I'm only slightly embarassed that I didn't see ANY of the Oscar-nominated, best picture movies this year, yet I seem to have watched a bunch of popcorn-fart crap... which brings us to today's film... CHRONICLE.
The film mainly follows Andrew (Dane DeHann), his cousin Matt (Alex Russell) and their friend Steve (Michael B. Jordan... Wait, his name is Michael B. Jordan? Really?). Andrew is the stereotypical outcast at school. If this were elementary school, he's the kid everyone made fun of for having "cooties." Andrew comes from an abusive home and is not generally likable. Matt tries to get Andrew out into the world and be a part of it, but Andrew is too antisocial. Steve it the high school's impossibly cool guy. So, to set up the film, Andrew, for no reason really, decides he wants to film everything. It doesn't require any explanation. It's a kid being a kid. Then one night at a rave in the woods, the three stumble upon something... and they slowly develop the power of telekinesis (moving shit with your mind). More after the break...
It's Saturday, I'm working from home, I'm bored. This is bad news for me but good for everyone else as I've compiled a few of the awesome remixes people have done for this great song. Enjoy!
And the stripped version for your viewing pleasures, "Original Don"
So, Chris Brown and Rihanna recently released a couple of tracks in which one worked on the other's song. They released these songs simultaneously on her birthday. This is obviously a big deal because, a couple years ago, he beat the crap out of her.
Chris Brown feat. Rihanna - Turn Up the Music (Remix)
Rihanna feat. Chris Brown - Birthday Cake (Remix)
Truth, neither song is my cup of tea, but I wanted to address the elephant in the room... the battered, bruised, elephant in the room... And to be honest, there isn't much of a point here. Just wanted to think aloud.
I just... I don't know how to feel. I just plain don't like the dude. I was never a fan of his music (didn't even know who he was UNTIL he beat Rihanna), so all I know about him is that he beat a woman. He beat her bad. He threatened to kill her. I'm assuming, somewhere, he apologized... but, really, everything he's done since then makes him come off as an unrepentant douchebag who's mocking you with his dancing.
But the thing is, he doesn't owe me an apology. Really, the only person who he owes an apology to is Rihanna. And she seems to have forgiven him. God knows why, but she did. So are we mad at her now? Or is this the sign that the world is ready to accept him again?
Well, I'm not there, but again, I just plain don't like him (or his live musical performances that consist of watching a dude not-singing.) It bothers me that he brutally and savagely assaulted a woman, and now he's dancing in my living room. (And it bothers me that there is a group of people that are not only okay with that but welcome a beating from him if it means that part of said beating comes from his penis.) Who do we get mad at though? Him for being there or the network for putting him on? Oh, and change the channel.
His public shaming seems like it isn't fulfilled, and I honestly don't know why that's the case. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind. But the world's forgiven Mike Tyson. The world's okay with Charlie Sheen. Fuck, they've both been on comedy central's roasts where people laugh and joke about the abusive things they've done. But what did they do that was different? Especially with Sheen. I guess, time passed and Tyson became mellow... but Sheen quickly became this weird folk hero that had a national tour. He wasn't repentant either. He was saying he was a fucking warlock that was winning.
People against domestic violence (and lame music) can and should despise him... but I don't think he owes us an apology for something he did to someone else. He just has to accept that he'll never be universally beloved and the topic of his assault will ALWAYS remain with him. And we have to accept that he's there.
There really isn't a point to this post. I'm not trying to argue one thing or another. It's just an odd situation to observe.
This past weekend's SNL was probably the best one of the season... possibly the last few years. Hosted by Maya Rudolph, with musical guest Sleigh Bells, and featuring a bunch of brilliant guest appearances (don't wanna ruin it for those that haven't seen it), the show was consistently fun and funny. I was genuinely entertained by each sketch. My only problem? Someone turn up Alexis's microphone.
Sleigh Bells - "End of the Line"
Sleigh Bells- "Comeback Kid."
Best Sketch - Jay-Z and Beyonce's Baby
Honorable Mention - Bronx Beat
Honorable Mention #2 (as an Asian who loves basketball, I gotta go with this one) - Linsanity Postgame
It's Valentine's Day! Grab your honey... or your homey... or both, put on our playlist, and enjoy a day dedicated to love, lust, and commercial thoughtfulness!
It's Valentine's Day... Awesome... Let the rest of the world have their hugs and kisses and cuddles and coitus. You have... Well... Don't forget to feed the cat...
