Turkey Fest Hangover

Much to my dismay this morning, I was awoken by a perturbing ringing.  My eyes opened and my vision grew clear as I began to slowly acclimatize to my surroundings.  What is this odd sound I asked?  What is this strange light blinding me from the night stand?  A few moments pass; I laid there in disbelief surrounded by the comfort of my bed.  Reaching out, I grasp my phone to silence this disturbing annoyance.  The time reads 7AM, but why am I waking up so early?  Thanksgiving break is over, and it’s time to go round the circle of the real world one more time this joyous Monday morning.   

To review some entertainment I consumed over the all too short, 4 day Turkey Fest….

This weekend was a festival of weird.  I finally finished Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, which was a sad and strange commentary on the depravity of man and the backward thinking of war as a whole.  The novel could be compared to Heart of Darkness (Conrad), but in Italy in the 40’s.  Add some sarcasm, an oddly cyclical plot, strange ranting and puns and you get Catch 22.  Heller’s writing is genius and the novel is an intense read.  I found myself having to look up words here or there; the book was a vocabulary expander.  In the end it wasn’t all that satisfying.  Although it had its moments, I found myself reading it just to finish it.  If you are into historical fiction, and you want to scoff at some very dry, ironic, puns, this is definitely the book for you, but be prepared for mayhem and confusion.  The tale has been called one of the greatest literary works of the twentieth century, and I can see why.  It just wouldn’t be my 1^st choice as a genre.
Next up on my reading list is Carrie, by Stephen King.  I am about 20 pages in, and hooked just from the foreword along with the opening pages. 

Movies

Recently, I watched the movie Being John Malkovich, I know its older, but I had never seen it.  The movie stars John Cusack who find a portal at his office into the mind of John Malkovich.  He can then control and become John Malkovich, using his notoriety to pursue his ailing puppeteering career.  By far one of the oddest movies I have seen but worth it to watch Malkovich at his best.  Exploring the dichotomy of mind and body is difficult to express well through cinema, but Spike Jones translates the writing of Charlie Kaufman to the silver screen accurately.  The movie is just weird, it leaves you with an odd satisfaction along with the feeling that what you have just witnessed scrambled up your brains like an egg on Sunday Morning.  If you haven’t seen it, this movie is worth a watch, or even a second look;  A very intriguing depiction of mind control as insane as the plot may be.

New Music Album, 4x4 = 12 – Deadmau5

The Planet’s hottest house music dj is back to drop another album on December 6^th, but it has already leaked, purposefully or not, no one can be sure; but it is floating out there.  Whether you find it pre-release or wait, this album is worth a listen when you get your grubby little hands on it. 

Featuring the classic Deadmau5 energy and sound spectrum, the album is on par with the best of the previous installments.  11 tracks of club bangers, each song will get your hands in the air or your foot on the gas pedal.  Deadmau5 (Joel Thomas Zimmerman) is 29 years old and hails from Ontario, Canada.  One the biggest main stream Djs as of late, his notoriety came from a song he sold on beatport entitled “This Is The Hook” which he wrote to mock how easy it is to compose a catchy house music track.  Obviously it is very simple for Zimmerman to make tracks because he has released 11 Discs worth of Albums, EPs, Mix Albums and digital releases with no noticeable drop off in composition or inspiration level.

A total geek, gear head, and non grassroots DJ, Deadmau5 is something of an oddity in the world of Electronic Dance Music.  According to a Rolling Stone article, he doesn’t even like to party, and if it weren’t for his gig as an artist he would not even be clubbing.  Either way this guy is tearing up dance floors all over the world, co-headlining at UMF this past February in Miami and gigging across the globe.  His live show is great and his new album is worth a listen so go out and get it! 

And finally, here is a sick quote from my buddy Chuck Palahniuk. 

