrick Shanley
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Hare
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay

“Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Courtney Hunt
“Happy-Go-Lucky” (Miramax), Written by Mike Leigh
“In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh
“Milk” (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Leaked Batman 3 Script

2009-01-28T15:36:00.002-05:00

Really? Already? Oh wait...its just an internet rumor. Did I actually believe it? Maybe for a second. I wonder what we did to hype a movie before the internet.

Wolves in the Throne Room - Malevolent Grain EP

2009-01-28T08:28:00.004-05:00

Well it is my first official snow day of the winter. I can remember snow days at my old apartment. Early in the morning, I would wake up gleeful and walk through the blustery winter landscape to 7-11. I would buy three large energy drinks along with various assortments of microwavable food. If my roomate would be home, we would open both of our doors and play black metal all day until we could hear it out in the living room. There is something so obvious about Black Metal and frigid landscapes. I would battle roaches in my kitchen to eat hot pockets combined with cool ranch Doritos and mountain dew. After two Monsters, I would be ready to take on the world. This would usually degenerate into auspicious projects marked by a critical failure rate as soon as the sugar crashed my system. I would end up on the couch around 12 and watch six hours of a Law and Order Marathon. Snow days were special to me even though I accomplished nothing. Becasue I no longer drink energy drinks or eat food which requires a microwave, I still celebrate snow days with loud unapologetic black metal. Recently released to 2009 is a limited vinyl EP from organic farming demons; Wolves in the Throne Room. Jamie Meyers (hammers of Misfortune), who lent her voice on other WitTR releases can also be heard on opening track. This release is a warm up to their spring 2009 LP Black Cascade and is also the first to feature a new guitarist .In the scope of black metal there are those who stay close to tradition and those who swan dive into experimentation. WitTR pay tribute to early 90's black metal with records in the vein of Darkthrone, early Emperor and Gorogoth. However the themes and lyrics deviate from pagan and misanthropic lore to a more earth based devotion. This green mythos could be viewed as an extension to black metals already established abandonment of western values. Nothing feels forced in their records as some new black metal. This is black metal for green anarchist who ruins your parties by picking fights with guests.

"I will lay my bones down among the rocks and roots" from Two Hunters (2007)

The wood is filled with the sounds of wildness
The songs of birds fill the forest on this new morning
This will be my new home
Deep within the most sacred grove
the sun god is born anew

I will lay down my bones among the rocks and roots of the deepest
hollow next to the streambed
The quiet hum of the earth's dreaming is my new song

When I awake, the world will be born anew

2009 update

2009-01-22T08:47:00.002-05:00

In my absolute abandonment of 2009; I find it hard to shut out every album which happens to be made this year. Sopecifically albums from bands I have already come to enjoy. So my abandoment of 2009 is not absolute. It was more dramatic than absolute.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Animal Collectives ninth record has come with much fanfare and praise by..well...everyone. Some people are saying it is the best record of the decade. Really? Perhaps I am jumping on with everyone else because I missed out on the Kid-A train when it passed me sleeping in 2001. I do not even like Kid-A all that much but I would like to feel the way everyone else feels when they talk about the sheer brilliance of an album during the time It . I wonder if people felt this way when SGT. Pepper was released. Do people understand the magnitude of albums during the time or is it aquired over years of hindsight?I have always enjoyed animal collective and MPP returns to the underwater reverb of their earlier albums with traces of pop salvaged from Strawberry Jam. Best album of the decade? I would hate to miss out on an oppurtunity like this; so I agree.

Beruit - March of the Zapotec EP
Realpeople - Holland EP

The one man wonder, Zack Condon has released a double EP filled with 5-6 shorts songs each. The March of the Zapotec is Condon's Beruit combined with a funeral band from the remote villages of Mexico. The sound is very appropriate for Condon if not an unsuprising choice. I was always under the impression Beruit was backed by a mysterious band from an indegenous land. The Holland EP is ten times more suprising as it presents Beruits style of song in upbeat electronica. The electronica side is credited to "realpeople," a moniker used by Condon before the Beruit style took over. The EP's played back to back ends up being close to a short LP; which would constitue an album if it were not so experimental and light. These two EP's are the visual equivlent to intresting sketches; which sometime are more intriguing than finished products.

Various Artists - Dark Was The Night
A 44 track collection of exclusive tracks from venerable and popular indie rock artists benefiting Aids research. This album features some of the indie rock titans which have graced Pitchfork and other hip zines for the past 5 years. Long are the days of We are The World. 4ad will release a triple vinyl sometime in spring. So until the vinlyl is released and the official download is announced some of us will feel slightly bad for stealing a benift album.

The 2009 Razzie Nominations

2009-01-21T13:55:00.004-05:00

Every year, the Golden Raspberry Foundation rolls out their nominations for worst movie. In this wild and crazy night which is award season; the Razzies represent the lighthearted moments to alleviate tension and seriousness. They also allow comeuppance to be reached for thousands of frustrated movie goers when it comes to blatant middle-American bullshit. When Mike Meyers eventually receives his worst actor award for "The Love Guru," it should be noted that "worst" does not imply without talent. Myers successfully created and implemented the role of a Hindu stereotype. There are actors in the field who couldn't scare a five year old. Last night, I was watching SS Doomtrooper and enjoyed some of the world's worst acting. However, B-movies rarely make the list despite the quality of their movies being far below Razzie's standard selections. Only popular A-list movies and other movies which gained some noterity during the year are included on this list. While the Razzies are far from stopping the eventual Hollywood implosion; it does allow us to feel redeemed after a year of cursing during the credits.

And the nominees are...

