A Whole Lot of Music - June Reviews

Once: Music From the Motion Picture
This is a great soundtrack to the indie-musical, Once. I don’t know much about the story of the movie, but the songs are fantastic. I’d guess it’s a love story because the songs reflect that love. Both the man, Glen Hansard (of the band, The Frames), and the woman, Marketa Irglova, have solid, folksy voices.

Solid Tracks: “Falling Slowly” - “When Your Mind’s Made Up” - “The Hill” - “Leave” - “Once”
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Truth in Sincerity by Amber Pacific
I first became aware of the group, Amber Pacific, while on vacation in Wisconsin. My cousin Beth was convinced that the song we were listening to was by Amber Pacific, but I doubted her – I didn’t believe there was even a band called Amber Pacific. Turns out I was wrong. And that, wow, they are pretty good. They sound a lot like Yellowcard and New Found Glory. It’s just great, rockin’ summer music.

Solid Tracks: “Summer (In B)” – “Temporary” – “You’re Only Young Once” – “Follow Your Dreams, Forget the Scene” – “Fall Back Into My Life” – “Watching Over Me”
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Riot! by Paramore
Earlier on I proclaimed my love for Paramore’s first CD, All We Know Is Falling. Their second release blows their first clean away. It’s fantastic. It’s one of those CD’s you can listen to, and listen to, and never get bored with– at least, I haven’t yet. This CD will have a permanent place in my bike tunes for the summer! (If you purchase the disc at Best Buy it comes with three bonus tracks – 1 extra track, 1 live cut, and 1 demo.)

Solid Tracks: “For A Pessimist I’m Pretty Optimistic” – “Hallelujah” – “When It Rains” – “Let the Flames Begin” – “We Are Broken” – “Fences”
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Icky Thump by The White Stripes
The White Stripes have always been “mood” music for me. Their brand of fuzzy rock is something I enjoy only when I’m in the mood for that type of rock. That said, this is a pretty good album. I am enjoying it more than I did Get Behind Me Satan, but not as much as Elephant. It's classic White Stripes, with a bit of a European folk sound on a couple of tracks. If you enjoy the band’s music, the CD is worth purchasing.

Solid Tracks: “Icky Thump” – “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)” – “Conquest” – “Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn” – “A Martyr For My Love For You”
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Easy Tiger by Ryan Adams
This album falls somewhere between Adams’ more rocking sound (Gold) and his more country sound (Cold Roses). Not quite as enjoyable as Gold, I still found this to be a strong album. Adams keeps pumping the music out – at least a CD a year – and if you can handle that country/folk/rock blend, then that’s a great thing for you.

Strong Tracks: “Goodnight Rose” – “Everybody Knows” – “Halloweenhead” – “The Sun Also Sets” – “Pearls on a String”
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My December by Kelly Clarkson
It’s a shame Clarkson had to cancel her tour supporting the new album because it’s not half bad. In fact, I enjoy it quite a bit. Clarkson has a very nice voice – easy to listen to. Sure, some of the songs have lame lyrics, but I can overlook that if they sound nice to me. The album is just as entertaining as Breakaway, even if it doesn’t have as many “radio” songs on it.

Strong Tracks: “Never Again” – “Sober” – “Haunted” – “How I Feel” – “Yeah”
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Live at the Gorge 05/06 by Pearl Jam
I love that Pearl Jam keeps releasing entire concerts live on CD. This 7-disc collection covers the band's performances at the Gorge, an outdoor amphitheater in central Washington, from September 5, 2005 and July 22 & 23, 2006. I’ve only made it through the first three discs, but the band knows how to put on a live show. This feels like the ultimate collection for any Pearl Jam fan. Now, if I could just actually see them live…

Strong Tracks: every single one – it’s a love letter of sound to a Jam fan

Movie Reviews - Paris, je t'aime & Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