…no matter how much you think you love somebody, you’ll step back when the pool of their blood edges up too close

Your Black Friday Fix

TV

Dexter

Usually TV is lame, drawn out, and commercial filled.  It is rare for me to find a show really worth watching. The only time you will find me watching TV will be during a sporting event or if I have something that I am following DVR’d. Lately, I am following not one, but two shows religiously.  The first show is Dexter airing on Showtime on Sunday nights at 9PM.  Based upon the novels by Jeff Lindsay, the show is set in Miami and follows a forensic blood spatter analyst played by Michael C Hall through his turbulent, double-sided life.  The shows central conflict revolves around Dexter’s issues from his childhood and his battle to juggle his personal, professional, and serial killer life. 

I discovered this show after the first three seasons had aired, and through the beauty of movie rentals my friends and I consumed all 3 seasons in 2 weeks.  I have been addicted ever since.  If you aren’t watching this show already you need too.  I have had some friends complain about the acting, but I don’t agree with them.  The voice over is great and the plot is always disturbing.  Definitely worth a look.

The Walking Dead

The second show that I have recently caught up on is The Walking Dead.  Recommended to me by my comic book crazed cousins, this zombie show, on AMC on Sunday nights at 10PM, is by far the coolest thing to hit television this year.  Based on the comic book created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, the show follows Rick Grimes a small town deputy in his journey through a zombie filled Georgia.  The show is chock full of kills, and also some very interesting drama fueled by well written dialogue.  Good Zombie movies are hard to come by and I often feel dissatisfied with most, although Call of Duty keeps my hope in the Zombie concept alive.  This show is definitely worth your attention if you can get caught up. 

Also if you are a fan of the zombie idea, check out Zombie Land, and the book World War Z (by Max Brookes), both of them were most recent endeavors I had into the zombie world and completely worth it.

Movies.  Zombies are the counterculture to the vampire-retardedness going on as of late so get out there and be a nonconformist.

Movies

Inception

Well it finally came out on DVD, sort of.  I watched Inception last night for the second time since seeing it in the movie theater long ago.  The movie is just as good the second time around, although I guess the experience isn’t as good due to the lack of an Imax theater in my house.  This movie was one of the best this year, and Dicaprio is better than ever in it, I don’t even mind Juno (Ellen Page) in it either.  Combining elements of the Matrix and James Bond, Inception is a mind melter, leaving the audience wondering at the films end.  Many complained that they didn’t get this movie, which I cannot understand at all.  They couldn’t figure out all the levels and which was real and which was not.  It all made perfect sense to me.  If you have half a brain you will understand this movie, so sit on your couch, blast the volume and be prepared to have your world shattered by Christopher Nolan.

Music – No New Albums to Report, but here’s some cool stuff anyway.

Hit this whole playlist up, definitely in a house mood today.

I also just thought this was an awesome picture so I am throwing it in here.  

Some Thanksgiving Pregaming

Ah, the week of Thanksgiving, a time of stuffing your face, spending time with your family, watching football and overall vegetation, an ode to the pillaging of a race of indigenous people happening to live where the white man landed. :) Just kidding, I don't care.  A shortened work week is sure to give me some time, and aid in my endless search for all things awesome.  I had a busy weekend, but I did manage to delve into some entertainment and hopefully bring you the best of it. 

Movies

As of late, I have been on this whole 90’s crime binge with my movies.  Over the weekend I watched both Rounders, and Knockaround guys. 

Rounders follows Matt Damon, and friend Ed Norton in their path to grandeur as they attempt to build a fortune by way of high stakes card games, most notably no limit Texas hold'em.  Although I am not a fan of poker, I don’t play, not really interested in the game at all, the movie still held my attention.  Norton is one of my favorite actors, and the chemistry between him and Damon was portrayed well.  On a more fundamental level, I can relate to the theme of the movie.  Damon is a law student in the movie who also struggles with his love for high stakes card games.  He is torn between having a stable, yet boring life as a lawyer and the thrilling life of a gambler.  Struggling between stability and excitement/creativity is something I struggle with all the time, juggling the 9 to 5 with some real creativity and production at night time.  Overall I give the movie a 7.5