Worst Picture
Disaster Movie
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Meet the Spartans
The Happening
The Hottie & the Nottie

Worst Actor
Mike Myers - The Love Guru
Eddie Murphy - Meet Dave
Al Pacino - 88 Minutes and Righteous Kill
Mark Wahlberg - The Happening and Max Payne
Larry the Cable Guy - Witless Protection

Worst Actress
Jessica Alba - The Love Guru and The Eye
Cameron Diaz - What Happens in Vegas
Paris Hilton - The Hottie & the Nottie
Kate Hudson - Fool's Gold and My Best Friend's Girl
The Entire Cast of "The Women" - Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Meg Ryan.

Worst Supporting Actor
Uwe Boll, Postal
Pierce Brosnan - Mamma Mia!
Ben Kingsley, The Love Guru, War, Inc., The Wackness
Burt Reynolds, Deal and In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Verne Troyer, The Love Guru and Postal.

Worst Supporting Actress
Carmen Electra - Disaster Movie, Meet The Spartans
Paris Hilton - Repo! The Genetic Opera;
Kim Kardashian - Disaster Movie
Jenny Mccarthy, Witless Protection;
Leelee Sobieski - 88 Minutes, In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Worst Screen Couple
Uwe Boll and Any Actor, Camera and Screenplay
Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, What Happens In Vegas
Paris Hilton and either Christine Lakin or Jorel David Moore, The Hottie And The Nottie
Larry The Cable Guy and Jenny Mccarthy, Witless Protection;
Eddie Murphy In Eddie Murphy, Meet Dave.

Worst Prequel, Sequel, Remake Or Rip-Off
The Day The Earth Stood Still
Disaster Movie
Meet The Spartans
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
Speed Racer
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Worst Director
Uwe Boll - Tunnel Rats, In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale And Postal
Jason Friedberg And Aaron Seltzer - Disaster Movie And Meet The Spartans
Tom Putnam - The Hottie And The Nottie
Marco Schnabel - The Love Guru
M. Night Shyamalan, The Happening.

Worst Screenplay
Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer - Disaster Movie And Meet The Spartans
M. Night Shyamalan - The Happening
Heidi Ferrer - The Hottie And The Nottie
Doug Taylor - In The Name Of The King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Mike Myers and Graham Gordy, The Love Guru

Worst Career Achievement
Uwe Boll - "Germany's answer to Ed Wood".

OCDJ - What's Good (TI remix)

2009-01-15T20:38:00.000-05:00

3 days of Magfest

2009-01-07T14:30:00.002-05:00

During the next three days, I am going through my 400 pictures of the Music And Gaming Festival and posting them, in sections, on my site:
www.caspianisdead.com/photography

enjoy some extensive time with the obsessed and socially awkward.

Murder by Death

2009-01-07T14:01:00.004-05:00

During the month of Novemeber, dark country outlaws, Murder by Death had a design contest for their next album split with ghostly americana revivalists; O Death. I submitted my design, and much to my protest, it was discarded for another design. So to you, my loyal readers I submit what could have been the greatest album design ever made.

Street Fighter (2009)

2009-01-05T16:32:00.004-05:00

Alright. Movie news. At this year's Magfest I spent a considerable amount of time checking on updates on the Nibbler World Championship and the long line of people who sat around a projected game of Street Fighter IV. While I was enthralled in the updated graphics and the tease of a few new characters, I completely forgot they were making an updated version of the classic fighting game. Lets quick run through the list of new faces for some trusted characters.

The girl from Smallville as Chun-li
Some guy who was in 88 minutes as M Bison
The nice guy jock from American Pie as Charlie Nash
Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog
Some dbag from the Black Eyed Peas as Vega
The guy who played Liu Kang as Gen
And the girl from Pathfinder as Maya

Besides MCD being born for the role of Balrog, I am extremely disappointed by the casting of this movie. Some people may be upset that I am dismissing the movie already, but I think we all know how it is going to turn out. There is only one street Fighter movie in my mind and no mix of flash and CGI can replace that.

Beyond 1990

2009-01-05T08:40:00.000-05:00

I do not know what it was. It probably had something to do with the 100 albums reviews. I hate to say it, but 2009 means nothing to me. At least for now. I care little about what is about to happen and finding more interest in what I've missed. The first quarter of 2009 can wait while I revisit a special time. A time which I remember but have yet to experience. I have decided to only concern my attention to albums that were made from the period of 1985-1995. Specifically, amazing records which I missed becasue I was in my early teenage years, still watching MTV and scrambled late night soft core movies. This was a special time for music, or at least I have come to believe. Extreme optimism blanketed the end of the century, or at least I have come to believe. The economy was on the rise, or so we have learned. My current interest is focused on the early 90's but the scope has been expanded to include the late 80's. This inclusion is based on the assumption that what was created in the early 1990s was predicated and envisioned in the late 80's. So why albums from the early 90s? I have realize that as aesthetics mature, earlier points of interest may look very different. Living in a different body. Much of my experience with the early 90's is through fragmented memories and retrospective television programing. What of all the genuinely good things to come out, which have been somehow clouded by ridiculous fashions and classic movies. I wonder If things will be different this time around. Revisiting time periods is much like RPGs when a hero returns to an earlier dungeons with upgraded weapons. These albums are ones which I would appreciate If I was 19 during 1990 instead of 9, if I bought into the marketing existence of Generation X. 2009 can wait and any glorious achievement can be talked about during the spring. Maybe I long for things which have passed, or things which I couldn't possibly experience.

Cocteau Twins - heaven or las vegas
Pulp - different class
Girls against boys - venus luxury
Ministry - psalm 69
Nas - illimatic
Negativland - dispepsi
Orbital - green album / brown album
Pet shop boys - behavior
Sabres of paradise - haunted dancehall
The Smiths - meta is murder / queen is dead
Spiritualized - lazer guided melodies
Talk Talk - laughing stock
Teenage Fanclub - bandwagonesque.

100. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-23T12:40:00.000-05:00

#1. Detektivbyran - Wermland

I have come very far in three months. My 100 albums reviews before 2009 was birthed out of a recording slip during a recording of Transmission Protocol. It was a lame attempt at a publicity stunt but instead of redoing the recording, I decided to leave it in. No one was listening to the podcast, so It wasn't that much of a task. 100 albums reviews from Halloween to New Years, which rounded out to about 2 reviews a day.no one would of cared if I did completed 100. but I was urged by my brother Epileptic Peat to stop being a girl and finish what I started. During this year I listened to more records than I wrote about and everyone was easy to pin down and label. Dubstep, grime, black metal, hard rock and swiss yodeling were all common styles which applied to these artists. Detektivbyran is not new. They have been releasing EPs and compilation albums since early 2007. Wermland is the first proper LP. I have always liked to stray away from the description of genreless. Whenever hearing the phrase "our band does not fit conventional labels" usually means they are modern rock and I got duped into watching their band on a Friday night. I hate the term genreless. Everything can be classified. Some are just harder than others. Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Tom Waits all can be shoved into a closet with a piece of paper on the door; its just harder than others. Detektivbyran plays with a glockenspiel, toy piano, acordian and drums. I can only call their music genreless because I do not think we have found the words to describe this type of music. Some people may remember their Sprint commercial while other people may remember Epileptic Peat mentioning their video in his online interview. interviews. Some comparisons have been made between their sound and Yann Tiersan, or that "guy that did the Amelie music." Detektivbyran's very incomplete wikipedia page labels their music as "folk/electronic." Detektivbyran could be folk music; for a country or culture we have not yet discovered. That would make sense. A culture were there may or may not be gnomes who live in hallowed trees. These gnomes may not be enchanted and who are only seen at night from the glow emitting from their bellies. Wermland, is not a perfect record. In fact the transition between tracks is a little disjointed and certain tracks can feel "very familiar to others on the record. however despite these flaws, the quality in each of these tracks far surpasses anything made this year. It is one of those albums which is perfect in its own sense; music to accompany a carousel...at the end of the universe.

99. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-23T09:42:00.000-05:00

#2. Sporto Kantes - 3 At Last

Sporto Kantes was born out of the electronic wave which hit Europe hard and dirty in the mid 1990's. I imagine lots of vespas, cigarettes, sex and large dusty mirrors during that time. Begun as a drum and bass duo, Sporto Kantes started to play softer electronic music and eventually fell into the downtempo genre. Slowly, they evolved into a strange electronic fusion of Brazilian, jazz and hip hop. Between their incomplete Wikipedia page and lack of translated interviews, Sporto Kantes still remain a mystery to the larger public despite their heavy circulated "Whistle" video. 3 At Last, their third, is a slideshow of European obscurities and obscure world music segmented by hip hop and bossa-novan vocals. Since little is known about the duo, I cannot estimate how much of 3 At Last is sampled versus sung. I once saw a lo-fi video of the members singing in laundromat. It sounded a little like the vocals on this record. I can guess 3 At Last is in the vein of Girl Talk, if every sample was from records you never knew existed. Regardless, 3 At Last successfully synthesizes the purest parts of the "world" genre without making it "exotic." This cosmopolitan quality makes the record so refreshing, I started to view my Putumayo series in a more negative light. This record makes me feel I live in Paris, circa 1994 whilst riding my vespa down the Rue Malebranche at night with an unfiltered cigarette tightly pressed in my lips. Its time to go clubbing.

98. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-22T13:15:00.000-05:00

#3. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Much like the Bug, Crystal Castles is favored by my love of a niche genre. Bitpop, Chiptune, Gamewave, 8-bit are used interchangeably, but all relate to an electronic style of music which uses the nostalgic sounds of outdated computer software. The most common style is using sound cards from old gaming consoles to manipulate the sounds. This type of music is very distinct and varies from old game remixes to original works constructed in 8bit. While perceived as a gimmick which tires easily, the third album of 2008 manages to not only keep your interest but move past some of the old trappings which has plagued chiptune (game devotion, repetition, dullness). Crystal Castles is a Canadian duo who have bridged the gap between the gaming world and the outside world of people who do not really listen to cool music. People, who have never known about a gaming scene, are now listening to chiptune, or "that music that sounds like super mario." That's okay. I for one do not support trash thrown on bands who manage to connect with a larger audience since their album is fantastic and can be applied to so many different social scenarios. So, its alright to enjoy this. Do not worry, it'll be along time before things are reversed and all of the cool music is on top.

97. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-19T16:47:00.000-05:00

#4. The Bug - London Zoo
#4 and #3 in my list are unfair albums based around enjoyment for a particular genre. Not to say these two albums do not have individual merit, they do but because of their advantage I am sequestering them below the top two spots. This year I really got into Dubstep. Last year it was a fleeting interest, but this year it hit big. It was the hottest newcomer in my life. I'm not going to deny my interest in a fresh genre which is gaining strength among the underground. I'm not going to deny I feel 10 times cooler when listening to it. I listened to alot of Dubstep this year and still did not have time to keep up with the massive flux of new singles. While I listened to alot of singles this year I have kept very few songs. The problem with some to the majority of Dubstep is that it can be repetitive. Tracks are filled with wobbling bass and the same dark back beat which is amazing for the first minute but drags the last three. This is why I find The Bug's (aka Pressure) album, London Zoo so rewarding. Not only does The Bug have an unmatched backdrop but he has a rotating cast of grime singers to provide variation to each track. London Zoo is yet another milestone in the coolest genre you have never heard before. Below is one track from London Zoo, one amazing remix by the venerable Skream, one preview and an early track by The Bug. I tried using Lala but I couldn't get the track to play more than previews, so I had to wade through insanity with playlist.com.

Ridiculous copyrighted streaming music site + 1
Kaptain Carbon - 1

Oh Muxtape how I miss you.

96. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-19T09:32:00.000-05:00

#5. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
I played this album at a party a couple weeks ago and someone asked if this was the radio. Meaning on certain stations, mashups are played on the weekend. I concluded Girl Talk was not any different in the way mash ups are done compared to local DJs. However, there was something else in Girl Talk, something I liked alot. Despite Girl Talk being a thousand better at his craft than any other Mashup artist Ive heard, there exists something else; a thesis. Local Djs on your hot 101 radio station crunch popular songs for the express purpose of dance. Songs are compared by BPM and thrown together. Girl Talk does the same thing but there is more of a theme present in Feed The Animals. The majority of samples used has been a popular songs at one point in some scene of music experience. While the scope of music ranges back to the Beach Boys, the majority of front samples is Hip Hop with a background of classic pop songs (with some obscurities hiding in corners). So anything you have heard a thousand times on the radio is used again. The record sounds like a colossal failure. But it's not. Feed The Animal's focus is so structured and makes such a distinctive comment on commercial satiation, it surpasses the majority of original music made this year. (not to say this is not original...well...ah fuck it.) Everything which is popular is apart of the same character, hence why so many songs could fit together. The use of Nirvana's "Lithium" feels okay rather than a more obscure song like "Negative Creep." These songs seem to have found new life in a Girl Talk record and make listening to mainstream music acceptable...in a hip ironic way. This record pushes the agenda of short term nostalgia, and obliterates the gap of time between cool and uncool and drops the banner reading "everything you loved is cool again."

Below is the videos for "In Step," "Shut The Club Down" and it's follow up track "Still Here." done unofficially by Youtube user "bunnygreenhouse." The user creates a visualization for Feed the Animals by splicing together the video singles. If you enjoy this song, then you will enjoy the nearly hour long pop pandemonium which is this record. It is hard not to smile to not only the recognition of the majority of songs but how fucking awesome it is when they all fit together. Finally, post-modernity is now fun and danceable.

95. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-18T12:41:00.000-05:00

#6. Protest The Hero - Fortress
#6. This is where things get monumental and albums are chosen based on over all merit. In hindsight, MGMT's Oracular Spectacular should have been further up on this list, perhaps even switched with Lindstrom. However, Where You Go I Go Too had more of an overall thesis rather than a collection of catchy hits. Certain albums are always in constant flux and will rise and fall. One album which has been permanently stuck at number #6 is space age metalcore giants, Protest The Hero. I downloaded this album after reading raving reviews from various sources and was not disappointed. It was late in January and for an entire weekend, my roommate and I played this album on repeat. At one point we noticed our albums were only a couple of seconds off from each other. My girlfriend came down for the weekend and walked into our apartment to this album in full stereo. I had that wide eyed stare; the stare I usually get when I have to tell everyone I know about an album. Protest The Hero is incredibly slick without sacrificing song structure or credibility. The perfect ratio of guitar prowess and ungodly vocal hooks makes Fortress a knockout.

Sequoia Throne from Fortress
(yes...their videos have always been lame)

94. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-17T14:38:00.000-05:00

#6. Lindstrøm - Where You Go, I Go Too

There is a niche style in art and fashion called "retro-future." The idea of retro future is to adopt and celebrate the future imaged by past generations. What is interesting about retro future is the future imaged by past generations was always limited by the barrier of present technology. Thus the world envisioned by the 1950's ;looked like a hyper spun version of the 1950's. IT is almost impossible to fully predict the curves of progression. Retro futures are very optimistic and share traits to the dystopia futures in science fiction. This is the future at peace. Norwegian producer HP Lindstrøm has created an album so retro futuristic it has a sound which makes me think of 2001 from 1976. Where You Go I Go Too is full of small blinking lights from huge consoles and laser beams crossing each other in a brilliant display of ingenuity. The album is a seamless piece broken into pieces. My experience with this album came at the window seat on an elevated subway. It was raining that day and the raindrops spidered across the glass. It was incredible. Below is an edited version of the last track entitled "the Long Way Home."

93. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-16T21:46:00.000-05:00

#7. The Mae Shi - HLLYH

At one time The Mae Shi were a jangled clusterfuck of experimental noise and yelps. People really liked them. Alot. The Los Angeles group released HLLYH much to the chagrin of long time fans and surprise of newcomers. HLLYH takes the jagged pieces and constructs into something cohesive. Hllyh's transition from extreme to subdued insanity is the choice which cements some albums in greatness (see California by Mr. Bungle). Punk rock has always been avant and challenging to pre-established conventions. However, over time, punk has become a genre just like any other style of music complete with stock sounds and fashions. Nothing is surprising anymore. The Mae Shi take the punk rock attitude and DIY aesthetic and apply it to electropop, making the punk album sounds more like a drunken sing along at a computer expo. While the entire album is almost flawless including the 12 minute electronic epic "Kingdom Come," I have decided to provide you with a shorter track called "Young Marks."

92. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-15T19:21:00.000-05:00

#9. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

I really enjoyed this album...I fucking loved this album. Despite everyone eye rolls at the constant attention and support from Kevin Spacey's shadowy card tutorials, Glam Rock revival duo MGMT (The Management) shattered my 2008 with glitter and excess. For a good two months this album was on constant repeat causing many of eye rolls from my girlfriend; who incidentally despises Oracular Spectacular but can sing every lyric to its songs. Why not revive the space opera sexually androgynous times of the early 70's? Everything that once was...is again.

Kids from Oracular Spectacular

91. Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

#10. Russian Circles - Station

Second proper release from Post-metal..err rock duo Russian Circles who had been straddling the fence between contemporary post rock and contemporary post metal. To most people the distinction is ridiculous, but to others a clear stylistic change has been made with Station from Enter. The melodic crescendos, in this release, are more awe inspiring and the punches from the dark are heavier and more beautiful. It took me awhile to appreciate this album. While not as initially trapping, its staying power through the longs months have earned it a place among the top 10.

