2007, Sony Picture Classics
Written/Directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
Starring: Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux, Danielle Darrieux, Simon Abkarian
I have a bit of a thing for French/Iranian far-left cartoon women, so this movie was kind of my territory. If you don’t know, Persepolis is a beautifully hand-drawn film based on an autobiographic graphic novel of the same name by Marjane Satrapi. It has a few flaws, but it’s very entertaining–assuming you can get past its blatant socialist message.
Continue reading ‘Persepolis’
The writers of Owl and Bear vs. Bill O’Reilly: our latest theme?
If you haven’t heard, Bill O’Reilly recently caught some flak for making a vaguely-racist comment about Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle. Someone called into his radio show and made comments indicating that she had an anger problem. O’Reilly insisted that they had to look into the facts more and, “I don’t want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there’s evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels.”
Continue reading ‘Bill O’Reilly: Still Racist’
In case I ever become famous and die under mysterious and/or sketchy circumstances, I have already instructed several close friends to release a statement to the press informing them officially that I suffered a heart attack while sodomizing an underage male prostitute. I’m not gay, nor do I have an affinity for sodomy with minors, nor do I have a weak heart; the idea is to horrify people so totally that they cut out any idle, empty, and meaningless speculation about my (hypothetical) death.
Continue reading ‘Please Preserve Ledger’s Dignity.’
2007, Absolutely Kosher
This new record from Frog Eyes sounds a bit like Arcade Fire, especially the layered sound and vocal style. The difference is that this is a little less homogeneous, and a little less organized.
Continue reading ‘Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian’
2007, Self-Released, TBD Records, XL Recordings
Alright, so the dust has finally cleared from the hype surrounding In Rainbows, Radiohead’s groundbreaking new album.
Although it was more than excellent that the innovative release method used by the (at the time unsigned) band dealt the first of (hopefully) many blows to the (hopefully) dying record industry, the unorthodox method pretty much overshadowed In Rainbows‘ actual music, and will probably do the same for future generations. If you’re reading this site, chances are you’re already aware of what exactly Radiohead did differently with the release of this album, so we’ll focus on the music.
Continue reading ‘Radiohead - In Rainbows’
2007, Sub Pop
Flight of the Conchords is some hilarious stuff; one might call them a “funny Tenacious D.”
Continue reading ‘Flight of the Conchords - The Distant Future EP’
2007, Capitol
Seems like a phishing scheme: packaging the same mastering of an album twice in the same package?
Granted, the first disc is in mono, the second in stereo, but it still seems phishy.
Continue reading ‘Pink Floyd - Piper At The Gates of Dawn 40th Anniversary Special Edition (Three Disc Version)’
Cross item number fourteen of my list of things to do before I die: I have seen Bob Dylan (number fifteen, touch Dylan, is still unaccomplished).
Continue reading ‘Review: Bob Dylan & Elvis Costello; Saturday, October 20, 2007; Us Cellular Coliseum, Bloomington, IL’
2007, Sub Pop
This is easily my favorite Iron & Wine album to date. No question. Unlike Sam Beam’s previous effort, Our Endless Numbered Days, every single song is completely solid, and no less than four are absolutely stellar. No question, I enjoy Beam’s past work a good deal. But, in my opinion, previous Iron & Wine albums have been inconsistent and hit-or-miss.
Continue reading ‘Iron & Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog’
There are three separate and distinct Ryan Adams stage personas: the folk guitarist of his early solo years, the front-man for a band that sounds suspiciously like the Grateful Dead, and bad alternative country heartthrob. At Foellinger Auditorium last Thursday, we got a taste of the last two, with a side bonus of the pissy wannabe-rock star Ryan Adams that started showing up a few weeks back. It’s a shame, though, because it a solo acoustic show in the very intimate Foellinger could’ve been great.
Continue reading ‘Review: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals; October 4, 2007 at Foellinger Auditorium; Chicago, IL’
2007, XL Recordings
Photo by zabzoog
Devendra Banhart is criticized for the repetitive nature of many of his songs. This record is not like that at all, however, as the songs genre-hop more then Beck’s last LP.
Continue reading ‘Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon’
2007, Bombs Over Bellevue
Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground made an interesting choice, to release a debut album as a live album, claiming on tape that you are doing it as a “free sort of thing over the internet,” and then releasing it as a two-disc CD/DVD package.
Continue reading ‘Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground - Live From The Pretty Parlor’