True story... Possibly my best story. The year was 2005. I still had hair on my head with only moderate signs of thinning. I still drove a yellow jeep. I still worked at the Olive Garden. I was dateless that year, so on this particular Valentine's Day, I decided to visit a coworker at work and give her a rose because I knew that it'd make her happy.
It was a beautiful day out. Gorgeous day, so I took the top down off the jeep and drove up to north Austin to visit my friend. After delivering a single yellow rose and giving my friend a hug, I drove back down to south Austin and got stuck in crappy south Austin traffic. And then magic happened. (An awesome story after the jump.)
Ben Browning, the bassist for Cut Copy is releasing his first solo EP Lover Motion (3/19). But like a toddler going off to kindergarden, he's not ready to wander too far off. Cut Copy frontman Dan Whitford plays synths on the album, and it's being released by the band's own label Cutters Records. So basically, if you like Cut Copy, you'll probably like the feel of this one.
Last night's musical guest on SNL was Karmin. I actually hadn't ever heard of Karmin until a story in EW. Karmin, if ya didn't know, is mostly famous for being youtube sensations who do poppy, bouncy covers. I was intrigued to see how they would do because the last time an internet sensation was on, the world almost imploded as people couldn't tear Lana Del Rey down fast enough... because Lana Del Rey was really THAT BAD. (Sidenote, I actually like LDR's album. It doesn't change the fact that hers WAS the worst performance in SNL history. Sure, "Who Let The Dogs Out?" sucks, but at least the Baha Men performed it. Not...ya know... swayed uncomfortably and off key... But, I digress...) But the article also mentioned that Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan are Berklee trained... so, fuck, they know what they're doing.
Here's their first single "Broken Hearted"
2nd song, "I Told You So"
Quick Thoughts...
- I actually enjoyed this a lot. I'm prolly not gonna buy the album... The music is fun, but this is a little too sugary for my tastes.
- Amy can sing, is incredibly charismatic and has a fun style. Nick plays the keyboard and sings backup. I can totally see a No Doubt situation forming. Ya know, she goes on to a successful singles career. He goes on to wait for her to finish her successful singles career. I keed, I keed... but really, what does he do?
- Okay, the hair is a bit weird...
Here's the latest from the Throne. It's a kaleidoscope, seizure inducing (there's a warning) good time. There's even a Will Ferrell clip in there. That shit cray.
Out today, is the Jack White 7in featuring the single "Love Interruption" and the B side, "Machine Gun Silhouette." Though "Machine Gun Silhouette" isn't going to be on the upcoming album, Blunderbuss, it's always nice to hear Jack's stuff... and he never really lets ya down.
***Update... We can no longer find "Machine Gun Silhouette" online. You'll just have to buy the 7in... or wait until Third Man isn't quite as vigilant
But I'm not a fan of "Machine Gun Silhouette." To be fair, I wasn't a huge fan of "Love Interruption" at first either, but it definitely grew on me. It's not bad, but it's... I don't know.
I'm trying to brace myself for more songs like these as it seems like Blunderbuss will be more like Get Behind Me Satan or Broken Boy Soldiers and less like anything from The Dead Weather, Elephant, or Consolers of the Lonely. That is, something more pop-y and folky as opposed to just flat out, "Get the fuck out of my way. I'm holding an ax!" rock. I was hoping it'd be more like THIS cover.
***Update... I just got my 7in, and it comes with a card detailing how the song came about. Jack was having an email conversation with artist Rob Jones. (Jones has designed a lot of Jack White's bands tour posters. It's my favorite style, and those posters sell for a lot online. Really, really cool stuff.) Anyways, in this email correspondence, Jones talks about his experiences in bidding for things at auctions. Jack took the lwords from the emails and formed a song. Genius.
Groundhog Day is widely accepted as a good movie. But I think it's more than that. To me, it's one of the best movies ever made. I know that I'm prone to hyperbole, but I firmly believe that if this film were to be shown to all the world leaders, we would achieve world peace within minutes. Groundhog Day is so cleaver and so sweet and can easily boast a plot that was way ahead of its time.
The story follows Phil Connors (Bill Murray), a perpetually grumpy weatherman who's forced to go to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the Groundhog Day Festival. While there, something happens (and I love that it's never explained what) that forces Phil to live that day, December 2, over and over. It's a simple, interesting, fairly innovative, and very effective premise. More after the jump...
