Random Top Ten
Random Top Ten!
Top Ten Meals
Defined for these purposes as the "top ten dinner meals I most look to order at restaurants or eat with the family." No sandwiches, no snacks, no desserts, no fast food, but real meals.
10 - Pasta with Mushrooms
A restaurant by me does a wonderful job with this simple dish. An abundance of different mushroom types is the key.
9 - Eggplant Parmigiana
Love Mom's and Wife's homemade versions the best. Which is better? Like I'd ever say!
8 - Gnocchi with Red Clam Sauce
A regular Italian haunt when I lived in Morris county had a mix and match pasta and sauce option, which is where I first sampled this odd combo. Alas a good gnocchi is dismayingly hard to come by.
7 - Chicken Marsala
The wife makes a sublime rendition with baby bellas.
6 - Steak
Not that picky about the cut, really. Just a good steak.
5 - Crawfish Etoufee
The Jose Tejas' version is sublime. Sweet, sweet crayfish.
4. Fish Specials
A cheat, I know. But I'm always eager to try a good fish dish and like pretty much all kinds and all types of preparations. My favorite part of hearing the specials read.
3. Rack of Lamb
There's an old steakhouse in New York that, or so I've heard tell, serves a gargantuan and sublime "mutton (really lamb) chop that I'm dying to try.
2. Blackened Swordfish
A really fresh, not-long-out-of-the-sea swordfish steak hot off the iron and sizzling.
1. Braised Lamb Shank
A favorite local restaurant often has this on their menu, and it's my favorite meal. The lamb meat verily drips off the bone, and the accompanying ragu is only there as a coating. Meaty goodness.
Until Whenever
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Tosy and Cosh: The Soundtrack
A fun meme via Lefty. The putative soundtrack to my life described below was generated off a random iPod shuffle.
Opening credits: "The Birds" Benjamin Britten, A Ceremony of Carols
Angelic choir. Nice.
Waking up: "Drowning Man" - U2
A defeated, resigned, beginning to my day as I awake and ready for work. Accurate!
First day of school: "Helpless" - Neil Young
I apparently go to school in North Ontario.
Falling in love: "Interlude I" - Benjamin Britten, Peter Grimes
Tense and spooky music. A foreboding and ominous turn of events - will this love story not be a happy one?
First song: "Got a Devilish Grin" - Clint Mansell, Requiem for a Dream
My first song is a very tongue-in-cheek samba line.
Breaking up: "Hold Fast to Dreams" Dave Brubeck
Another oddly appropriate one; a bittersweet art song about not losing hope.
Prom: "Spirit on the Water" - Bob Dylan
I go to the prom in the 1930s, with Bob Dylan as bandleader. Sweet!
Life: "Merrily We Roll Along" - Stephen Sondheim
"Yesterday is done/See the pretty countryside/Everybody merrily, merrily rolling along." Perfect.
Mental Breakdown: "Superhuman" - Velvet Revolver
I breakdown to bad hard rock.
Driving: "An Cat Dubh" - U2
A moody drive in the dark, probably a foggy night.
Flashback: "The Monorail Song" - The Cast of The Simpsons
I flashback to the time I swindled a town of yellow rubes out of a ton of money.
Getting back together: "'Twas on a Holy Thursday" - William Bolcom
A cheery, joyous occasion!
Wedding: "How Can I Lose You?" - Adam Guettel
My love life is seemingly ominous always, as my bride leaves me on the altar.
Birth of Child: "Chega de Saudabe" - Antonio Carlos Jobim
My child is born to gentle bossa nova.
Final Battle: "4th of July" - U2
And a dull, meandering battle it is.
Death Scene: "Oxford Town" - Bob Dylan
I die to the strains of Dylan and his guitar, as I head off to an afterlife I seem to have dubbed "Oxford Town."
Funeral song: "Two Fairy Tales" - Stephen Sondheim
At my funeral my life is remembered in song and in fairy tale allegory.
End Credits: "Saul Has Slain His Thousands" - Alan Menken/Tim Rice
A triumphant tune plays out over the credits . . .
Until Whenever
A fun meme via Lefty. The putative soundtrack to my life described below was generated off a random iPod shuffle.
Opening credits: "The Birds" Benjamin Britten, A Ceremony of Carols
Angelic choir. Nice.
Waking up: "Drowning Man" - U2
A defeated, resigned, beginning to my day as I awake and ready for work. Accurate!
First day of school: "Helpless" - Neil Young
I apparently go to school in North Ontario.
Falling in love: "Interlude I" - Benjamin Britten, Peter Grimes
Tense and spooky music. A foreboding and ominous turn of events - will this love story not be a happy one?
First song: "Got a Devilish Grin" - Clint Mansell, Requiem for a Dream
My first song is a very tongue-in-cheek samba line.
Breaking up: "Hold Fast to Dreams" Dave Brubeck
Another oddly appropriate one; a bittersweet art song about not losing hope.
Prom: "Spirit on the Water" - Bob Dylan
I go to the prom in the 1930s, with Bob Dylan as bandleader. Sweet!
Life: "Merrily We Roll Along" - Stephen Sondheim
"Yesterday is done/See the pretty countryside/Everybody merrily, merrily rolling along." Perfect.
Mental Breakdown: "Superhuman" - Velvet Revolver
I breakdown to bad hard rock.
Driving: "An Cat Dubh" - U2
A moody drive in the dark, probably a foggy night.
Flashback: "The Monorail Song" - The Cast of The Simpsons
I flashback to the time I swindled a town of yellow rubes out of a ton of money.
Getting back together: "'Twas on a Holy Thursday" - William Bolcom
A cheery, joyous occasion!
Wedding: "How Can I Lose You?" - Adam Guettel
My love life is seemingly ominous always, as my bride leaves me on the altar.
Birth of Child: "Chega de Saudabe" - Antonio Carlos Jobim
My child is born to gentle bossa nova.
Final Battle: "4th of July" - U2
And a dull, meandering battle it is.
Death Scene: "Oxford Town" - Bob Dylan
I die to the strains of Dylan and his guitar, as I head off to an afterlife I seem to have dubbed "Oxford Town."
Funeral song: "Two Fairy Tales" - Stephen Sondheim
At my funeral my life is remembered in song and in fairy tale allegory.
End Credits: "Saul Has Slain His Thousands" - Alan Menken/Tim Rice
A triumphant tune plays out over the credits . . .
Until Whenever
Monday, February 19, 2007
Checking in with the Girls
(Gilmore Girls spoilers lie ahead)
So we're a good halfway through (little more, I think, actually) the first Sherman-Palladino-less season of Gilmore Girls and from what I've read, the critics and pop-culture bloggers of the land are less than thrilled. The bloom is off the rose, and I haven't read nary a critic or blogger express much of a desire for the show to get another season. And while I concede some of their points, I have to admit to being impressed with what new producer Daniel Rosenthal and his crew have done with the hand they've been dealt this season.
After all, the decision to have Lorelai leave longtime-flame-more-recent-beau Luke and hop into her daughter's father's bed was the previous regime's, not his. And the impulse surely must have been there to write away that development, much reviled by GG fans, as quickly as possible. But no, they took their time and dealt with it fairly organically, to the point that it was only finally resolved with the dissolution of that relationship last week. But what really compelled me to post was one recent moment in particular.
The catalyst for the breakup of Chris and Lorelai is a character reference Lorelai writes for Luke to help him get partial custody of his daughter. Chris finds the letter and pretty much loses it. Nothing fancy going on so far. But what I really loved is how they made it clear without ever hitting us over the head with it that the real reason Chris gets so angry, is that the letter, without meaning to, points up what a poor father he was to Rory. As the letter points out, Luke was always there for the two Gilmore girls. And, even with all of the stuff that's happened, he always will be there. And Chris wasn't. And in the episode immediately following, he once again isn't. We never hear Lorelai tell him that his absence still hurts after all these years; we never hear Chris get defensive about his absence. But it sits there, in our view but un-highlighted, as the real reason for his anger, as the real reason for Lorelai's inability, much as she might wish to, to truly trust him (which is why she can't, in the end, love him, trust being so critical to love). It's a subtle bit of writing that I haven't seen credited anywhere, and that I want to, in my very small way, acknowledge.
Yes, Gilmore Girls has had its moments of flailing this year (and last). But it still does a lot of things exceptionally well.
Until Whenever
(Gilmore Girls spoilers lie ahead)
So we're a good halfway through (little more, I think, actually) the first Sherman-Palladino-less season of Gilmore Girls and from what I've read, the critics and pop-culture bloggers of the land are less than thrilled. The bloom is off the rose, and I haven't read nary a critic or blogger express much of a desire for the show to get another season. And while I concede some of their points, I have to admit to being impressed with what new producer Daniel Rosenthal and his crew have done with the hand they've been dealt this season.
After all, the decision to have Lorelai leave longtime-flame-more-recent-beau Luke and hop into her daughter's father's bed was the previous regime's, not his. And the impulse surely must have been there to write away that development, much reviled by GG fans, as quickly as possible. But no, they took their time and dealt with it fairly organically, to the point that it was only finally resolved with the dissolution of that relationship last week. But what really compelled me to post was one recent moment in particular.
