I like Canada. I like Canadian culture, I like Canadians I like what Canadians do. I look for Canadian artists because music from my country means more to me then big names from outside. The sound is different. The feel is different. There's just something unique about things from Canada.
Broken Social Scene are Canadian. Feist is Canadian. Godspeed You! Black Emperor are Canadian. Boards of Canada, however, are not Canadian. They're Scottish. Nothing against the Scots or anything, but I don't live in Scotland so I usually don't care about Scottish music. But, as previously mentioned, I like Canada and even name-dropping the country is usually enough to spark my interest. Boards of Canada, despite their country of origin, manage to capture something that most people who grew up in Canada the 70s & 80s can relate to: Canadian independent film.
Take yourself back to the 80s if you were lucky enough to be a child/teenager during that time. Once you're there check out some of these videos: http://www.hww.ca/media.asp?mcid=1 . Feeling all nostalgic? Good. Now pop on Boards of Canada's Music Has the Right to Children. If you're like me then you'll feel a warm sense of familiarity. I suppose it helps if you've got a healthy respect for Brian Eno as well as a lot of these songs feel like extensions of some of Eno's work in the 70s. The creepily haunting melodies that BoC conjure up are hypnotizing to say the least; ambient is the more mundane label put on them though it's hard to label a group ambient when you're apt to pay so much attention to the sound. BoC, unfortunately, like to keep a low profile; they've only released four major albums since 1994. Their particular style of putting a modern spin on vintage sounds is something I haven't head since but is echoed in the more peaceful works of Aphex Twin, Stereolab and Four Tet.
Music Has The Right To Children is a masterwork of electronic music on par with Kraftwerk and Eno and Aphex Twin. BoC's recent albums are a well received extension of the beautiful sound but for any dedicated fan of the band it's a long dry wait for more.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Damn those rhythm games
I just spent the last few days beating Osu Tatakae Ouendan 2 and I finally did it. So much friggin frustration! Not only that around the same time I unlocked the 'hidden mode' that just makes everything that much harder. Don't think I'll be wasting my time with that one though.
As for the game itself it definitely has something for fans of the series. The songs aren't the best but the hard and very hard difficulties are challenging even if you've mastered either Elite Beat Agents or OTO 1. Maybe if I could understand it I'd check out the wireless mode.
As for the game itself it definitely has something for fans of the series. The songs aren't the best but the hard and very hard difficulties are challenging even if you've mastered either Elite Beat Agents or OTO 1. Maybe if I could understand it I'd check out the wireless mode.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Filmday
In keeping with this weekends theme of staying in I had all the time in the world today to indulge my movie addiction. Todays fare was a big one:
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Thriller
Master of the Flying Guilliotine
8 1/2
Kill Bill is an old favourite of mine and I enjoyed it all the more after not seeing it for a while and thru my recent binge of watching films that Tarantino borrowed from. I always get a little teary eyed at the end when Beatrix and B.B. get reunited. It was also fitting that I catch up on that as the next two movies were sources of inspiration for the Kill Bills.
Thriller: A Cruel Picture is the movie that Elle Driver's character was somewhat based off of. I've got to say that I haven't watched many other films that are so out front with evil acts. Madeline, the girl with the eye patch, is raped as a child, is a mute her entire life, gets kidnapped by a pimp and forcibly addicted to heroin to keep her compliant. The first half of the movie is Madeline's life getting worse and worse and worse including a lot of hardcore sex scenes. I hear the english version doesn't include these scenes and that they got it banned in Sweden. They are a little gratuitious at times but the first time you see her get climbed on and fucked you really get a sense of desparation and pity for the poor girl and disgust for the people who caused it to happen. It makes the whole revenge section all the more enjoyable. Madeline finds out that her parents were sent several letters in her name and were so dejected they commited suicide. One-Eye learns to fight, shoot and drive all while attempting to handle her heroin addiction. The final revenge section where she seeks out all her "clients" and the man who kidnapped her in the first place is pretty satisfying and there are a lot of cheap but fun scenes including Madeline going around in a black trenchcoat and eyepatch with a sawed off shotgun and some very Matrix looking slow motion scenes whenever she shoots. I'm glad I watched it but I don't think I'd rewatch anytime soon.