Station from Station

90. My Second Album of 2009

2008-12-14T18:53:00.001-05:00

Sepultura - A- Lex

Holy shit, its Sepultura and they look fucking pissed. Sepultura is a Brazilian groove metal outfit who have had numerous line up changes and reunions since their inception in 1984. A-Lex (released in January) has at least two of the original members. A-Lex is the second concept album by Sepultra since 2006. The first, Dante XXI, was based around the three books of Dantes Divine comedy. What? How in the world did I miss that album. It sounds like something I crafted in my head when I was in High School. Damn it. Following the critical success of Dante XXI is A-Lex, which is based on the Alexander Burgess masterpiece, A Clockwork Orange. Okay. Oh I get it. A-Lex...Alex. Why did it take me so long to get the pun This has to be a joke. This sounds like the second album I thought of during English class. The album is very straightforward and very reminiscent of Strapping Young Lad. Yep, everything is going according to plan...time to end the album..wait..no your not going to do it...no...it cant work...what are you doing...NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Because A Clockwork Orange tribute isn't complete without Beethoven, Sepultura has taken it upon them selves to "metal up" the second and fourth movement of The Ninth Symphony. (both were used in the film) This selection and arrangment would be good...if it wasn't so well...stupid. When I say stupid, I mean so hilariously pompous and out of place, I almost spit cereal out of my mouth while typing this review. Its true, I like a big bowl of Cap'n Crunch when I write about music. How did Yngwie Malmsteen get into the studio? Who gave him bolt cutters which granted him late night access? Who let him put a song on the album? Sitting at the end of the album is "Ludwig Van," a song which is so unlike anything on the album, I'm debating whether or not it makes it worse...or a million times better. Below is "We Lost You, " obviously describing the hopeless nature of Alex's criminal behavior from A-Lex. I couldn't find "Ludwig Van," but I'm sure we will hear more from this album in the future.

89. My First Album Of 2009

2008-12-12T18:03:00.000-05:00

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

Oh what a pleasant surprise to find that the new release from multi instrumentalist, which is suppose to come out January, was..somehow...misplaced in the office and ended up on the internet, today. Somewhere two men, after a traffic collision, accidentally switched briefcases and low and behold we are treated to Mr. Bird's new work; Noble Beast. If Andrew Bird is reading this, I swear to god I am going to buy your vinyl when it is released and whenever you are playing in DC, my girlfriend and I will see you play. Please do not hate me. Since his days as Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire, his music has been shifting from a gypsy jazz throwback to some strange concoction of indie rock and singer songwriter melancholy. I hate to use the two most over used terms in the history of music, but it is. Our music is like a rock explosion in the center of a pile of scrap metal. Noble Beast continues what was established on the previous two records; structured sadness which is somehow timeless but weathered. I am always reminded of the 1900's when listening to Andrew Bird. Maybe its the violin which reminds me of the "slow aire." Maybe it is because Andrew Bird is a magician who really died Fin De Siecle was the time in which you died and were reborn as a white wizard. Whatever the case, Noble Beast is a monumental statement in the very stale singer songwriter genre. Wow... an acoustic guitar and singing can sound good; and not boring like watching a guy play Wallflower covers at your local coffee shop. Andrew bird...can you possibly save this genre? Your cover art is amazing and is exactly what I think about when listening to your music. Thank you for giving me an album I can look forward to writing about in my "Best Albums of 2009."

88. 2008 Awards

2008-12-12T12:07:00.000-05:00

Worst Disgrace By An Artist

Three Doors Down - Citizen / Soldier
Kid Rock - American Warrior

If these two artists didn't need anymore reason to be disliked by me; they have found a way step further down the ladder. These artists are among the blacklisted; the far point beyond disgrace and banished from my eyes. It is not anything to do with my personal views on military occupation. To say that Kid Rock has disgraced his name by making a song for the nation Guard is not saying much for his current reputation. He was awful before...now he is more awful than before. I should say 3 Doors Down and Kid Rock are now below passing kidney stones. I had to sit through these videos before the previews for my movies. Damn it, I paid to hear this song. These Citizen Soldier songs emotionless hallow recruitment songs aimed at an impressionable population. I can see how someone would be duped into believing they could be the Conan of the desert.; fighting sand worms and monsters of the Near East. Recruitment videos do not enrage me as much as these songs. The Citizen Soldier campaign is so thin in its disguise it is like a guy hiding behind a flag pole. STOP. Just come out. I can see you. A video of someone screaming at me me to join the military is less obtrusive than a recruitment video disguised as a song. These videos and the lyrics are so bad; they are almost laughable and would fit if someone was parodying recruitment videos. Kid rock's song draw lines in the sand against supporters and the indifferent:

So don't tell me who's wrong and right
When liberty starts slipping away
And if you ain't gonna fight
Get out of the way

while 3 Doors Down's song make a case for subtle glory:

Hope and pray that you never need me the rest assured, I
will not let you down
I walk beside you but you may not see me
The strongest among you may not were a crown

Damn Straight. American Warrior. Fuck Yeah. Give me my tank. Lets find Osama. I am not saying the left wing doesn't have its share of terrible songs. I could cough up about ten punk bands from suburban towns who have the word Bush and Hitler in the same song. While the anti-war's world is clouded in robots, puppet governments and slavery, the pro-war mind is filled with these cheesy views of heroism and understated pride. Maybe I just like the anti-war's music a little better. Sure it has its share of folk and tom Morello; but it is alot better than the other side. While i laugh at t he cliches thrown around b y anti-war songwriters; it is nowhere near the absurdity of pro-war moral songs.

87. 2008 Awards

2008-12-12T07:19:00.001-05:00

Album I Wished I Liked Less

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

The antithesis of Album I wished I liked more is the Album I Wished I Liked Less. Not because Vampire Weekend is incredibly popular and radio friendly or people are vomiting their self titled debut album on every short list from here to Sheboygan, it's because there is little to say about Vampire Weekend which hasn't been said. We All know they have a delightful mix of world music and light indie rock.

Just get the album. Play it everyday when you wake up and never talk about it again.