The catalyst for the breakup of Chris and Lorelai is a character reference Lorelai writes for Luke to help him get partial custody of his daughter. Chris finds the letter and pretty much loses it. Nothing fancy going on so far. But what I really loved is how they made it clear without ever hitting us over the head with it that the real reason Chris gets so angry, is that the letter, without meaning to, points up what a poor father he was to Rory. As the letter points out, Luke was always there for the two Gilmore girls. And, even with all of the stuff that's happened, he always will be there. And Chris wasn't. And in the episode immediately following, he once again isn't. We never hear Lorelai tell him that his absence still hurts after all these years; we never hear Chris get defensive about his absence. But it sits there, in our view but un-highlighted, as the real reason for his anger, as the real reason for Lorelai's inability, much as she might wish to, to truly trust him (which is why she can't, in the end, love him, trust being so critical to love). It's a subtle bit of writing that I haven't seen credited anywhere, and that I want to, in my very small way, acknowledge.
Yes, Gilmore Girls has had its moments of flailing this year (and last). But it still does a lot of things exceptionally well.
Until Whenever
Stupid Real-Life
Sorry about the absence. Real-life gets in the way sometimes, and that's all there is to it.
Just saw this bit of news (via Pop Candy) and was tantalized greatly. Read the link for more details but the takeaways are:
Lord of the Rings film composer Howard Shore, whose Ring score will surely stand as one of the 21st Century's most lasting contributions to the genre, has written an opera.
The opera is based on David Cronenberg's The Fly.
Cronenberg himself will direct.
Placido Domingo will conduct.
David Henry Hwang, who wrote the brilliant M. Butterfly wrote the libretto.
Seriously - how cool is that?
Until Whenever
Sorry about the absence. Real-life gets in the way sometimes, and that's all there is to it.
Just saw this bit of news (via Pop Candy) and was tantalized greatly. Read the link for more details but the takeaways are:
Lord of the Rings film composer Howard Shore, whose Ring score will surely stand as one of the 21st Century's most lasting contributions to the genre, has written an opera.
The opera is based on David Cronenberg's The Fly.
Cronenberg himself will direct.
Placido Domingo will conduct.
David Henry Hwang, who wrote the brilliant M. Butterfly wrote the libretto.
Seriously - how cool is that?
Until Whenever
Friday, February 09, 2007
Epics
Via Pop Candy, I see this list of favorite ten minute-plus songs. Of course, I couldn't resist listing mine (in length order).
1. "Underture" - The Who - Tommy (10:05)
One of my favorite Tommy tracks, and quite possibly my favorite instrumental rock track ever. What's remarkable is how, with no lyrics to fall back on and a fairly simple, repetitive hook, they still manage to spin a compelling, cohesive musical statement together.
2. "Sinnerman" - Nina Simone - The Essential Nina Simone (10:19)
A remarkable piece of folky, funky, traditional spiritual sounding music. Used to great effect in the climax of The Thomas Crown Affair.
3. "Natural Beauty" - Neil Young - Harvest Moon (10:23)
Slow, languid, and just a little touch of melancholy. A leisurely, patient stroll through what is at heart a simple song.
2. "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" - Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (11:19)
Dylan loves his long songs and this is one of the best. I love how it unfolds.
1. "Highlands" - Bob Dylan- Time Out of Mind (16:31)
The longest "song" in my collection. Pretty much a complete short story told through multiple casual verses. Brilliant.
Until Whenever
Via Pop Candy, I see this list of favorite ten minute-plus songs. Of course, I couldn't resist listing mine (in length order).
1. "Underture" - The Who - Tommy (10:05)
One of my favorite Tommy tracks, and quite possibly my favorite instrumental rock track ever. What's remarkable is how, with no lyrics to fall back on and a fairly simple, repetitive hook, they still manage to spin a compelling, cohesive musical statement together.
2. "Sinnerman" - Nina Simone - The Essential Nina Simone (10:19)
A remarkable piece of folky, funky, traditional spiritual sounding music. Used to great effect in the climax of The Thomas Crown Affair.
3. "Natural Beauty" - Neil Young - Harvest Moon (10:23)
Slow, languid, and just a little touch of melancholy. A leisurely, patient stroll through what is at heart a simple song.
2. "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" - Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (11:19)
Dylan loves his long songs and this is one of the best. I love how it unfolds.
1. "Highlands" - Bob Dylan- Time Out of Mind (16:31)
The longest "song" in my collection. Pretty much a complete short story told through multiple casual verses. Brilliant.
Until Whenever
Something in My Eye
EW's PopWatch blog has a neat post and comments thread running now about TV moments that made you cry. I could list many, but I'll settle for one no one in the thread mentioned . A late-in-the-run All in the Family, when Michael and Gloria move to California. The end of the ep has Gloria and Edith in tears saying their goodbyes, and when Gloria runs to the cab crying Edith can't bear to watch and runs back inside. Leaving Archie and Mike on the porch. A clearly choked-up Mike, if memory serves without looking directly at Archie, says something to the effect of "I know you always thought I hated you Arch. But I want you to know. I love you." He then gives Archie a fierce hug as Archie looks straight ahead, clearly moved and trying not to show it, saying nothing. Mike runs of the porch to the cab and Archie tries, mostly successfully but not completely, to hold back tears. Beautifully played and executed.
Until Whenever
EW's PopWatch blog has a neat post and comments thread running now about TV moments that made you cry. I could list many, but I'll settle for one no one in the thread mentioned . A late-in-the-run All in the Family, when Michael and Gloria move to California. The end of the ep has Gloria and Edith in tears saying their goodbyes, and when Gloria runs to the cab crying Edith can't bear to watch and runs back inside. Leaving Archie and Mike on the porch. A clearly choked-up Mike, if memory serves without looking directly at Archie, says something to the effect of "I know you always thought I hated you Arch. But I want you to know. I love you." He then gives Archie a fierce hug as Archie looks straight ahead, clearly moved and trying not to show it, saying nothing. Mike runs of the porch to the cab and Archie tries, mostly successfully but not completely, to hold back tears. Beautifully played and executed.
Until Whenever
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
At Long Last
Lost returns tonight, and I am eager and giddy with anticipation. While reports from critics and bloggers may indicate that many have lost their passion for the show, I haven't at all. The fall's six-episode arc may have left many cold, but I liked it just fine. My suspicion is that much of the problem lay not with the story itself, but with (irony of ironies) how they had to rush through the "Jack, Sawyer, and Kate are kidnapped" story in six straight eps, as opposed to taking maybe 10 or 11 to get to the same point, as I suspect they would have in a normally structured season. The necessity of such a structure made the pushing of many characters almost completely off-screen unavoidable, and I think it's left a bad taste in many mouths. But after what I assume will be a more or less conclusion to that arc tonight, I imagine we can expect to get back to the core cast pretty quickly. So, no, I'm not apathetic, or less interested than I was in September. Not at all.
One related aside: I've read from dozens of people how stupid it is, how straining the bounds of suspended disbelief it is, that Jack, with Ben on the operating table in the fall finale, doesn't ask for a boat, or a phone, but merely for Kate and Sawyer to be released. But he's got a very limited window of opportunity here. After all, if he does let Ben die he loses any power he has. There's simply no time for a boat, and it's not as if he can assume that they have a portable phone they can just bring him. So he asks for something the time frame won't effect. Made sense to me.
Until Whenever
Lost returns tonight, and I am eager and giddy with anticipation. While reports from critics and bloggers may indicate that many have lost their passion for the show, I haven't at all. The fall's six-episode arc may have left many cold, but I liked it just fine. My suspicion is that much of the problem lay not with the story itself, but with (irony of ironies) how they had to rush through the "Jack, Sawyer, and Kate are kidnapped" story in six straight eps, as opposed to taking maybe 10 or 11 to get to the same point, as I suspect they would have in a normally structured season. The necessity of such a structure made the pushing of many characters almost completely off-screen unavoidable, and I think it's left a bad taste in many mouths. But after what I assume will be a more or less conclusion to that arc tonight, I imagine we can expect to get back to the core cast pretty quickly. So, no, I'm not apathetic, or less interested than I was in September. Not at all.
One related aside: I've read from dozens of people how stupid it is, how straining the bounds of suspended disbelief it is, that Jack, with Ben on the operating table in the fall finale, doesn't ask for a boat, or a phone, but merely for Kate and Sawyer to be released. But he's got a very limited window of opportunity here. After all, if he does let Ben die he loses any power he has. There's simply no time for a boat, and it's not as if he can assume that they have a portable phone they can just bring him. So he asks for something the time frame won't effect. Made sense to me.
Until Whenever
My Ka: $3.99 a month for Seven Months
Well over a year ago, Marvel put out a press release trumpeting that Stephen King would be producing his first-ever comic. The very carefully worded release, very deliberately I'm sure, gave off the impression that King would be writing the comic and that the content would be new stories about the young Gunslinger, Roland Deschain, the central character in King's epic seven-novel Dark Tower series.
Over the last year, it became clear that the comic would not actually be written by, but merely overseen by, King, (Peter David does the actual scripting) and that it would be primarily a retelling of stories already told in the Dark Tower novels.
Today, the first issue of the series was released. And, because it's Stephen King and I simply could not resist, I bought it.