Knockaround Guys was a decent movie, I love John Malkovich, but I hate Vin Diesel.  There were both moments of brilliance, and utter cheesiness.  As an action star, Diesel is great, but the second he opens his mouth and starts monologing about street fights, or about how he lives his life a quarter mile at a time, something inside me dies.  The whole plot of the movie follows Barry Pepper in his quest to make his own way and not be overshadowed by his Mob boss father, who has given him everything.   He and his crew end up in the Midwest after a job goes wrong which in the end makes Matty Demrest (Pepper) realize what he wants in life.  I give it a 6, I was hoping for a deeper, more gangster plot; when really the comedy was lost somewhere between Vin Diesel’s monologing and intermittent intensity. 

I definitely will be movie binging over the weekend.  Inception, PI and Being John Malkovich should all be on their way. 

Music

Musically, this week has been somewhat dry.  The crown jewel is definitely the release of the Tron Legacy Soundtrack.  The French duo Daft Punk, Guy-Manuel de Homen-Christo and Thomas Bangalter both composed and produced this album.  It is filled with epically classic music that will definitely get you psyched for the movie release.  Don’t expect any club hits though, this is not the Daft Punk of old.

Here are some other songs I have been vibing too as the week has gone one. I hope you enjoy, I also have been listening to All Killer No Filler by Sum41, hit it up, it will take you back.  

Also, Eminem is on the cover of Rolling Stone, if you can get your hands on the issue the article about him is great (I am a biased fan).  America can simply not get enough of Mr. Marshall Bruce Matthers.  I am still blasting The Recovery in my car. I only hope for more greatness as the release of Dr. Dre's long awaited Detox is officially, about half way done (according to Em) 

Stay thirsty my friends.

A Mid-Week Fix For All My Fiends

My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys

So this morning I stumbled upon My Chemical Romance’s new album entitled Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys  and I am shocked by the quality of the record.  I am not going to sit here and lie to you about how I was such a big MCR fan growing up and how I think that their earlier stuff was sooooo much better than their new stuff.  I liked Three Cheers, barely liked the Black Parade, and have not really dabbled any further into the band.  After reading an article in Rolling Stone about My Chem and how they completely scrapped a finished album and started over, I was greatly anticipating this new one.  The lyrics in the album are in the same dark-ish tone as the usual My Chemical Romance tradition, but the music tends to lean to more light, arena rock, drive fast in your car,tone.  I like it, although many may not, but I guarantee that they get on the radio again and that MCR’s up and coming tour will be very successful.

Be sure to listen to the Only Hope For Me Is You, its light, possibly corny, but I enjoyed it.

Here are some other songs that came to mind today although I am not sure why.  

Check this Fly like a G6 remix by my friend The Get, you'll love it.

Far East Movement - Like a G6 (The Get Remix) *DL LINK IN DESC* by The Get

Can't get over this song

11/15 - Monday Night Entertainment

It is Monday night, and all is quiet.  As usual, I am watching sports, the Redskins are playing the Eagles in a mud filled, rain driven display of athleticism on the grid iron.  Currently Michael Vick, convicted felon, is putting on a clinic for eagerly watching quarterbacks across the states.  Washington has just returned with a touchdown of their own, yet the score remains at 35-7 in the second quarter.  Vick is focused, a result of his 23 months in prison...lots of time for push-ups and thinking in there.


Here is some entertainment to hopefully get you through this work week.

Movies

I slacked on movies this weekend due to a riotous arrival and departure from my current favorite place on earth West Palm Beach Florida.  I will write about this trip further, but that is for another entry.  As of now all I have to offer is  a short review of Audio Slave Live in Cuba, a concert DVD portraying Cuba’s first ever American band stand.  The communist government of Cuba, for some reason, allowed Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk to play a free show for one night in Havana.  The DVD rocked, but left me wanting.  Although I am a fan, maybe my nostalgia over the break up of Rage Against the Machine has lead me to be unimpressed by Audioslave.  Cornell’s vocals sounded weak at the venue, but the musical stylings of Morello kept my hope alive.  In conclusion, the DVD just made me miss Rage Against the Machine more.  Midway through the show, the band played Bulls on Parade and People of the Sun, that first note of snare in BOP still gives me chills as the bass kicks in and Tom Morello grinds away.  I’ll never forget what the crowd looked like when I watched RATM at Randall’s or the wide angle shot of their Live at the Olympic Auditorium in LA DVD.  