These movie reviews were lost in the shuffle around my vacation to Wisconsin. As much as I enjoyed them, I felt required say something - better late than never - about them.
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Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
I decided that since they had lowered the rating from the first Fantastic Four movie down to a PG, I should see this movie as I would have when I was a little kid. I bought a popcorn and a large Blue Raspberry Icee. I sat with my sandals kicked off and slurped my Icee until my lips turned blue, literally.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was an entertaining superhero movie. I think I even enjoyed it more than I did Spiderman 3. This movie had focus. While the story was pure popcorn fluff, you didn’t feel like you were being short-changed of any of the action on screen. My big complaint with Spidey was that there was not enough time for Sandman, or for Venom. Both were very interesting villains with good stories, but I wanted more from each of them.

The great: No wasted time in the story – it’s a short, full, 1 hour 30 minute explosion of comic-y goodness. Jessica Alba as Sue Storm finally had a blonde hair that was more believable to me. The Surfer was a great special effect and very believable as a character – motion-captured by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne. The Hemi-power Dodge-branded Fantasticar was a pretty sweet ride.

The not-so: What’s up with the massive amount of blue-eyeliner Alba wears?! Galactus as a giant storm cloud? Even though it fits with his Ultimate universe appearance, I was kind of hoping for the big dude with the funky purple helmet. There was a bit too much slap-sticky humor – even though I realize they are simply trying to make the movie more entertaining for younger children.

Overall: If you are in the mood for a quick superhero story with great special effects, then this is your flick. I really enjoyed the movie and it stands up well with its blockbuster summer competition.
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Paris, je t’aime
I saw this movie the same day I saw Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. In keeping with the same attitude, I decided to enjoy this movie with a Coke and a Toblerone candy bar – just as I might if I was really in Paris.

Paris, je t’aime (Paris, I love you) is essentially a love story to the city of Paris, France. Presented in 18 segments, and written and directed by a varied group of filmmakers, Paris, je t’aime is an art-y, entertaining success. I don’t know if I enjoyed this movie so much more because I had been to Paris before, but I like to think that even if I hadn’t been, I still would have been captivated by the city and these stories.

I found the following segments to be the most enjoyable: “Montmartes” by Bruno Podalydes; “Tuileries” by Joel and Ethan Coen; “Pere-Lachaise” by Wes Craven; and “Quartier de la Madeleine” by Vincenzo Natali. The segments ranged in stories from finding a parking space and love to vampires to the importance of tourists minding their own business while waiting for the Metro.

This is an art-y movie. And some of segments are a little out there. The reaction from the old lady next to me in the theater at the end of “Quartier de la Madeleine,” which featured vampires and was shot in a Sin City noir-style, was hilarious: “That’s the worst thing I’ve seen.” It just shows that not every segment will appeal to every person. But with 18 segments and 18 different views of such an engaging city, you are sure to find something to enjoy. I did.

The Stacks - July 2, 2007

The Stacks, a weekly list of all I’m currently reading, or watching on DVD. New materials added are underlined.

Books:
Stranger Than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower book 7) by Stephen King
Nightwatch by Sergei Lukayaneko
On Writing by Stephen King
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk
No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman

Magazines:
Paste issue 32, June 2007

DVDs:
Deadwood: Season 3 (TV series)
Futurama: Season 2 (TV series)
Black Snake Moan
Venture Bros: Season 1 (TV series)
Hex: Season 1 (TV series)

Comics:
JSA Presents: Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. vol. 1 (TPB)
Blood: A Tale (TPB)
The Other Side (GN)
Beyond! (TPB)
Wasteland vol. 1 (TPB)
Pearls Before Swine: Sgt. Piggy’s Lonely Hearts Club Comic (Treasury)
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (GN)

Look for reviews/thoughts of selected materials from The Stacks…when I finish something. Anything.

Put Off For Another Day

I was going to get some reviews up on the blog today. Turns out, I won't.