And liked it. Mostly. No; it's not what I had imagined when I first read that press release fifteen or so months ago. But it is a faithful and engaging translation of the deep and wonderful world King created through those seven novels. Peter David does a faithful job of aping King's style and of appropriating all of the relevant modes of speech, dialects, and lingo the novels are written with. But artist Jae Lee, as respected and obviously gifted as he is, seems the wrong choice for this world. The bizarre mix of Old West, sci-fi, and fantasy that King stirred up to create the world of the Dark Tower requires a less polished and abstract style than Lee's, a less pretty style. for all of Lee's talents, his faces have a certain sameness to them,and his rendition of the young Roland looks pretty much like all of his previous young, arrogant, vaguely Asian-looking protagonists. I was hoping for a more muscular style, a grittier, more realistic look that could better capture the wasted landscape and weathered characters King describes.
Be that as it may, there's something to be sad for the fact that I will continue to get the monthly issues of this book despite my heavy misgivings about the art, and despite the fact that I know the story already and expect to be surprised by very little. And maybe that something that's to be said is more about my gullibility and weakness in the face of the mighty Marvel hype machine. But maybe it says something as well about the enduring power and heft of the world and characters King has created. Most likely, of course, it's a little of both.
Until Whenever
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Random Top Ten
Random Top Ten!!
Top Ten Simpsons Musical Numbers
Ground rules - no new lyrics to existing songs (so now "Talkin' Baseball," for example), but only new music and lyrics considered:
10 - "Baby on Board" - "Baby on board, how I've adored,/That sign on my car's windowpane"
9 - "Capital City" - "It's the kind of place that makes a bum feel like a king./And it makes a king feel like some nutty, cuckoo, super-king"
8 - "Senor Burns" - "So I'll settle my score on the salsa floor/With this vengeful Latin rhythm"
7 - "We Do (the Stonecutter's Song)" - "Who holds back the electric car?/Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?/We do! We do!"
8 - "Senor Burns" - "So I'll settle my score on the salsa floor/With this vengeful Latin rhythm"
7 - "We Do (the Stonecutter's Song)" - "Who holds back the electric car?/Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?/We do! We do!"
6 - "The Monorail Song" - "But Main Street's still all cracked and broken/Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!"
5 - "Springfield! Springfield!" - "Let's go crazy, Broadway style!"
4 - "Stop the Planet of the Apes" - "What's wrong with me?/I think you're crazy/I want a second opinion/You're also lazy"
3 - "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpliala(Annoyed Grunt)Cious" - "And so, let us leave/On this heartwarming scene/Can I be a boozehound?/Not till you're fifteen."
2 - "An Amendment to Be" - "There's a lot of flag-burners/Who've got too much freedom/I want to make it legal/For policemen to beat'em/'Cause there's limits to our liberties/At least I hope and pray that there are/'Cause those liberal freaks go too far. "
1 - "Oh Streetcar!" - "You can always depend on/The kindness of strangers/To pluck up your spirits/And shield you from dangers/Now here's a tip from Blanche you won't regret/A stranger's just a friend you haven't met/You haven't met/STREETCAR!"
Until Whenever
Until Whenever
Monday, February 05, 2007
Catching Up
My pitiful accounting of films I've seen in 2006 is ever-so-slightly less pitiful now. In the last few weeks I've seen:
Friends with Money - A great cast (Frances McCormand is, in particular, just great; Joan Cusack gets to play a much more real character than the sometimes sitcom-wacky characters she often essays; and Jenifer Aniston proves again that she's got some chops at least) in the service of a wan, plotless, insular little script. That makes it sound like I hated it, but I actually found it at least mildly entertaining, if primarily for those performances. But in the end, the core hook of four female friends, three rich one not wasn't enough to hang a movie on. Still, the script did nail some nicely understated very real-feeling insights, especially through the angry mid-life despair of McCormand's character.
Thanks for Smoking - Highly entertaining and snappy, if in the end somewhat less than the sum of its parts. Aaron Eckhart is slickly great in the lead and (with the exception of a miscast Katie Holmes - whose biggest burden, I think, is that she still plays on screen like a kid, not an adult--and I don't think it's due to anything she's doing, either; I don't think she can do anything about it) the supporting cast is great, but the big ending falls kind of flat. The film tries to mock with high satire both the busybodies who would stop competent adults from smoking if they want to and the hypocritical unfeeling tobacco industry itself, and fails to toe that admittedly vanishingly thin line all the way through.
The Illusionist - Beautifully filmed, gorgeous to look at and with a should-have-been-a-contender supporting performance from a wonderful Paul Giamatti. Two big problems though: We are supposed to believe that at least some of the remarkable tricks the titular stage magician performs are just that - tricks. But when they are executed for us on screen with very obvious CGI magic, there's a disconnect I couldn't get past. Two, the final-moment twist, designed to make us question all that's come before, is executed far too quickly. It may be that the intent is to put that twist in doubt as well - whether the twist is "real" is ambiguous. But the effect is to make the viewer feel as if he's been hoodwinked - as if he hasn't been played fair with. I can deal with ambiguity in films, even in their conclusions, but the build up here was too unambiguous, too traditional in structure and build, to sustain such a wishy-washy climax.
Until Whenever
My pitiful accounting of films I've seen in 2006 is ever-so-slightly less pitiful now. In the last few weeks I've seen:
Friends with Money - A great cast (Frances McCormand is, in particular, just great; Joan Cusack gets to play a much more real character than the sometimes sitcom-wacky characters she often essays; and Jenifer Aniston proves again that she's got some chops at least) in the service of a wan, plotless, insular little script. That makes it sound like I hated it, but I actually found it at least mildly entertaining, if primarily for those performances. But in the end, the core hook of four female friends, three rich one not wasn't enough to hang a movie on. Still, the script did nail some nicely understated very real-feeling insights, especially through the angry mid-life despair of McCormand's character.
Thanks for Smoking - Highly entertaining and snappy, if in the end somewhat less than the sum of its parts. Aaron Eckhart is slickly great in the lead and (with the exception of a miscast Katie Holmes - whose biggest burden, I think, is that she still plays on screen like a kid, not an adult--and I don't think it's due to anything she's doing, either; I don't think she can do anything about it) the supporting cast is great, but the big ending falls kind of flat. The film tries to mock with high satire both the busybodies who would stop competent adults from smoking if they want to and the hypocritical unfeeling tobacco industry itself, and fails to toe that admittedly vanishingly thin line all the way through.
The Illusionist - Beautifully filmed, gorgeous to look at and with a should-have-been-a-contender supporting performance from a wonderful Paul Giamatti. Two big problems though: We are supposed to believe that at least some of the remarkable tricks the titular stage magician performs are just that - tricks. But when they are executed for us on screen with very obvious CGI magic, there's a disconnect I couldn't get past. Two, the final-moment twist, designed to make us question all that's come before, is executed far too quickly. It may be that the intent is to put that twist in doubt as well - whether the twist is "real" is ambiguous. But the effect is to make the viewer feel as if he's been hoodwinked - as if he hasn't been played fair with. I can deal with ambiguity in films, even in their conclusions, but the build up here was too unambiguous, too traditional in structure and build, to sustain such a wishy-washy climax.
Until Whenever
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Art Meme
Sorry for the absence, but work and life have been kicking me around a bit - and likely will continue to for a while more. Nonetheless, here's a fun artsy meme from good 'ol Roger Green.
Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies
I gave my best friend a copy of The amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay I think four years ago. If he would ever give it back, it might be that one.
Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music
U2's Acthung Baby. When I first got this in 1991, as someone who had no real obsession for music until The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum turned him into a rabid U2 fan, I was dismayed. What was this noise? Why is Bono's voice distorted? What is going on?!?! But after several listens, I all of a sudden could hear the U2 ethos, spirit, and sound right there within the noise; and what was more the "noise" was adding very interesting, and in some cases beautiful, things to that U2 sound. Since then, I've always been very, very leery of dismissing any music after a few listens. And it's a strategy that has paid off - there have been man types of music that, after first disliking them, went on to become favorites (minimalism, Sondheim).
Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue:
Braveheart, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Fisher King, the Lord of the Rings films, many others. BUT - there are no films I can watch over and over again in quick succession without fatigue. I need a several-month break after seeing a film two or three times before I can watch it again and not be bored.
Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief
None, really. Even the best actors can't make me forget that I'm watching an "actor" without at least a decent script.
Name a work of art you’d like to live with
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Because of the Sondheim connection, of course.
Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life
Not sure what that means. But over the last two years, Edward P. Jones' The Known World has been hard for me to shake off.
Name a punch line that always makes you laugh:
Naked Gun 2 (or 3)
Robert Goulet Bad Guy (Has Drebben at gunpoint): Any last requests, Drebben?
Drebben: Can I . . . have the gun?
Until Whenever
Sorry for the absence, but work and life have been kicking me around a bit - and likely will continue to for a while more. Nonetheless, here's a fun artsy meme from good 'ol Roger Green.
Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies
I gave my best friend a copy of The amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay I think four years ago. If he would ever give it back, it might be that one.
Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music
U2's Acthung Baby. When I first got this in 1991, as someone who had no real obsession for music until The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum turned him into a rabid U2 fan, I was dismayed. What was this noise? Why is Bono's voice distorted? What is going on?!?! But after several listens, I all of a sudden could hear the U2 ethos, spirit, and sound right there within the noise; and what was more the "noise" was adding very interesting, and in some cases beautiful, things to that U2 sound. Since then, I've always been very, very leery of dismissing any music after a few listens. And it's a strategy that has paid off - there have been man types of music that, after first disliking them, went on to become favorites (minimalism, Sondheim).
Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue:
Braveheart, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Fisher King, the Lord of the Rings films, many others. BUT - there are no films I can watch over and over again in quick succession without fatigue. I need a several-month break after seeing a film two or three times before I can watch it again and not be bored.
Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief
None, really. Even the best actors can't make me forget that I'm watching an "actor" without at least a decent script.
Name a work of art you’d like to live with
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Because of the Sondheim connection, of course.
Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life
Not sure what that means. But over the last two years, Edward P. Jones' The Known World has been hard for me to shake off.
Name a punch line that always makes you laugh:
Naked Gun 2 (or 3)
Robert Goulet Bad Guy (Has Drebben at gunpoint): Any last requests, Drebben?
Drebben: Can I . . . have the gun?
Until Whenever
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Random Top Ten
Random Top Ten!!
Top Ten TV Characters
(Disclaimer - Not "of all time" - just my favorites)
10. Dr.Perry Cox (Scrubs)
They've done a fine job over the years of not softening him too much, and McGinley is not at all afraid to oversell the assholery.
9. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
I love that Whedon took this bubbly teenager and over seven seasons made her bitter and destructive and heroic and faithful all at the same time. Would have been easy to just play up the reluctant hero card over and over, but after a few seasons they mostly moved on from that.
8. George Costanza (Seinfeld)
That scene where George ponders career options ("I could be a sportscaster. I like sports") is one of my favorite scenes ever, and it nails how good a character George is - pathetic and likable and defeated and hopeful all at the same time.
7. Grace Manning (Once and Again)
The teen who did not go on to big Hollywood movies was actually the more interesting character on this all-time great family drama. Grace was insecure, needy, and childish without ever being the predictable TV-version of those things.
6. Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)
The great anti-hero of the TV landscape and the progenitor of a thousand successors to the throne. Such complexity and depth, but never at the expense of the fact that, at his core, he's a selfish, reprehensible thug.
5. Dan Conner (Roseanne)
The second-best TV Dad ever. Goodman's lack of an Emmy during his long run is a crime.
4. Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls) - The fun-loving, youthful, sassy, immature Mom would have been a pretty unique character all on its own. But that they made her a tad self-destructive with real emotional problems and a nasty core of selfishness made her great.
3. Jed Bartlet (The West Wing)
A fantasy, sure, but so what? A wonderfully balanced, very real-feeling character, with details to his backstory (direct descendant of a Declaration of Independence signer, the Nobel Prize for Economics, the smoking, the lapsed Catholicism) that made him feel like an organic creation, not an assembly of liberal dreams.
2. Dr. Jeffrey Geiger (Chicago Hope)
An egomaniacal bastard of a genius surgeon with out respect for anyone but the patients he can save who's perilous closeness to mental illness reveals itself through anguished singing of showtunes. David Kelly you magnificent bastard!
1. Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
There's something in Homer for all of us - the doomed dreams, the anger, the childishness, the ineptitude, the propensity towards failure, the buried love for family, the can-do-it spirit in the face of overwhelming contrary evidence - need I go on?
Until Whenever
Random Top Ten!!
Top Ten TV Characters
(Disclaimer - Not "of all time" - just my favorites)
10. Dr.Perry Cox (Scrubs)
They've done a fine job over the years of not softening him too much, and McGinley is not at all afraid to oversell the assholery.
9. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
I love that Whedon took this bubbly teenager and over seven seasons made her bitter and destructive and heroic and faithful all at the same time. Would have been easy to just play up the reluctant hero card over and over, but after a few seasons they mostly moved on from that.
8. George Costanza (Seinfeld)
That scene where George ponders career options ("I could be a sportscaster. I like sports") is one of my favorite scenes ever, and it nails how good a character George is - pathetic and likable and defeated and hopeful all at the same time.
7. Grace Manning (Once and Again)
The teen who did not go on to big Hollywood movies was actually the more interesting character on this all-time great family drama. Grace was insecure, needy, and childish without ever being the predictable TV-version of those things.
6. Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)
The great anti-hero of the TV landscape and the progenitor of a thousand successors to the throne. Such complexity and depth, but never at the expense of the fact that, at his core, he's a selfish, reprehensible thug.
5. Dan Conner (Roseanne)
The second-best TV Dad ever. Goodman's lack of an Emmy during his long run is a crime.
4. Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls) - The fun-loving, youthful, sassy, immature Mom would have been a pretty unique character all on its own. But that they made her a tad self-destructive with real emotional problems and a nasty core of selfishness made her great.
3. Jed Bartlet (The West Wing)
A fantasy, sure, but so what? A wonderfully balanced, very real-feeling character, with details to his backstory (direct descendant of a Declaration of Independence signer, the Nobel Prize for Economics, the smoking, the lapsed Catholicism) that made him feel like an organic creation, not an assembly of liberal dreams.
2. Dr. Jeffrey Geiger (Chicago Hope)
An egomaniacal bastard of a genius surgeon with out respect for anyone but the patients he can save who's perilous closeness to mental illness reveals itself through anguished singing of showtunes. David Kelly you magnificent bastard!
1. Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
There's something in Homer for all of us - the doomed dreams, the anger, the childishness, the ineptitude, the propensity towards failure, the buried love for family, the can-do-it spirit in the face of overwhelming contrary evidence - need I go on?
Until Whenever
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
And More and More Errata
I don't think I've ever seen fewer Oscar-nominated movies than I did this year. I saw Dreamgirls (my thoughts on that on are here). I saw the FX-nominated Superman Returns. And I think that's it. Pathetic.
So, since I can't really comment on the nominations, I'll respond to this meme, courtesy of Lefty Brown.
1) Do you have a crush on somebody?: I'm married; crushes are strictly verboten.
2) Do you hate more than 3 people?: Personally? I don't think so.
3) How many houses have you lived in?: Just houses, no apartments, puts it at six.
4) Favorite candy bar?: Baby Ruth, preferably with a large Coke with ice, so that the ice, Coke, and Baby Ruth can all be chewed together at the same time. No idea why I like that so much.
6) Have you ever tripped someone?: To my eternal shame, I'm sure I deliberately tripped my younger sisters a a kid.
7) Least favorite school subject?: History. I was good at Science and Math and English but never got into History. I could blame it on its being taught in a very dry way, but that feels like passing the buck.
8) How many pairs of shoes do you own?: 10, including boots. Which might be deemed excessive for a guy, but: old yardwork sneakers, regular sneakers, sneakers that stay in the gym locker at work, brown dress shoes, black dress shoes, brown casual shoes, loafers, beach shoes, workboots, and sandals for the summer.
9)Do you own a Britney Spears CD? I do not.
10) Have you ever thrown up in public?: I have not.
11) Name one thing that is always on your mind: The kids.
12) Favorite genre of music?: Good rock (defined liberally as rock I like).
13) What's your sign?: Virgo.
14) What time were you born?: No idea. I can never remember that.
15) Do you like beer?: I do not. I find even the smell nauseating.
16) Have you ever made a prank phone call?: I have not.
18) Are you sarcastic?: Very. It's a default defense mechanism, as the wife knows all too well.
19) What are your favorite colors?: Red and blue. Deep and bold.
20) How many watches do you own?: One that's needed a battery for over a year.
21) Summer or winter? Summer. I get cabin fever easily.
22) Is anyone in love with you?: Yes.
23) Favorite color to wear?: Non-colors. Gray, beige.
24) Pepsi or Sprite?: Pepsi, preferable Diet Cherry Pepsi.
25) What color is your cell phone?: Black and silver.
26) Where is your second home?: In my imagination, it's on a lake in New Hampshire. In reality, it does not exist.
27) Have you ever slapped someone?: I don't think I have. Punched, yes, but not slapped.
28) Have you ever had a cavity? Sure.
29) How many lamps are in your bedroom?: Three - a big floor lamp and two small ones on the nightstand. .
30) How many video games do you own?: Seven or so. Playstation I, baby!
31) What was your first pet?: A dog that "ran away." (Into traffic.)
32) Ever had braces?: No.
33) Do looks matter?: Of course.
34) Do you use chapstick?: No, but twice a year, when the weather changes, I require the application of Blistex.
35) Name 3 teachers from high school: Mr. Varjian (Best. Math. Teacher. Ever.). Mr. Cogger (Cancer is evil). Mr. Maxwell (Convinced me that singing was worth a shot).
36) American Eagle or Abercrombie?: And the care-o-meter plummets.
37) Are you too forgiving?: I'd say I'm forgiving enough.
38) How many children do you want?: Ideally, three, but I would be eternally happy if the two we have were all we were blessed with.
39) Do you own something from Hot Topic?: I do not.
40) Favorite breakfast meal: Corned beef hash and eggs sunny side up and potatoes all mixed together. Good eats.
41) Do you own a gun?: No.
42) Ever thought you were in love?: Just once. Still am.
43) When was the last time you cried?: Came perilously close watching Finding Nemo last night.
44) What did you do 3 nights ago?: Now THIS is freaky. Had takeout Olive Garden and watched Friends with Money.
45) Olive Garden?: SEE!?!?!
46) Have you ever called your teacher mommy?: Not sure, but I think I might have as a wee lad.
47) Have you ever been in a castle?: As a teen, three friends and I broke into an old abandoned castle. Good times.
