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!