86. 2008 Awards

2008-12-11T12:11:00.000-05:00

Album I Wished I Liked More

Darkspace - III

So when I say An album I wish I could Like more, that Is not saying I dislike the album. Not Entirely. These are "intellectual albums" rather than "party albums." Yes, they will not feed your kegger, but they will get you laid by the artsy girl who works at the library. Well maybe not. There are albums which stimulate your intellectual side rather than the basic need to be entertained. These are albums which could be written about extensively in a masters thesis but which you rarely play at home. These are the bands you spend more time talking about than actually listening to; Jangly Art Rock, Ambient Electronic, Free Jazz, Drone, Found Sounds, Progressive Rock. Darkspace narrowly beat out Austrian Ambient alchemist Ferrenz for Top Album I Wished I Liked More. While Ferrenz's meditations on loneliness and noise were a contender, it was the third installment what appears to be a trilogy (I ,II,III) for Darkspace, the space obsessed swiss black metal outfit. This is not just your standard winter obsessed Black Metal, this is Black Metal attempting to explore and recreate the nothingness of space. The nothingness of space? So this is more about Lovecraft than Tolkien. Our pilots for this journey are Wroth, Zhaaral and Zorgh. To be fair, Darkspace's alias are no more absurd than the majority of Norwegian Black Metal members. III has everything you could want. Numbers instead of track names. Minimal artwork. Songs which stretch to nearly 10 minutes. A concept which explores the cold reaches of space! Obscurity! Mystery! Its true that I have only listened to this album once, in parts over the course of a few months, but I love it...Well i Love talking about it and writing blog posts about this band.

Darkspace should not be confused with Darkplace...the best show ever made

85. 2008 Awards

2008-12-11T10:58:00.000-05:00

Best Song Of 2008

Secret Chiefs 3 (with John Zorn) - Barakiel

Barakiel has dominion over 80 legions. The Almadel of Solomon portrays Barakiel as one of the chief angels of the altitudes with dominion over lightning. Barakiel is one of the mightiest God's reapers who hunt evil and protect innocents. He is over 130,000 years old. His announcement is a long walk on his special place, a forest where people's prayers appear on the trunks of the trees.

Xaphan is an album by Bay Area experimentalists, Secret Chiefs 3. The album was written by avant American composer John Zorn and then interpreted by Secret Chiefs 3. This type of project has been going on for a while with Zorn and other bands. Xaphan is the ninth record in the series. Anyone familiar with secret chiefs 3 will notice Xaphan feels subdued and thin compared to other masterpieces such as Book Of Horizons and Book M. Through all of the minimalist meanderings through strange musical deserts, there are a few songs on Xaphan which stand out. One in particular, Barakeil, happens to be the best song of 2008. The introduction of Barakiel is built up through waves which suddenly break into lounge driven quest through dried up deserts at sunsets. While instrumentals offer so much in terms of subjective imagery, Barakeil is specific in its imagery to Pre-60's modernism mixed with classical Middle Eastern folklore. Maybe it is the vocal harmonies that made this song climb up the ranks of 2008. Friends and family know thatt I am partial to any song with nondescript acappella as a backdrop. The Ohh's And Ahhs. I imagine a road lined with singers which stretch into the technicolor sunset. They sing me on my way in a sadnned but optomistic voice as I drive my new Plymouth Road Runner into the unknown.

84. 2008 Awards

2008-12-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Most Surprising Album From An Artist I Used To Despise

Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV

I have always had a love/hate/more hate relationship with Nine Inch Nails. In high school, when the Downward Spiral was released, whatever Trent did, it was the best thing that had ever graced my ears. Every artist, who had a hand in that album, including the guy who delivered pizza to the studio, was God. I searched countless record stores to complete my Halo collection, amassing numerous blue Wall stickers to decorate my bedroom door. I used to argue with my brother about the validity of five remixes per album. “At The Heart Of It All used to scare my parents while I drew emaciated charcoal pictures of Jesus Christ. It was a strange time of darkness, despair and black lipstick.

The Fragile was released in my first year of college. Now fingernail polish less and more optimistic, I formed a personal relationship with the “left side” of the disc along with the macro floral photography which adorned the packaging. It appeared Trent Reznor had grown with me and now was becoming more honest with his emotions. Long gone were the days of empty hate anthems. I used to fantasize about what the next album would look like. I heard rumors Trent Reznor studied Chinese philosophy in preparation for the new album. I heard the entire album was going to be white with no lyrics or pictures. All instrumental. I even heard the ever allusive Tapeworm Project was finally going to come together and make the record of the century. I thought this wasn’t going to be an album, but a lifelong decision you would have to make before buying. This is going to be awesome.

6 years later

...after listening to With Teeth, I watched television for 3 hours.

With Teeth made about the same splash any album can make when it is four years over due. I was expecting an album that would bring the music foundation to its knees. What I got was b-sides from every Nine Inch Nails record. Sorry that was a little harsh. What is got was shitty b-sides from every Nine Inch Nails record. Maybe I was expecting too much. Maybe I was expecting Mr. Reznor to make an album for adults in their mid 20's. Obviously not. So I said goodbye to Nine Inch Nails. I did not even raise my head when various remixes surfaced. During the whole viral marketing campaign for Year Zero, I was mildly interested but then saw a bee buzzing around a flower. I saw the review for Year Zero on Pitchfork but then decided to watch internet pornography instead. Who gives a shit? You are dead to me Mr. Reznor, you and your 20 side projects.

One year later.

What?
Ghosts I-IV?
Underground release?
Four disc volume?
All Instrumental with no track listing?
Fine..give it to me.