48) Nicknames?: The guy who ran the rec center in my home town called me Supe, as in Superman (my hair does that curl-in-the-front-thing)
49) Do you know anyone named Bertha?: No Berthas.
50) Ever been to Kentucky?: Never.
51) Do you own something from Banana Republic?: No.
52) Are you thinking about somebody right now? Yes.
53) Ever called somebody Boo?: No.
54) Do you smoke?: No. Never tempted, either.
55) Do you own a diamond ring?: No.
56) Are you happy with your life right now?: Most of it. Live comfortably, have a loving wife, two adorable, good-natured, genius girls, a nice house, heat, food, never go wanting, don't worry about ends meeting. I have a severe dislike of my job, but that seems a small price to pay.
57) Do you dye your hair?: Never ever.
58) Does anyone have a crush on you?: I would hope the Wife does!
59) Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? Starbucks for lattes, DD for regular coffee.
60) What were you doing in May of 1994?: Finishing up my second year of college.
62) McDonald's or Wendy's?: It used to be Wendy's, but my little girls' love of the place has soured me somewhat.
63) Do you like yourself?: Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
64) Are you closer to your mother or father?: Mother. Divorce can do that.
65) Favorite physical feature of the preferred sex?: It's a cliche to say breasts, but damn it if it ain't the case.
66) Are you afraid of the dark?: No - when I was a kid, sure.
67) Have you ever eaten paste?: No.
68) Do you own a webcam?: Nope. No desire to either.
69) Have you ever stripped?: No. And the world breathes a sigh of relief.
70) Ever broke a bone?: Hairline fracture to the nose.
71) Are you religious?: Not at all.
72) Do you chat on AIM often?: No. Only very minimal use at work.
73) Pringles or Lays?: Lays. With dip.
74) Have you ever broken someone's heart?: I doubt it.
75) Rugrats or Doug?: Neither.
76) Full House or The Brady Bunch?: Brady Bunch at gunpoint.
77) Do you like your high school guidance counselor?: I barely remember my high school guidance counselor.
78) Has anyone ever called you fat?: My best friend, and the best man at my wedding, calls me Fat John - constantly.
79) Do you have a birth mark? None.
80) Do you own a car?: A Camry and a Mazda MPV.
81) Can you cook?: Only a little. Nothing to brag about, certainly.
84) Money or love?: Love.
85) Do you have any scars?: Yes--tore a slice of skin away from my thumb by pretending to dunk in the house and hitting the hanging lamp.
86) What do you want more than anything right now?: Time off. Sad, given how recently I had a good chunk of it.
87) Do you enjoy scary movies?: No.
88) Relationships or one night stands?: I'm most definitely a relationship kind of guy.
90) Do you enjoy greasy food?: Do some people not? I don't get it.
91) Have you seen all the Rocky movies?: No - haven't seen all of V or the new one.
92) Do you own a box of crayons?: A box? Hah.
93) Who was the last person that said they loved you?: My wife.
94) Who was the last person that made you cry?: My wife.
95) Who was the last person that made you laugh?: My daughter.
97) Who was the last person that called you? My dad.
Until Whenever
I don't think I've ever seen fewer Oscar-nominated movies than I did this year. I saw Dreamgirls (my thoughts on that on are here). I saw the FX-nominated Superman Returns. And I think that's it. Pathetic.
So, since I can't really comment on the nominations, I'll respond to this meme, courtesy of Lefty Brown.
1) Do you have a crush on somebody?: I'm married; crushes are strictly verboten.
2) Do you hate more than 3 people?: Personally? I don't think so.
3) How many houses have you lived in?: Just houses, no apartments, puts it at six.
4) Favorite candy bar?: Baby Ruth, preferably with a large Coke with ice, so that the ice, Coke, and Baby Ruth can all be chewed together at the same time. No idea why I like that so much.
6) Have you ever tripped someone?: To my eternal shame, I'm sure I deliberately tripped my younger sisters a a kid.
7) Least favorite school subject?: History. I was good at Science and Math and English but never got into History. I could blame it on its being taught in a very dry way, but that feels like passing the buck.
8) How many pairs of shoes do you own?: 10, including boots. Which might be deemed excessive for a guy, but: old yardwork sneakers, regular sneakers, sneakers that stay in the gym locker at work, brown dress shoes, black dress shoes, brown casual shoes, loafers, beach shoes, workboots, and sandals for the summer.
9)Do you own a Britney Spears CD? I do not.
10) Have you ever thrown up in public?: I have not.
11) Name one thing that is always on your mind: The kids.
12) Favorite genre of music?: Good rock (defined liberally as rock I like).
13) What's your sign?: Virgo.
14) What time were you born?: No idea. I can never remember that.
15) Do you like beer?: I do not. I find even the smell nauseating.
16) Have you ever made a prank phone call?: I have not.
18) Are you sarcastic?: Very. It's a default defense mechanism, as the wife knows all too well.
19) What are your favorite colors?: Red and blue. Deep and bold.
20) How many watches do you own?: One that's needed a battery for over a year.
21) Summer or winter? Summer. I get cabin fever easily.
22) Is anyone in love with you?: Yes.
23) Favorite color to wear?: Non-colors. Gray, beige.
24) Pepsi or Sprite?: Pepsi, preferable Diet Cherry Pepsi.
25) What color is your cell phone?: Black and silver.
26) Where is your second home?: In my imagination, it's on a lake in New Hampshire. In reality, it does not exist.
27) Have you ever slapped someone?: I don't think I have. Punched, yes, but not slapped.
28) Have you ever had a cavity? Sure.
29) How many lamps are in your bedroom?: Three - a big floor lamp and two small ones on the nightstand. .
30) How many video games do you own?: Seven or so. Playstation I, baby!
31) What was your first pet?: A dog that "ran away." (Into traffic.)
32) Ever had braces?: No.
33) Do looks matter?: Of course.
34) Do you use chapstick?: No, but twice a year, when the weather changes, I require the application of Blistex.
35) Name 3 teachers from high school: Mr. Varjian (Best. Math. Teacher. Ever.). Mr. Cogger (Cancer is evil). Mr. Maxwell (Convinced me that singing was worth a shot).
36) American Eagle or Abercrombie?: And the care-o-meter plummets.
37) Are you too forgiving?: I'd say I'm forgiving enough.
38) How many children do you want?: Ideally, three, but I would be eternally happy if the two we have were all we were blessed with.
39) Do you own something from Hot Topic?: I do not.
40) Favorite breakfast meal: Corned beef hash and eggs sunny side up and potatoes all mixed together. Good eats.
41) Do you own a gun?: No.
42) Ever thought you were in love?: Just once. Still am.
43) When was the last time you cried?: Came perilously close watching Finding Nemo last night.
44) What did you do 3 nights ago?: Now THIS is freaky. Had takeout Olive Garden and watched Friends with Money.
45) Olive Garden?: SEE!?!?!
46) Have you ever called your teacher mommy?: Not sure, but I think I might have as a wee lad.
47) Have you ever been in a castle?: As a teen, three friends and I broke into an old abandoned castle. Good times.
48) Nicknames?: The guy who ran the rec center in my home town called me Supe, as in Superman (my hair does that curl-in-the-front-thing)
49) Do you know anyone named Bertha?: No Berthas.
50) Ever been to Kentucky?: Never.
51) Do you own something from Banana Republic?: No.
52) Are you thinking about somebody right now? Yes.
53) Ever called somebody Boo?: No.
54) Do you smoke?: No. Never tempted, either.
55) Do you own a diamond ring?: No.
56) Are you happy with your life right now?: Most of it. Live comfortably, have a loving wife, two adorable, good-natured, genius girls, a nice house, heat, food, never go wanting, don't worry about ends meeting. I have a severe dislike of my job, but that seems a small price to pay.
57) Do you dye your hair?: Never ever.
58) Does anyone have a crush on you?: I would hope the Wife does!
59) Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? Starbucks for lattes, DD for regular coffee.
60) What were you doing in May of 1994?: Finishing up my second year of college.
62) McDonald's or Wendy's?: It used to be Wendy's, but my little girls' love of the place has soured me somewhat.
63) Do you like yourself?: Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
64) Are you closer to your mother or father?: Mother. Divorce can do that.
65) Favorite physical feature of the preferred sex?: It's a cliche to say breasts, but damn it if it ain't the case.
66) Are you afraid of the dark?: No - when I was a kid, sure.
67) Have you ever eaten paste?: No.
68) Do you own a webcam?: Nope. No desire to either.
69) Have you ever stripped?: No. And the world breathes a sigh of relief.
70) Ever broke a bone?: Hairline fracture to the nose.
71) Are you religious?: Not at all.
72) Do you chat on AIM often?: No. Only very minimal use at work.
73) Pringles or Lays?: Lays. With dip.
74) Have you ever broken someone's heart?: I doubt it.
75) Rugrats or Doug?: Neither.
76) Full House or The Brady Bunch?: Brady Bunch at gunpoint.
77) Do you like your high school guidance counselor?: I barely remember my high school guidance counselor.
78) Has anyone ever called you fat?: My best friend, and the best man at my wedding, calls me Fat John - constantly.
79) Do you have a birth mark? None.
80) Do you own a car?: A Camry and a Mazda MPV.
81) Can you cook?: Only a little. Nothing to brag about, certainly.
84) Money or love?: Love.
85) Do you have any scars?: Yes--tore a slice of skin away from my thumb by pretending to dunk in the house and hitting the hanging lamp.