However, I did get some comics read, some shows on DVD watched, and even managed another trip to see Live Free or Die Hard. I took notes for my reviews/thoughts, but when it came down to typing things up - well, that would be now, and I am tired. I don't believe tomorrow will be a long day at work, so I'll get those reviews up then.

I hope everyone has a great week. We do have a holiday in there; that should be fun.

I'm off to bed. The pirate sleeps...

No More Work...Until Monday

We finally finished (pretty much) setting all the forms for the garage. It looks real good. We should pass our inspection first thing Monday morning (hopefully) and be able to have the concrete poured in our forms by the end of the day Monday. Once all this concrete work is done, I am told the building of the walls and the rest of the garage should be easier going.

I'll try my hardest to get through some of The Stacks tomorrow. We'll see if that gives me time to put a couple of reviews up on the blog. I also need to get back out on my bike. I know I don't feel like it today, or even tomorrow. Next week. I swear.

Sunk Again

Today I almost lost my left foot. I slipped and misplaced my foot while we were pouring the concrete for the garage. I sunk my entire shoe up past my ankle in a trench of freshly poured concrete. Lemme tell you...it ain't easy pulling your foot out from wet concrete. If that's what quicksand feels like, Moses help me, I'd be a goner!

Other than that one slip, it was a pretty uneventful day. Lots of work, and more tomorrow. Building the forms and getting them straight and level takes time.

I'm headed back over at 7 AM to put in what will probably be another full day. At least I'm doing something. Building something that will be pretty darn impressive. It's cool.

Concrete Dreams

I slept...poorly last night. Dreams about garage building all night long kept waking me up. Must have been the salmon fish and chips I had for supper late last night.

I'm off back over there today to finish the footing. When they pour the footing it is pretty cool. We ended up using 2x4's to move the concrete around in the trench and to flatten things down. It's a lot like paddling with an oar, except instead of water you are slicing through concrete - a much more difficult medium to move. We'll also work on putting together all the forms for the 2nd stage pour of concrete - the foundation.
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It's my mom's birthday today. Happy birthday, mom! We're going to breakfast before I head off to work. It makes for an early morning, but she's worth it.

The Pirate Escapes IV

Here's how it works: the pirate is given five items - as varied and crazy as you can imagine - and a single scenario of peril to escape. From there, things get...interesting as the pirate attempts ANOTHER GREAT ESCAPE.

The Items:
1. Book bag with two textbooks
2. Some pens
3. Sandwich in a Ziplock bag
4. Keys
5. Running shoes

The Scenario of Peril:
You are on a train, alone in your own train car, when the train derails, falling 20 feet in to the river. The train car is sinking. You are stuck inside. And the door is locked. (Courtesy of Allison)
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With the water pooling at my feet in the sinking train car, I dump out my book bag. I quickly open the first textbook, How to Swim. I speed read the first couple of chapters and am now able "to swim like an Olympian." I glance at the title of the second text, How to Drown Like a Loser, and toss it aside. With confidence at near super-human levels, I set about escaping.

The water has reached my knees by the time I truly get started. I use the pens to draw a bulls-eye target on the window of the train car. Knowing that I have only one shot at this, I put a running shoe on my hand to act as a sort of boxing glove, and punch the window out. The water floods into the train car. I open my sandwich bag and suck out all of the air stored in the Ziplock baggie. I then swim through the broken window. As I struggle to reach the surface, I cut off my clothes with my keys. The less weight and resistance, the quicker I rise. Once on the surface of the water I breathe easy and float naked awaiting rescue. Another great escape, Pirate!
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And that's how it is done. If you have a perilous scenario and five tools of escape to challenge me, please post them in the comments...and you will soon witness: Another Great Escape, Pirate!

Hi Ho, It's Off to Work Again

It's like I've found a job, or something. I'm heading back over to grandpa's to work on the garage. The concrete is coming today for the footer. It's all new to me (and to him, in some degree, I believe), but it is exciting.