Ghosts I-IV is split into four instrumental sections which all continuously run into each other. No song titles. No album breaks. No Intermission. Just an entrance, an exit and a maze of xylophones, noise, drum tracks and distortion. Besides the use of piano in the first section, there is nothing to distinguish your place in this album. Tonight, while I slumber, the entire album could be rearranged and I would clueless to any digital maleficence. Unlike most albums where one can distinguish landmarks, this album is like wading through a murky stream at night, while trying to get a foothold among rocks and sleeping amphibians. While I mention the album’s complete lack of direction, I enjoyed it for the same reason. The songs are indistinguishable from each other which makes it what Trent Reznor said it would be: “a soundtrack for daydreaming.” Sporadic, idiosyncratic and completely enveloping. Ghosts I-IV has achieved what the past two records have failed to do: make me care about listening to Nine Inch Nails..

I have always fantasized about rearranging albums for popular bands. How I would do things different, if given the chance to meddle with history. For starters, Interpol’s Turn on the Bright Lights would be the darker follow up to their radio friendly debut Antics. Radiohead’s Kid A and Amnesiac would come packaged as a double album followed by a hiatus and then In Rainbows. Metallica’s Black Album would be the posthumous memorial after their tragic plane accident and Ghosts 1-IV would be the album to come after The Fragile. Nine Inch Nails popularity and strong underground fan base, after The Fragile, would have been enough to support the Ghosts’ experimental ambiance. The ambiance itself would be a continuation of The Fragile’s direction. Ghosts' length would be enough to justify a six year gap of idle time and weightlifting.

While this is just a fantasy, one song near the end of the album stands out and gives me reason to someone else thinks the same way. "34 Ghosts IV" is a beautiful rearrangement of “The Great Below,” from The Fragile. Its placement at the end within the more structural instrumental pieces gives it the tune of finality and punctuation. Listening to this song is stunning and gives me the chance to listen to an album I had crafted in my head 9 years ago.

34 Ghosts IV

83. 2008 Awards

2008-12-09T16:50:00.000-05:00

Worst Song Of 2008...possibly ever

Millionaires - Alcohol

Sweet Jesus Son of Mary and Joseph, Staten Island has risen to become the new Sodom and Gomorrah.

Your referencing hip hop culture but you are three white girls? I don't get it. Your white. why the...Oh I see!! You are poking fun at hip hop culture and their "bling." Oh yeah becasue no one has made fun of hip hop artists. Uou know what would also be cool, wearing your pants low and tricking out your station wagon. You see because hip hop artists are black and we taker their fashion to show how ridiculous it is! If there was ever a song that crystallized my hatred for soulless party girls and their shitty taste in music, clothes and life choices, "Alcohol" would be the sound of my personal torment. Not only is this song meaningless in context but the lyrics are so banal hitting yourself with a Punky Brewster trapper keeper makes more sense and derives more pleasure. It is not even the ironic "so bad its good," its the "it's so bad and I feel so sad for the unborn." In my worst dreams, I would be dating one of these girls and just for a second I would contemplate staying with her for another two months to piggyback on their success. That second of judgment sends shivers down my spine.

82. 2008 Awards

2008-12-09T16:24:00.000-05:00

Most Disappointing Album From A Band I Used To Love

The Sword - Gods Of The Earth

It pains me to even write these words. Before everything the Sword, a stoner metal revival, was amazing. Before Guitar Hero was metal for suburban tweens. Before Metallica and the arena rock tour. Before everyone decided, as a collective, to hate stoner revivals...The Sword was awesome. Age of Winters perfectly encapsulated the look, sound and vision of fantasy driven doom metal. Gods Of The Earth did nothing else. The Sword did not loose what they had already achieved, they made the same album. There are a millions things they could have done to make this album "the best album of 2008." Long epics. Serial tracks. Seamless production. Concept driven lyrics. Elaborate artwork... nothing. Even subtle references to awesome fantasy elements (Maiden, Mother and Crone / The Frost Giant's Daughter) could not save the replicated nature of this album. It is so disheartening when popular bands do not heed my advice. I bought a black sword sweatshirt in Reading, PA when The Sword opened for Stoner party band, Clutch. Now my sword sweatshirt is grey after 2 years of constant adornment during the fall and spring seasons. I will still wear it despite everything that has gone down. It reminds me of that time when I saw them in reading. When they debuted their new song "under the boughs" and they promised a new album soon. "awesome," I thought...this will be amazing. Gods Of The Earth is not a bad album, it is a mediocre release from an amazing band. However, the songs just run in place rather than go anywhere. I wanted something grander. Something more alive. I'm not made at you Sword...I'm just disappointed.

81. 2008 Awards

2008-12-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

Catchiest Songs Of The Year

Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor

First of all, how did I miss this until a couple of weeks ago and secondly why can' t I get it out of my head? I have never been a fan of Hot Chip, but recently they were featured in Pitchforks Top 40 music videos.Like anything Pitchfork does, this feature was filled with obscure amazing videos from songs that were subpar and forgettable. Hot Chip's "Ready for the Floor was the first video which had a recognizable chorus. Bait and switch. Since viewing it the first time, I have difficult time passing day without listening "Ready For The Floor" atleast twice.

Protest The Hero - Blood Meat

What happens when you take the good parts of Mars Volta and send them hurdling into a wall of hooked metalcore? The answer is a progressive metalcore reaction which has worked out so well, Ive begun defending this band to the internet community. Bloodmeat, from the album fortress, is a structured progression snaking through complicated chords, flashy guitar playing and vocal styles. The song almost wraps so quick you are unaware of the catchiest chorus EVER which looms around a corner. This chorus is so addictive you are hypnotized by its beauty and are unable to see the catchiest bridge outro EVER which lies just over the horizon.

80. Goodbye Police

2008-12-09T07:46:00.000-05:00

1977-1984, 1986, 2003, 2007-2008

Alright this is it Police, I am wishing you well. Goodbye Have a safe flight. Please never come back. those strange dates at the bottom have chronicled the unsteady status of the police since 1994. It is like the 6 months it takes to break up with your girlfriend and things are "kinda uncertain." Your officially broken up but your still having awkward sex. I guess we are going out. After their final bow in 1984, they managed to drudge up 3 reunion shows for charity and publicity. Supposedly this is the last one. Fine. Ill give you a wave and a nice gold watch. But I swear to God, if in another 5 years I hear rumors of a reunion, I am writing a stern post in my blog. Ill make you rue the day you crossed KCHoM.