86) What do you want more than anything right now?: Time off. Sad, given how recently I had a good chunk of it.
87) Do you enjoy scary movies?: No.
88) Relationships or one night stands?: I'm most definitely a relationship kind of guy.
90) Do you enjoy greasy food?: Do some people not? I don't get it.
91) Have you seen all the Rocky movies?: No - haven't seen all of V or the new one.
92) Do you own a box of crayons?: A box? Hah.
93) Who was the last person that said they loved you?: My wife.
94) Who was the last person that made you cry?: My wife.
95) Who was the last person that made you laugh?: My daughter.
97) Who was the last person that called you? My dad.
Until Whenever
Friday, January 19, 2007
Doin' the Friday Shuffle
1. "Love Walked In" - Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Songbook
Old-school Hollywood style - you can see the orchestra in their tuxes and the dance floor and the romantic leads dancing delicately together and falling in love as she sings.
2. "Childhood Remembered" - Danny Elfman - Batman (Score)
One of the score's less bombastic pieces. All hushed strings and ethereal choir.
3. "The Big Light (Live)" - Elvis Costello - King of America
From the bonus CD on the Rhino re-release. A rollicking, countrified rendition.
4. "Brilliant Disguise" - Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
A perfect pop song.
5. "Star to Follow" - Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Maybe a piece based almost entirely around voice wasn't the best choice for these guys.
6. "Workingman's Blues #2"- Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Sweet and crisp and dusky- you can feel the soft breeze and the setting of the sun.
7. "Let You Down" - Dave Matthews Band - Crash
The wife's. Don't really know this one.
8. "Under Your Spell/Standing (Reprise)" - Joss Whedon - Once More with Feeling
Haven't seen the Scrubs musical yet, but am guessing that this will remain the gold standard.
9. "She Loves You" - The Beatles - 1
Truth? I really don't like this song.
10. "Main Titles (Sommersby)" - Danny Elfman - Music for a Darkened Theater (Vol II)
One of Elfman's lost scores - nothing like his standard style, but more like a John Barry epic Western sound, really.
Until Whenever
1. "Love Walked In" - Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Songbook
Old-school Hollywood style - you can see the orchestra in their tuxes and the dance floor and the romantic leads dancing delicately together and falling in love as she sings.
2. "Childhood Remembered" - Danny Elfman - Batman (Score)
One of the score's less bombastic pieces. All hushed strings and ethereal choir.
3. "The Big Light (Live)" - Elvis Costello - King of America
From the bonus CD on the Rhino re-release. A rollicking, countrified rendition.
4. "Brilliant Disguise" - Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
A perfect pop song.
5. "Star to Follow" - Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Maybe a piece based almost entirely around voice wasn't the best choice for these guys.
6. "Workingman's Blues #2"- Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Sweet and crisp and dusky- you can feel the soft breeze and the setting of the sun.
7. "Let You Down" - Dave Matthews Band - Crash
The wife's. Don't really know this one.
8. "Under Your Spell/Standing (Reprise)" - Joss Whedon - Once More with Feeling
Haven't seen the Scrubs musical yet, but am guessing that this will remain the gold standard.
9. "She Loves You" - The Beatles - 1
Truth? I really don't like this song.
10. "Main Titles (Sommersby)" - Danny Elfman - Music for a Darkened Theater (Vol II)
One of Elfman's lost scores - nothing like his standard style, but more like a John Barry epic Western sound, really.
Until Whenever
Rather Like My Thighs
I make no bones about simply adoring the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. Saw it three times - once with my sisters, once with my other sister and brother and my father, and once with my wife, sister and brother-in-law and niece. I love the robust, full-flavored old-school score Alan Menken and Howard Ashman fashioned for the film and how it seamlessly transitioned to the Broadway stage. I love the very of-a-piece new songs Menken wrote with Tim Rice--the fact that in the Broadway version the Beast gets to sing is no minor thing in my eyes. (And the song he does sing, "If I Can't Love Her" is a gorgeous piece of music, and one that takes some of its internal melodies and harmonic ideas from music that was already in the film - the bridge takes the melody that underscores the opening narration). I love that they did such a fine job of crafting an engaging, colorful, spectacle-laden piece of theater that could speak so well to really little kids. I love that they sold (and maybe still sell) little t-shits that say "My First Broadway Show"). I love the tenderness and subtlety with which they allow Belle to fall in love with the Beast who has imprisoned her. Hell, I love that logo above, such an elegant and beautiful piece of poster art.
So I'm sad. Sad that, as of July, Beauty and the Beast will finally close, thus depriving me of the chance to take my kids to see it, as I've been wanting to since I saw it the first time. Not upset, since 13 years is by any reasonable measure one hell of a healthy run. They're not being crass or stupid in closing it. And that a Little Mermaid musical will replace it - replete with a whole slate of new Alan Menken music - is some comfort. But still. Sad.
Bye, Beauty. We'll miss you.
Until Whenever
Added: No, I have no idea what the title means in relation to the post. I just love the lyric.
I make no bones about simply adoring the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. Saw it three times - once with my sisters, once with my other sister and brother and my father, and once with my wife, sister and brother-in-law and niece. I love the robust, full-flavored old-school score Alan Menken and Howard Ashman fashioned for the film and how it seamlessly transitioned to the Broadway stage. I love the very of-a-piece new songs Menken wrote with Tim Rice--the fact that in the Broadway version the Beast gets to sing is no minor thing in my eyes. (And the song he does sing, "If I Can't Love Her" is a gorgeous piece of music, and one that takes some of its internal melodies and harmonic ideas from music that was already in the film - the bridge takes the melody that underscores the opening narration). I love that they did such a fine job of crafting an engaging, colorful, spectacle-laden piece of theater that could speak so well to really little kids. I love that they sold (and maybe still sell) little t-shits that say "My First Broadway Show"). I love the tenderness and subtlety with which they allow Belle to fall in love with the Beast who has imprisoned her. Hell, I love that logo above, such an elegant and beautiful piece of poster art.
So I'm sad. Sad that, as of July, Beauty and the Beast will finally close, thus depriving me of the chance to take my kids to see it, as I've been wanting to since I saw it the first time. Not upset, since 13 years is by any reasonable measure one hell of a healthy run. They're not being crass or stupid in closing it. And that a Little Mermaid musical will replace it - replete with a whole slate of new Alan Menken music - is some comfort. But still. Sad.
Bye, Beauty. We'll miss you.
Until Whenever
Added: No, I have no idea what the title means in relation to the post. I just love the lyric.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Sing Out, Louise!
I know I come across like a grumpy old man when I get into one of these rants, but I just don't care. Having read a slew of good-sounding stuff about My Chemical Romance's new album, The Black Parade, and having liked what I heard when they were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live a few months back, I stuck the album on my Christmas list. I was intrigued by the reports of obvious Queen homages, marching band appearances, and a honest-to-God Liza Minnelli guest vocal. Got the disc, and the reports were all accurate - there is a lot of very welcome, big and bold, multi-layered, melodic grand-opera-like rock in this album, along with a lot of the quasi-punk thrashing that I'm assuming was the predominant piece of their sound previously. It's a fun album and I'm glad I got it. But listening to it last night, I realized just how much more potential the album really has.
See, lead singer Gerard Way, like 99% of all modern rock singers, well, isn't much of a singer. His tone is thin and tinny, he needs to yell to hit certain notes, and his lack of technical skill means that he can command little subtlety or phrasing as he sings. Again, this isn't as much a knock on Way as it is a knock on modern rock singing. But whereas most rock singers who can't sing play to whatever strengths they have, the band here has written material that begs out to be sung by a real singer. The big arcing melodies, the theatrical style, all apply not just to the production but to the vocal melodies as well. And Way simply cannot do them justice. This comes across strongly on the lead single and album centerpiece, "The Black Parade," but it also became very clear to me on the wonderful, very Kurt Weill-esque "Mama," which contains the aforementioned Liza Minnelli cameo (which is much briefer than I had assumed - like two bars worth of singing brief). I long ago resigned myself to the fact that the vast majority of rock singers, especially today, simply don't sing, and that I would just have to overlook this if I was to enjoy modern rock music, but every once and a while I am reminded of the fact forcefully.
Until Whenever
I know I come across like a grumpy old man when I get into one of these rants, but I just don't care. Having read a slew of good-sounding stuff about My Chemical Romance's new album, The Black Parade, and having liked what I heard when they were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live a few months back, I stuck the album on my Christmas list. I was intrigued by the reports of obvious Queen homages, marching band appearances, and a honest-to-God Liza Minnelli guest vocal. Got the disc, and the reports were all accurate - there is a lot of very welcome, big and bold, multi-layered, melodic grand-opera-like rock in this album, along with a lot of the quasi-punk thrashing that I'm assuming was the predominant piece of their sound previously. It's a fun album and I'm glad I got it. But listening to it last night, I realized just how much more potential the album really has.