Oh. My. God! Live Free or Die Hard Review

Ho-ley Moses! Live Free or Die Hard is an amazing movie! I can’t think of an action movie in the past 5 years that was as impressive as this one.

My jaw is literally on the floor. I may have to wire it shut just to keep from tripping over it.

It’s been 12 years since the last Die Hard movie hit the screens. In that time it doesn’t appear that Bruce Willis has lost a step as John McClane. He’s lost some hair – and the rating has dropped to a PG-13 (a limit-stretching PG-13) – but McClane is still taking names and kicking ass.

The story is action-movie convenient and predictable, but that doesn’t really matter. Just like the previous Die Hard movies, we – as an audience – only care about watching the invincible McClane tear through the bad guys and save the day.

Do things go from bad to worse to - damn - totally unfair? Does McClane waste an army of henchmen? Does McClane take a beating the likes of which make you wince to watch? Does the humor, action, and explosions make you bounce up and down in your seat?

Yes! Yes, yes, yes.

There is no way I’d be able to write a proper review for this movie. I’m in awe. The (full) audience clapped at the end of the show. And this wasn’t your loud, obnoxious teenage audience. These were normal folk. Adults, old people – grandmas and grandpas.

The only bad thing about the whole experience, is that no other summer movie will come close to the action and fun present in Live Free or Die Hard. I guess I’ll just have to go see it again. And again. And again!

Spend the money. See the movie. This is a theater movie. Spend the money. It is worth it.

New Comics - June 27, 2007

Cover of the Week:
Countdown #44 by Ed Benes
DC Comics

I knew this would be the cover of the week when I saw the “Next Issue” image at the back of last week’s issue. Monarch’s armor was cool when he first appeared in the 90’s, and it holds up well today. Add the coolness factor to the questions his appearance in this series raise, and it’s a good week to be following Countdown.

This is a weekly list of the new comics I picked up at my local comic book shop, Mayhem Comics.

Wonder Woman #10
Countdown #44
Amazons Attack! #3
Blue Beetle #16
X-Factor #20
The Immortal Iron Fist #6
She-Hulk #19

Maintenance vol. 1: It’s A Dirty Job (TPB)
The Ultimates 2 vol. 2: Grand Theft America (TPB)
The Trials of Shazam vol. 1 (TPB)
The Irredeemable Ant-Man vo. 1: Low-Life (TPB)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus vol. 1 (TPB)

Watch for thoughts or quick reviews when a comic requires the extra attention.

Grunt Labor

I'm off to be grunt labor for my grandpa. I don't know a thing about garage building, but I do know grunt labor. I've lived nearly my whole life doing that kind of work. Grunt!

Why I Read

I think I enjoy reading so much for the sense of – awe – I experience just seeing the words, watching the combination of those words work together to create pictures and thoughts and adventures in my head. Grant Morrison’s run on the Animal Man comic from 1990 was a brutal, beautiful and breath-taking achievement in writing. A character that isn’t even real becomes as true as any person I meet on the street. Bizarre and true essays by Chuck Palahniuk about farm combine demolition derbies and dressing up and running wild in a dog costume allow me to explore the weirdly wonderful crazy things people do do. Sure, all this reading is a substitute for the actual experience - for the doing of these things myself - but it’s still enjoyable.

Just one of the many reasons I enjoy reading.

New Media - June 26, 2007

New media arrives in stores on Tuesdays, so once a week – I try to limit myself to once a week – I go shopping for new books, DVDs, and music.

Here’s a taste of what has been added to my collection in the past week.