69. Goodbye Hootie And The Blowfish

2008-12-09T07:02:00.000-05:00

1986-2008

When I was 14, Cracked Rear View came out much to my protest and disappointment. At the time i was searching for faster, heavier and more obscene music to fit my subversive suburban motif. Hootie And The Blowfish just did not fit with what I was going for because it was light, smooth and unoffensive. It was adult contemporary which trickled into the mainstream. It is alright it happens with every genre from time to time. Aside from "Hold My Hand" being used at every wedding reception from 1994-1996 and "let her cry" unexpecitly making the drunk post grad breakdown sobbing in his living room, the Blowfish's popularity slowly and steadily declined into the new century. Daruis Rucker broke to the news in an AOL exclusive that the band would be splitting so he could pursue a solo country career. Even with a band like this, i find it hard to come up with mean insults. Maybe that is the crux of writting memorials; only remembering the good times. It just makes me think of that summer before 10th grade. God that was a good time. Im so lonley.

58. Goodbye Phantom Planet

2008-12-08T21:15:00.000-05:00

1994-2008

Why do I care that Phantom Planet has disbanded. It is not because they are an easy target for ridicule or their passing comes as a big raspberry from people who legitimately thought they were eaten by alligators. My reporting of this tragic story is directed at my brother, Epileptic Peat, who not only enjoys the one song they did, but was also a big fan of the hit television show The OC. I maybe wrong but I also think that George Force was really into this show. I specifically remember a year of my life spend rolling my eyes at their OC conversation when we went out to eat. This blog is not intended to drum up cheap jabs at anyone else for their television viewing. I myself am guilty of watching Survivor, Lost and the first season of Temptation Island. Why all of these shows fit into the island theme I do not know. What was goling on in the OC? really. I know a whole bunch of Indie rock bands were jumping on that show and then being named checked on the Gillmore Girls. Oh phantom Planet. You really cemented your name into one facet of American trivia. I know you tried really hard not to be that OC band but it never worked out. Even though your new album was suppose to be like the Wall...you opted for calling it quits instead. Well then I guess this is it. Thanks for not making that much of a mess. Well clean up after your gone. Goodbye Phantom Planet.

78. Goodbye Quiet Riot

2008-12-08T12:27:00.001-05:00

1973-2008

Damn it I did have a ton of jokes lined up for this one but then I learned that the only reason why Hqair Metal titans Quiet Riot ended was the untimely death of their lead singer. What a way to derail my line of comedy. Kevin Dubrow, age 52, died of a cocaine overdose in his Las Vegas home. Reallly? Your still going 110% aren't you? My string of jokes were going to include my shock of learning Quiet Riot could drag themselves through the 90's and a better part of the 2000s. While they still apply, they now have a dkarer tone. Quiet Riot was ever searching for that constant party and it seems that Dubrow's death is testament to the ridiculous ideals of excess and immortality which gilded the 80's. It is easy to see someone enveloped in that world where hair metal is always on top and Dokken, Cinderalla, Autograph and Ratt were kings. I'm sure Quiet Riots fans aged with the band in rapid decline seeing smaller and smaller venues but still having a blast. While the world outside was changing, it was always 1985 inside. Cum on Feel The Noize. I do not get it, and I do not think I ever will

77. Goodbye Toto

2008-12-08T11:46:00.001-05:00

1977-2008

Oh I did bless the rains in Africa. 2008 saw the end of Grammy award winning musical group Toto. To be honest I know nothing else from this band other than "Africa," and was shocked and bewildered when I learned they had 17 albums and composed the music to Dune. Holy fuck. Its like your neighbor who dies and only when the landlord goes through their apartment do they find a scale model of Paris made out of gum wrappers in the living room. I was also surprised to learn Toto had a wizard in their band. Toto maybe one of those bands, like T.Rex, who are only known for one song but have a deep breadth of work which baffles the mind. Maybe sometime soon Ill spend a good couple of months listening to every Toto record. I know my brother, Epileptic Peat, will be down....Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti. Goodbye Toto. I never knew how awesome you were until you were gone.

76. Goodbye Long Blondes

2008-12-08T09:32:00.001-05:00

2004-2008

Oh Long Blondes. So sad to see you go. Even though I missed your last releases and one of your members looks eerily like my ex girlfriend,I still enjoyed your debut release. In fact, I made a mix tape with "giddy stratospheres" which stayed in my tape player for a couple of months. I your guitarist suffered a stroke which has left the band unable to play. I wish you all the best for future endeavors. You and your unique brand of salvation army indie pop will be missed.

Goodbye 2008

2008-12-08T08:41:00.000-05:00

As every year end we look back and pay tribute to the ones who could not be with us today. The fallen. Some artists like to make a big exit, others die quietly in the corner. It is like the guy at your party who just left without saying goodbye. All of a sudden you think: Was he not having fun? Did he not like the choice in party theme? Then you find him in the corner. Now I feel bad. So I feel it necessary to take time and pay tribute to the ones who have entertained us for years and suddenly left the party.

75. Lykke Li - Hanging High

2008-12-05T13:55:00.000-05:00

From The Album Youth Novels

Fuck damn it I love this song. It is so cute and majestic and sad when it shouldn't be whatsoever. Swedish indie folk singer Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson has sung her way into my heart with a simple yet effective folk tune " Hanging High". Below is a live video of the song done in the style of the lowfi field recording (A Take Away Show, Black Cab Sessions.); which is super ultra futuristic hip right now. Sometimes field recordings can be downright stupid and other times, like this one, they can be amazing. Even though you cannot here the background singers as well, Lykke Li's voice is still amazing and comparable to a cold swedish siren call.