Next up was Master of the Flying Guillotine. Man was this funny. In typical Shaw Brothers fashion every punch and kick and throw is associated with a special effect noise. The music that plays when the Master is on screen is great, and appears in some of the kung-fu scenes in Kill Bill Vol. 1. The Flying Guillotine itself is awesome. It's a beekeeper hat on a chain that lands on your head and sticks out little blades that lop the targets head off. The One Armed Boxer killed the Masters diciples and Master is out for revenge. Not much else plot-wise but the kung-fu is hilarious, especially that of the Yoga Master who can extend his arms an extra few feet andd has the most rediculious prop arms I've ever seen. Just a tonne of fun little scenes and style in this.
And finally I finally managed to catch 8 1/2. I got a Citizen Kane vibe when I finished watching it. I understood most of it but it seemed like I was missing something. I checked out a plot synapsis and it made the movie a little more clear to think about but I still haven't really let it digest much yet. Don't get me wrong, it was really good but thinking movies have to sit with me a little while before I can make anything out of them.
Alright. That's enough film for tonight. Job hunting tomorrow time to get a little more agressive about it.
Kill Bill Vol. 2
Thriller
Master of the Flying Guilliotine
8 1/2
Kill Bill is an old favourite of mine and I enjoyed it all the more after not seeing it for a while and thru my recent binge of watching films that Tarantino borrowed from. I always get a little teary eyed at the end when Beatrix and B.B. get reunited. It was also fitting that I catch up on that as the next two movies were sources of inspiration for the Kill Bills.
Thriller: A Cruel Picture is the movie that Elle Driver's character was somewhat based off of. I've got to say that I haven't watched many other films that are so out front with evil acts. Madeline, the girl with the eye patch, is raped as a child, is a mute her entire life, gets kidnapped by a pimp and forcibly addicted to heroin to keep her compliant. The first half of the movie is Madeline's life getting worse and worse and worse including a lot of hardcore sex scenes. I hear the english version doesn't include these scenes and that they got it banned in Sweden. They are a little gratuitious at times but the first time you see her get climbed on and fucked you really get a sense of desparation and pity for the poor girl and disgust for the people who caused it to happen. It makes the whole revenge section all the more enjoyable. Madeline finds out that her parents were sent several letters in her name and were so dejected they commited suicide. One-Eye learns to fight, shoot and drive all while attempting to handle her heroin addiction. The final revenge section where she seeks out all her "clients" and the man who kidnapped her in the first place is pretty satisfying and there are a lot of cheap but fun scenes including Madeline going around in a black trenchcoat and eyepatch with a sawed off shotgun and some very Matrix looking slow motion scenes whenever she shoots. I'm glad I watched it but I don't think I'd rewatch anytime soon.
Next up was Master of the Flying Guillotine. Man was this funny. In typical Shaw Brothers fashion every punch and kick and throw is associated with a special effect noise. The music that plays when the Master is on screen is great, and appears in some of the kung-fu scenes in Kill Bill Vol. 1. The Flying Guillotine itself is awesome. It's a beekeeper hat on a chain that lands on your head and sticks out little blades that lop the targets head off. The One Armed Boxer killed the Masters diciples and Master is out for revenge. Not much else plot-wise but the kung-fu is hilarious, especially that of the Yoga Master who can extend his arms an extra few feet andd has the most rediculious prop arms I've ever seen. Just a tonne of fun little scenes and style in this.
And finally I finally managed to catch 8 1/2. I got a Citizen Kane vibe when I finished watching it. I understood most of it but it seemed like I was missing something. I checked out a plot synapsis and it made the movie a little more clear to think about but I still haven't really let it digest much yet. Don't get me wrong, it was really good but thinking movies have to sit with me a little while before I can make anything out of them.
Alright. That's enough film for tonight. Job hunting tomorrow time to get a little more agressive about it.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Movie Addiction
Death Proof has changed my life.
From almost the minute I left the theater after watching Grindhouse I told myself "I'm going to watch Vanishing Point." It was a pretty innocent goal, watch the movie that Death Proof takes the most after and enjoy it all the more.
But I couldn't stop. The car fascination hasn't gone away. It was sparked by something as innocent as a "watch this cool Top Gear video" and expanded into a love of cars and what they symbolize. Freedom, grit, "badass", guts. Call it what you will. I'm hooked on it and film has been the way that I've embraced it.
I was on the crosstown arterial the other night and had the urge to just floor it. I barely topped 150kph but it made me feel energetic and alive. It was a taste of guts. I've been missing a lot of things these past several months. Things I dream about but that always elude me. I feel like I've run dry of inspiration and that nothing drives me anymore. I felt that driving force last night. Even tonight I went for a walk and it hit me that I need action to keep me normal. I like attitude and speed and noise and taking control of what's given to you. I think this has been my roadblock all these months. Doing things that I think are really just what people expect.