Books:
The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom
Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
Maximum Ride: School’s Out – Forever by James Patterson
Subterranean by James Rollins
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
After Dark by Haruki Murakami
Voodoo Heart by Scott Snyder
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

Comics:
The Waiting Place vol. 2 (TPB) by Sean McKeever and Mike Norton
Beyond! (HC) by Dwayne McDuffie and Scott Kolins
The Other Side (GN) by Jason Aaron and Cameron Stewart
Blood: A Tale (GN) by J.M. DeMatteis and Kent Williams

DVDs:
Black Snake Moan
Die Hard Collection
Mission Impossible III
The Black Dahlia
The Ladykillers

Music:
Easy Tiger by Ryan Adams
My December by Kelly Clarkson
Truth in Sincerity by Amber Pacific
Icky Thump by The White Stripes

Look for these materials to join The Stacks in the near future. Some might even sneak by The Stacks and end up mentioned here before you know it.

Comic Thoughts - Week of June 20, 2007(Part II)

Short bursts of thought about comics I purchased and read the week of June 20, 2007. (Continued from Part I)

Robin #163: Adam Beechen writes his Robin as a smart, insightful, and funny hero. Just the type of hero I like reading about. Following a crook down a busy street Robin wonders off-handedly if –

“...any flying superheroes ever thought to moonlight as sky traffic reporters. Be a good way to make extra dough.”

This is the type of thought I’d have while out superheroing. This issue was both a great sentimental story – Tim and Bruce’s first Father’s Day together – and action showcase – Robin taking down twelve heavily armed, but not particularly bright, members of The Jury. It’s a fight that demonstrates Robin’s well-deserved place as the leader of the younger generation of DC heroes. I’ll be sad to see Beechen leave the title after the next story arc.

Shadowpact #14: An angel, Zauriel, and a demon, Blue Devil, fight to the death. Catchy intro, huh? In the background someone shouts, “Kick him in the nards!” I haven’t heard someone shout “nards” since I last saw Monster Squad, one of my favorite movies from when I was young(er), still waiting for a DVD release. Suckers! It’s nice to see Zauriel back interacting with the DC Universe. The former Justice Leaguer and Angel of God is forced to fill the spot left vacant in the Shadowpact as Blue Devil takes a leave of absence while he fights to free himself from his deal with the devil. All the while, Doctor Gotham finally prepares to attack the Shadowpact head-on.

Catwoman #68: Pfeifer’s Catwoman is a comic full of tension. Every issue reads like you are walking a tightrope, fearful of falling to your death. This issue appears to wrap up the “Catwoman Dies” storyline – and no, she doesn’t die – and maybe even Holly’s (backup Catwoman) involvement with this book. At least we see now why Holly is on the run, and on the streets of Metropolis, in the Countdown series. Good writing and moody art – I especially liked the atmospheric red rain scratching the panels this month. Very noir-ish.

The Incredible Hulk #107: While this was a great addition to the “World War Hulk” event, the issue suffers from some repetition, a common curse of the mega-crossover event. That repetition aside, we do get the extra characterization and expanded back-stories not possible in the main-event book. In this issue Amadeus Cho continues his recruitment drive for friends of the Hulk. After a meeting with the a-hole of the seas, Namor, the group arrives in New York, seconds too late. After the Hulk battles and defeats Iron Man, the group attempts to reason with him. Hercules takes a titanic beating before the Hulk takes notice of the small band of puny humans assembled before him. Will Hulk SMASH, or will Hulk accept these friends? We’ll find out soon, True Believers. Soon.

*I do not plan on collecting all the related tie-ins to the “World War Hulk” event – even thought I’ve been digging the Hulk over the past year and love the start of this event. I’ll read those Marvel comics I normally purchase, but I am not willing to throw away the buckets of money necessary to have the complete saga. I’m a DC boy, through and through. If I’m going to throw buckets of money away, it’ll be for DC-related comics. Sorry, Marvel.

Boneyard #25: Out and out, the funniest book I read currently. It’s a shame the book is only published quarterly. This issue kicks off a new story arc as Michael’s imaginary childhood friend, Lita – a fairie – comes to the graveyard seeking sanctuary. As you might guess, no good – at least for our band of merry monsters – comes of this. It is funny for us, though.