I highly recommend Live at the Olympic Auditorium and also Live at Slane Castle, which is the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing for 50,000 people in Ireland.

I do have a few movies in the queue which I will review as the week progresses.  I bought Toy Story 3 on blue ray as a gift for my newly 7 year old sister.  An attempt to choke back tears will be made, I remember seeing the movie release and it was a highly entertaining and emotional movie.  More name dropping to come. 

 Music

Kanye West’s Dark Twisted Fantasy is out, and I must say I am unimpressed.  It warrants no overzealous pomp, as did 808’s and Heartbreak.  There are a few throw away tracks and a few winners although most of those feature other strong artists.  It would seem that the d-bag has outweighed the genius at the moment.  I only hope that he does not make a fool of himself any further in the upcoming days.  Already he has been captured free styling over the PA system on a flight, which might I add, was not all that great.  I give it a 6, but I am going to keep listening to see if the album grows on me.  The video for Runaway is cool though, 

A Day To Remember released a new album this week as well entitled What Separates Me From You.  I am undecided about it, while listening to it all the way through I was not unimpressed by the songs, yet none stood out to me. It was difficult to pull out a single or an overly strong track.  Again I will continue to listen, but at a glance I am not blown away.

Finally, Girl Talk, crack-Dj from Philadelphia has released a new album for free called All Day which is actually impressive.  I have been a fan since the release of Night Ripper and have always thought that Greg Gillis was on point with all of his mash ups.  My only gripe was that his mixes often seemed scattered and too short, hopping to quickly without allowing me to settle into a grove.  All Day does away with all my issues, longer grooves, sicker mash ups and a free album, you cant beat it.  Find it here, don’be worried if you don’t get it on the first try, it took me a few times.  



To bring back an oldie, while browsing NME’s front page I stumbled upon a list of top 25 debut albums.  The Smith’s self titled album was up at the top, and definitely worth a re listen. These guys have been named the most important alternative rock band to emerge from the British Independent Rock Scene, a large boast, and probably true.  

Book

I am Still reading Catch-22 I got through a good deal of it on my plane rides and have made it about half way through.  The book is a hilarious and somewhat confusing satire about World War 2 written by Joseph Heller.  Filled with punch lines countless circular flashbacks and flashforwards, Heller focuses on character description and development.  J.J. Abrams, co-writer of Lost must have been taking notes when he read the book because the roots of Heller’s story weaving can definitely be traced into the overall theme of Lost, minus the dripping sarcasm of course.  The book definitely has my attention.  It is not an easy read, filled with a high level vocabulary and complex imagery.  Although very descriptive, I am not yet bored of the picture Heller paints, he never overdoes it.  


Carrie or Gunslinger by Stephen King are next on my “To Read” list.

Enjoy your work week!  Stay motivated and always have something to look forward to!

Some Entertainment for your Monday

Ah the internet is such a wonderful place, like a giant wave that can lead you to places you never thought possible or crush you terribly against a reef of trouble.  The weekend constantly brings me new ideas as my creativity roams completely un-stifled by my wonderfully rewarding 9 to 5.

Here is some entertainment that will get you through the week, or maybe just tomorrow depending on your consumption rate and boredom level.

Music


Eminem has a new mixtape out entitled a Beautiful Mind.  It has a few songs from the Recovery as well as some new freestyles, everything sounds surpsingly polished.  Standing out on the album is an insane romp over a past relationship with Mariah Carey.  The pop-music slasher that was Slim-Shady is back in action digging up old skeletons with Mariah and taking shots at her husband (total tool bag) Nick Cannon...go get em Em your my hero.