Anyway, I've been awakening my inner drive for adventure with movies these days. Here's the list I've made:
Death Race 2000
The Cannonball Run
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Blues Brothers
Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
8 1/2
North By Northwest
The Big Sleep
Gone in 60 Seconds
Thunder Road
The Italian Job
Brazil
City of God
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Modern Times
The Night of the Hunter
Touch of Evil
The Shining
Rear Window
Pan's Labyrinth
Oldboy
Annie Hall
The Driver
The French Connection
Ronin
The Gumball Rally
Lady Snowblood
Thriller - A Cruel Picture
Master of the Flying Guillotine
I FUCKING LOVE IT!
Watched Thunder Road and Lady Snowblood tonight. Thunder Road was alright but nothing to write home about but Lady Snowblood was INTENSE! So many scenes that redefined badass, one of the most hardboiled main characters ever and so much style you almost choke on it. I won't call it one of my favorite movies yet but I just might have to rewatch Samurai Spy and think about it.
Philosophic musings? Check. Recent media influence? Check.
It feels good to write again.
From almost the minute I left the theater after watching Grindhouse I told myself "I'm going to watch Vanishing Point." It was a pretty innocent goal, watch the movie that Death Proof takes the most after and enjoy it all the more.
But I couldn't stop. The car fascination hasn't gone away. It was sparked by something as innocent as a "watch this cool Top Gear video" and expanded into a love of cars and what they symbolize. Freedom, grit, "badass", guts. Call it what you will. I'm hooked on it and film has been the way that I've embraced it.
I was on the crosstown arterial the other night and had the urge to just floor it. I barely topped 150kph but it made me feel energetic and alive. It was a taste of guts. I've been missing a lot of things these past several months. Things I dream about but that always elude me. I feel like I've run dry of inspiration and that nothing drives me anymore. I felt that driving force last night. Even tonight I went for a walk and it hit me that I need action to keep me normal. I like attitude and speed and noise and taking control of what's given to you. I think this has been my roadblock all these months. Doing things that I think are really just what people expect.
Anyway, I've been awakening my inner drive for adventure with movies these days. Here's the list I've made:
Death Race 2000
The Cannonball Run
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
Blues Brothers
Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
8 1/2
North By Northwest
The Big Sleep
Gone in 60 Seconds
Thunder Road
The Italian Job
Brazil
City of God
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Modern Times
The Night of the Hunter
Touch of Evil
The Shining
Rear Window
Pan's Labyrinth
Oldboy
Annie Hall
The Driver
The French Connection
Ronin
The Gumball Rally
Lady Snowblood
Thriller - A Cruel Picture
Master of the Flying Guillotine
I FUCKING LOVE IT!
Watched Thunder Road and Lady Snowblood tonight. Thunder Road was alright but nothing to write home about but Lady Snowblood was INTENSE! So many scenes that redefined badass, one of the most hardboiled main characters ever and so much style you almost choke on it. I won't call it one of my favorite movies yet but I just might have to rewatch Samurai Spy and think about it.
Philosophic musings? Check. Recent media influence? Check.
It feels good to write again.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Oh the things that I do (and don't do) when drinking.
Weird time last night. Had a lot of fun, drank with Christina and other Distortion regulars but felt something was holding me back. I'm in a bit of an apathy rut, I think. There's been too much lounging and relaxing and not enough acting and doing the things that I need to. I didn't even leave the house today. Thought about calling some folk up to get a coffee but I was just too tired.
I keep learning new things about me lately. Some good, some bad. Maybe I'm thinking of it in taoist terms a little too much but it feels like there's a split between 'am' and 'want to be' that's causing a lot of dissonance.
Tomorrow's another day. Get a job. Read a book. Flirt with a pretty girl. Figure it out.
Weird time last night. Had a lot of fun, drank with Christina and other Distortion regulars but felt something was holding me back. I'm in a bit of an apathy rut, I think. There's been too much lounging and relaxing and not enough acting and doing the things that I need to. I didn't even leave the house today. Thought about calling some folk up to get a coffee but I was just too tired.
I keep learning new things about me lately. Some good, some bad. Maybe I'm thinking of it in taoist terms a little too much but it feels like there's a split between 'am' and 'want to be' that's causing a lot of dissonance.
Tomorrow's another day. Get a job. Read a book. Flirt with a pretty girl. Figure it out.
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