See, lead singer Gerard Way, like 99% of all modern rock singers, well, isn't much of a singer. His tone is thin and tinny, he needs to yell to hit certain notes, and his lack of technical skill means that he can command little subtlety or phrasing as he sings. Again, this isn't as much a knock on Way as it is a knock on modern rock singing. But whereas most rock singers who can't sing play to whatever strengths they have, the band here has written material that begs out to be sung by a real singer. The big arcing melodies, the theatrical style, all apply not just to the production but to the vocal melodies as well. And Way simply cannot do them justice. This comes across strongly on the lead single and album centerpiece, "The Black Parade," but it also became very clear to me on the wonderful, very Kurt Weill-esque "Mama," which contains the aforementioned Liza Minnelli cameo (which is much briefer than I had assumed - like two bars worth of singing brief). I long ago resigned myself to the fact that the vast majority of rock singers, especially today, simply don't sing, and that I would just have to overlook this if I was to enjoy modern rock music, but every once and a while I am reminded of the fact forcefully.
Until Whenever
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
On the Nightstand
Christmas left me awash in a sea of books I'm only just starting to crack the surface of; on top of that a recent visit to the library yielded some spontaneous borrowings that took some precedence. So, the pile currently on the nightstand now includes:
Coronado, Dennis Lehane - Just finished this book of short stories and one play. I had already read the collection's centerpiece, the brutally brilliant short story "Until Gwen," in the Atlantic, and the simple fact is that none of the other stuff - including a theatrical adaptation of "Until Gwen" really comes close to reaching the same heights. Most of the stories seemed to end just as they were getting started - the story of some teens vandalizing the homes of some wealthy townspeople most particularly. "Until Gwen" notwithstanding, I wonder if Lehane's true medium is really the novel.
U2 By U2 - A massive coffee table book stuffed to the gill with pictures that also functions as a wonderfully detailed year-by-year oral history of the band as told by all four members and manager Paul McGuiness. A great book that took me completely by surprise - I had thought it was just a bunch of photos, but the narrative is supremely done, with each of the band members weighing in in their own distinct voices. Almost done with this one.
The Best American Magazine Writing 2006 - My lovely wife gets me this every year and every year I eat it up. This year's edition (which I am only 2/3 of the way through) has some great pieces, including a poetic look at the Genome Project, a detailed look at the selling of the Iraq War, a superb profile of a conservative radio personality, a writer's up-close-and-personal look at her last months of a cancer-shortened life, a scathing accounting of what the coal industry is doing to mountains in Kentucky, and a profile of a snake-collecting novelist/crooner. Always a wonderful collection.
The Best American Science and Nature Writing and The Best American Non-Required Reading, 2006 - Borders had a two-for-one sale. Couldn't be helped.
Lisey's Story, Stephen King - I actually got this a few months back - this might be the longest I've ever waited to tear into a new King book. Should be soon.
Until I Find You, John Irving - A birthday gift that I still haven't started. Will definitely have to wait until after the King.
Until Whenever
Christmas left me awash in a sea of books I'm only just starting to crack the surface of; on top of that a recent visit to the library yielded some spontaneous borrowings that took some precedence. So, the pile currently on the nightstand now includes:
Coronado, Dennis Lehane - Just finished this book of short stories and one play. I had already read the collection's centerpiece, the brutally brilliant short story "Until Gwen," in the Atlantic, and the simple fact is that none of the other stuff - including a theatrical adaptation of "Until Gwen" really comes close to reaching the same heights. Most of the stories seemed to end just as they were getting started - the story of some teens vandalizing the homes of some wealthy townspeople most particularly. "Until Gwen" notwithstanding, I wonder if Lehane's true medium is really the novel.
U2 By U2 - A massive coffee table book stuffed to the gill with pictures that also functions as a wonderfully detailed year-by-year oral history of the band as told by all four members and manager Paul McGuiness. A great book that took me completely by surprise - I had thought it was just a bunch of photos, but the narrative is supremely done, with each of the band members weighing in in their own distinct voices. Almost done with this one.
The Best American Magazine Writing 2006 - My lovely wife gets me this every year and every year I eat it up. This year's edition (which I am only 2/3 of the way through) has some great pieces, including a poetic look at the Genome Project, a detailed look at the selling of the Iraq War, a superb profile of a conservative radio personality, a writer's up-close-and-personal look at her last months of a cancer-shortened life, a scathing accounting of what the coal industry is doing to mountains in Kentucky, and a profile of a snake-collecting novelist/crooner. Always a wonderful collection.
The Best American Science and Nature Writing and The Best American Non-Required Reading, 2006 - Borders had a two-for-one sale. Couldn't be helped.
Lisey's Story, Stephen King - I actually got this a few months back - this might be the longest I've ever waited to tear into a new King book. Should be soon.
Until I Find You, John Irving - A birthday gift that I still haven't started. Will definitely have to wait until after the King.
Until Whenever
Friday, January 12, 2007
Bookish
I'm stealing this book-themed quiz from Jaquandor, although if you link over to him you'll see I omitted some of the questions (the quiz is somewhat sci-fi-themed, and I really don't read much sci-fi these days).
1. Science fiction, fantasy, or horror?
These days of the three I probably read more horror if only by virtue of the fact that I read everything Stephen King publishes (although I've yet to crack open the newest, Lisey's World. When I was a teen I read a lot of Koontz and McCammon but never branched out into other horror writers; similarly I read a lot of Asimov but not much else. Come to think of it, in fantasy I read pretty much everything Terry Brooks wrote but, and again, not much else. I'm kind of a single-author whore, or so it seems.
2. Hardback, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback?
I like hardcovers best, but given that I do most of my reading on the train I actually these days prefer a paperback, trade or mass-market (less poundage to lug around in my bag). For ownership I prefer hardcovers for aesthetic reasons - a shelf full of hardcovers just looks sharper than a shelf full of paperbacks. That being said, I certainly own enough paperbacks, including a whole slew of trade paperbacks. After all, it's not as if I have the resources to spend hardcover prices whenever the mood strikes, and used bookstores are chockablock with great paperback deals. Really, the only author I conscientiously buy in hardcover each time out right now is Stephen King.
3. Heinlein or Asimov?
Never read any Heinlein, and read lots o' Asimov. So an easy one. I do find that in the little re-reading I've done of Asimov that his very straightforward style can now sometimes grate. Seems the older me likes a bit more flair in his sentences.
4. Amazon or brick-and-mortar?
Both, for different reasons. Browsing in a big huge bookstore (or a small used bookstore) is a real pleasure. But then so is searching though Amazon's vast archives. They're just different pleasures, and I'm very grateful to get to enjoy both.
5. Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes and Noble, if only because the one nearest me is a monstrous, two-storied beast of a store that I whiled many an hour away in as a teen and young adult. Nothing against Borders, tough.
6. Bookmark or dog-ear?
These days I bookmark, although almost never with an actual bookmark (a receipt, a parking stub, a torn-off strip of newspaper - whatever's handy). When I was young I almost never bookmarked or dog-eared, but would rather just close the book and find my spot when I resumed reading. I guess it's age, but I find that harder to do thee days.
7. Alphabetize by author, by title, or random?
By author, but in categories. So all the fiction goes together, all the plays, all the music non-fiction, all the baby stuff, etc. And I don't mix and match - hardcovers get shelved separately from trades, which get shelved separately from mass-markets. Actually, though, all of this is currently moot - we moved a month ago and all the books are still in boxes, as we try to figure out where to put them and as we try to acquire cheap bookcases (the old house had built-in bookcases in the Den and finished basement).
8. Keep, throw away, or sell?
I keep most stuff for ever, but once in a long while will cull the stacks slightly. When that happens I tend to donate the castoffs.
9. Keep dustjacket or toss it?
Keep. I don't know that I've ever tossed a dustjacket.
10. Read with dustjacket or remove it?
I keep them on. Not sure why, as they do annoy me slightly.
11. Short story or novel?
I much prefer novels. I'll enjoy the occasional short story, but almost always gravitate towards novels.
12. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Haven't gotten to Snicket yet, but just adore the Potter books.
13. Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
At a chapter break if I can, but since I do a lot of reading on the train it's typically the end of the ride that dictates where I stop.
14. "It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time?"
"Once upon a time." I'm ashamed to admit that it took me years to figure out what makes "It was a dark and stormy night"bad writing.
15. Buy or borrow?
Borrow much more than buy. I love my library something fierce, and when it comes down to it I'm typically very reluctant to shell out money for a book I know I can borrow from the library for free.
16.Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation, or browse?
If I'm buying a book, I almost always know ahead of time - it's very, very rare that I'll just browse and see something I want to spend money on.
17. Hard SF or space opera?
Again,I don't read much sci-fi these days, but when I do it's the hard stuff I gravitate towards.
18. Collection (short stories by the same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
Collections - I like the consistency of the same author.
19. Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy ending, or ambiguous ending, is fine, but a cliffhanger can grate if I don't know I can read the next book right away. Worst case of this? Stephen King's cliffhanger ending to the third Dark Tower book, The Waste Lands. The next book didn't come out for something like five or seven years.
20. Morning, afternoon, or nighttime reading?
Morning and late afternoon (commuting time!)
21. Standalone or series?
Standalones mostly. I like series, but the commitment involved keeps me wary of diving into them.
22. New or used?
I only care about having a new book for those few books I absolutely adore - Stephen King's stuff I always get new.
30. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Tabitha King's One on One. King's wife is a marvelous writer, and that she doesn't get more attention saddens me.
31. Top X favorite genre books of all time? (Where X is 5 or less)
Stephen King's The Dark Tower Seven-book series)
Issac Asimov's Robot Series
Terry Brooks' Magic Kingdom for Sale Series
Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy
Robert R. McCammon's Swan Song
Until Whenever
I'm stealing this book-themed quiz from Jaquandor, although if you link over to him you'll see I omitted some of the questions (the quiz is somewhat sci-fi-themed, and I really don't read much sci-fi these days).