Florence and the Machine has been gaining some radio steam, and all the scene kids say that they are so gay since everyone likes them now...shut the hell up, they're still good.  Florence Welch has quite a set of pipes and am digging the music stylings.  Definitely pick up the album Lungs, its worth a listen while you are aimlessly browsing the internet or are working on something productive.

Movies
I did see How To Train Your Dragon last night.  It was well put together...for a Dreamworks movie.  I  want a dragon now. Preferably a Hungarian Horntail or a Nightshade, my birthday is on the 20th if you want to make a last minute stop at Diagon Alley for me...and yes that was two Harry Potter references in one sentence.

I also found this trailer for what could be an insane movie.  It is called Sucker Punch, might be worth a look.  This could be a terrible, acid trip of a movie and a complete waste of a ticket.  Or a cult classic to be followed by geeks everywhere.  A fine line walked in cinema these days.



Books
I just finished reading The Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson, and have moved on to Catch22 by Joseph Heller, I am about two chapters in and have nothing to report as of now, I can feel the sarcastic tone and the classic nature of the book.  It may not have been a wise decision to read a WW2 satire at this moment but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Otherwise, adios.

Entertainment For the Week 11/6/10

Movie

I said last week that I had been meaning to watch the movie Un Prophete, a French film concerning an Arab in a French prison.  The flick was recommended to me by a friend James, and from now on, I will put full faith in his movie recommendations.  In 155 minutes, the writers, directors, and actors conveyed a complicated network of mafia bosses as well as racial alliances, crossed over by the main character, Malik El Djebena, played by Tahar Rahim.  Nothing was confusing, and there was just enough action sprinkled in with the dialogue to keep the movie bouncing between suspense and excitement.  It was an interesting window into prison politics and also enlightening to me, a proud American who of course is not a fan of the friendly frogs.  Don’t worry though, I won’t be that doucher who goes around talking about all the other foreign films he’s checked out. 

I also recommend City of God if you haven’t seen it already.  It is in Portugese and follows the story of a few childhood friends and their journeys in Brazil’s most notorious Favela. 

Music

 I am still vibing with the new Kings of Leon Album.  I can’t get The End out of my head.  My Australian friend also burned me some Eskimo Joe, which I am loving as well.  The one album I have is entitled Black Fingernails, Red Wine.  Lil Wayne was freed from Rikers Island in New York City yesterday so it has been non-stop Dwayne Carter for the past two days.  I re-listened to the drought 3 and have been watching his takeover of fuse intermittently throughout the day.  Checking out Wayne’s documentary, entitled The Carter, is a must.   I also listened to some old Prodigy:  Voodoo People which will always get you pumped before an event. 

Books

Last week I finished up 1984 to much depression.  The tone of the book is so hopeless and dark.  As I turned the last pages, an unsettling feeling welled up in my gut due to a combination of sympathy for the main character Winston, and anxiety concerning the future of our world, specifically America.  Orwell was a genius beyond his time and I begin to wonder how you go about thinking so forward into the future.   Obviously his timetable for future occurrences was a bit accelerated, but the roots of his hypothesis are present in our society now.  1984 is a must read along with Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.  I also found this interesting graph comparing Huxley and Orwell.

You can find the link here.  Make sure you zoom

Moving on, I began reading The Rum Diaries, by Hunter S. Thompson and I am currently about halfway through.  The account is very easy to read and in Thompsons signature gonzo style.  The reason I am enjoying the book so much is due to Thompson’s freeness in the setting of Puerto Rico.  Although he has a solid job with a salary, his responsibilities are very lacking, I am living vicariously through Hunter, he’s like my personal Tyler Durden. 

“All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.”

 

Last night my friends and I were talking about how often our thoughts wander towards leaving everything we know here, and going someplace completely new.  Weeks go by where I think about it every day.  I wonder if that’s what growing up is, just being content with where you are?  Gone are the days when you could just leave home and wander through the U.S. hitchhiking with no plan in mind “finding your way”.

Not all those who wander are lost

-Jimmi Hendrix