1. Science fiction, fantasy, or horror?
These days of the three I probably read more horror if only by virtue of the fact that I read everything Stephen King publishes (although I've yet to crack open the newest, Lisey's World. When I was a teen I read a lot of Koontz and McCammon but never branched out into other horror writers; similarly I read a lot of Asimov but not much else. Come to think of it, in fantasy I read pretty much everything Terry Brooks wrote but, and again, not much else. I'm kind of a single-author whore, or so it seems.
2. Hardback, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback?
I like hardcovers best, but given that I do most of my reading on the train I actually these days prefer a paperback, trade or mass-market (less poundage to lug around in my bag). For ownership I prefer hardcovers for aesthetic reasons - a shelf full of hardcovers just looks sharper than a shelf full of paperbacks. That being said, I certainly own enough paperbacks, including a whole slew of trade paperbacks. After all, it's not as if I have the resources to spend hardcover prices whenever the mood strikes, and used bookstores are chockablock with great paperback deals. Really, the only author I conscientiously buy in hardcover each time out right now is Stephen King.
3. Heinlein or Asimov?
Never read any Heinlein, and read lots o' Asimov. So an easy one. I do find that in the little re-reading I've done of Asimov that his very straightforward style can now sometimes grate. Seems the older me likes a bit more flair in his sentences.
4. Amazon or brick-and-mortar?
Both, for different reasons. Browsing in a big huge bookstore (or a small used bookstore) is a real pleasure. But then so is searching though Amazon's vast archives. They're just different pleasures, and I'm very grateful to get to enjoy both.
5. Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes and Noble, if only because the one nearest me is a monstrous, two-storied beast of a store that I whiled many an hour away in as a teen and young adult. Nothing against Borders, tough.
6. Bookmark or dog-ear?
These days I bookmark, although almost never with an actual bookmark (a receipt, a parking stub, a torn-off strip of newspaper - whatever's handy). When I was young I almost never bookmarked or dog-eared, but would rather just close the book and find my spot when I resumed reading. I guess it's age, but I find that harder to do thee days.
7. Alphabetize by author, by title, or random?
By author, but in categories. So all the fiction goes together, all the plays, all the music non-fiction, all the baby stuff, etc. And I don't mix and match - hardcovers get shelved separately from trades, which get shelved separately from mass-markets. Actually, though, all of this is currently moot - we moved a month ago and all the books are still in boxes, as we try to figure out where to put them and as we try to acquire cheap bookcases (the old house had built-in bookcases in the Den and finished basement).
8. Keep, throw away, or sell?
I keep most stuff for ever, but once in a long while will cull the stacks slightly. When that happens I tend to donate the castoffs.
9. Keep dustjacket or toss it?
Keep. I don't know that I've ever tossed a dustjacket.
10. Read with dustjacket or remove it?
I keep them on. Not sure why, as they do annoy me slightly.
11. Short story or novel?
I much prefer novels. I'll enjoy the occasional short story, but almost always gravitate towards novels.
12. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Haven't gotten to Snicket yet, but just adore the Potter books.
13. Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
At a chapter break if I can, but since I do a lot of reading on the train it's typically the end of the ride that dictates where I stop.
14. "It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time?"
"Once upon a time." I'm ashamed to admit that it took me years to figure out what makes "It was a dark and stormy night"bad writing.
15. Buy or borrow?
Borrow much more than buy. I love my library something fierce, and when it comes down to it I'm typically very reluctant to shell out money for a book I know I can borrow from the library for free.
16.Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation, or browse?
If I'm buying a book, I almost always know ahead of time - it's very, very rare that I'll just browse and see something I want to spend money on.
17. Hard SF or space opera?
Again,I don't read much sci-fi these days, but when I do it's the hard stuff I gravitate towards.
18. Collection (short stories by the same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
Collections - I like the consistency of the same author.
19. Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
Tidy ending, or ambiguous ending, is fine, but a cliffhanger can grate if I don't know I can read the next book right away. Worst case of this? Stephen King's cliffhanger ending to the third Dark Tower book, The Waste Lands. The next book didn't come out for something like five or seven years.
20. Morning, afternoon, or nighttime reading?
Morning and late afternoon (commuting time!)
21. Standalone or series?
Standalones mostly. I like series, but the commitment involved keeps me wary of diving into them.
22. New or used?
I only care about having a new book for those few books I absolutely adore - Stephen King's stuff I always get new.
30. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Tabitha King's One on One. King's wife is a marvelous writer, and that she doesn't get more attention saddens me.
31. Top X favorite genre books of all time? (Where X is 5 or less)
Stephen King's The Dark Tower Seven-book series)
Issac Asimov's Robot Series
Terry Brooks' Magic Kingdom for Sale Series
Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy
Robert R. McCammon's Swan Song
Until Whenever
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I Don't Get It
I hadn't watched a "classic" movie in a while. When I first got Netflix, I tried to be conscientious about renting some of the great films I've never seen. Finally saw The Godfather, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, 2001, Citizen Kane, Casablanca. But when I started using Netflix (and then Blockbuster) for mostly TV on DVD, that kind of stopped. Until last week, when a mix-up in my queue yielded Chinatown. Watched it. And, really? Don't get it.
This happened with some of the aforementioned films as well - I for the life of me just couldn't figure out what all the hype was about. I mean, it was a competent little detective film, but really not much else, was it? And why so slow? I don't think this is the result of my modern, MTV-generation self being unable to appreciate a slower pace - after all, The Godfather moves slowly, and I loved that. And Citizen Kane is hardly a rocket ride. But this just felt like it plodded, with far too many lingering, drawn-out shots of cars pulling up, cars pulling away. And the whole "water board" aspect of the mystery came across, not as a welcome departure from the glamorous exotic MacGuffins in most mysteries, as Robert Towne apparently intended it to be, but just as dry and boring stuff. The acting was excellent, sure, but the plot and writing were so deliberate and careful that nothing in the film ever grabbed me or got me to sit up and take notice. And I have to admit to just not getting the whole "Chinatown" connection - seemed like the notion of Chinatown as a corrupt, chaotic hothouse of criminality was just tacked on. Not a bad film, no, but "great?" Or even "very good?" What am I missing?
Until Whenever
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Random Top Ten
Random Top Ten!!
Top Ten Neil Young Songs
1o. “It's a Dream” – Young at his slowest and most reflective. This is my favorite Young mood, as the list to continue will attest.
9. “Ohio” – Angry political songwriting at its best. Sometimes lyrics need not be more complicated than “Four dead in Ohio.” (But the classicist in me still cringes horribly at the awful mis-scan of the word “Ohio.” We say “OH-higho,” not “oh-HIGH-o”)
8. “Are You Passionate?” – Languid and evocative. The album (of the same name) this song comes from, a consistently critically mocked album, is one of my favorite Neil Young albums, actually.
7. “Heart of Gold” – Great harmonica part, here.
6. “Hey Hey” – In that classic live version everybody loves, of course.
5. “Needle and Damage Done” – Eloquent, straight-faced cautionary drug tale.
4. “Razor Love” – A lost cut from the mostly acoustic Silver and Gold album and a gem of a song, all humble, shuffling rhythm and delicate singing.
3. “Harvest Moon” – The song that got me into Young in the first place. A wistful, pastoral lullaby of a song.
2. “Rockin' in the Free World” – Angry, loud Young. Surprising how high I rate this given how much I obviously love quiet acoustic Young.
1. “Philadelphia” – It’s gotta be some kind of sin to name a soundtrack song as my favorite Neil Young song, but the heart wants what it wants, and it wants this devastatingly sad, reflective piano ballad that by all rights should have blown its fellow album-mate, Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia” out of the water at Oscar time.
Until Whenever
Random Top Ten!!
Top Ten Neil Young Songs
1o. “It's a Dream” – Young at his slowest and most reflective. This is my favorite Young mood, as the list to continue will attest.
9. “Ohio” – Angry political songwriting at its best. Sometimes lyrics need not be more complicated than “Four dead in Ohio.” (But the classicist in me still cringes horribly at the awful mis-scan of the word “Ohio.” We say “OH-higho,” not “oh-HIGH-o”)
8. “Are You Passionate?” – Languid and evocative. The album (of the same name) this song comes from, a consistently critically mocked album, is one of my favorite Neil Young albums, actually.
7. “Heart of Gold” – Great harmonica part, here.
6. “Hey Hey” – In that classic live version everybody loves, of course.
5. “Needle and Damage Done” – Eloquent, straight-faced cautionary drug tale.
4. “Razor Love” – A lost cut from the mostly acoustic Silver and Gold album and a gem of a song, all humble, shuffling rhythm and delicate singing.
3. “Harvest Moon” – The song that got me into Young in the first place. A wistful, pastoral lullaby of a song.
2. “Rockin' in the Free World” – Angry, loud Young. Surprising how high I rate this given how much I obviously love quiet acoustic Young.
1. “Philadelphia” – It’s gotta be some kind of sin to name a soundtrack song as my favorite Neil Young song, but the heart wants what it wants, and it wants this devastatingly sad, reflective piano ballad that by all rights should have blown its fellow album-mate, Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia” out of the water at Oscar time.
Until Whenever
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