May 30, 2008

Hobbit Forming

By the sound of this transcript of an Internet Q & A session with Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro, it looks like the Hobbit is in pretty good hands. It is not going to be a children's movie, but that might have been a little much to expect. As for the bridge film planned for after the Hobbit connecting it to the LOTR which they filmmakers will write on their own with hints from Tolkien, we will have to see about that one.

Here are some excerpts. Yeah, I geeked out the other day and read the whole thing:

Guillermo del Toro: I hope that Mirkwood can be pretty scary but not graphic, I hope
Riddles in the dark has an element of fear and suspense and to be
deeply atmospheric but still allow the ingenious, engaging contest to
take place. And Smaug should be all shock and awe when he
unleashes his anger so, it will be pretty intense but not gorey.

Question - In the Hobbit book, we have talking trolls and the Eagles and
Smaug talks as well, however in the LOTR Trilogy, trolls did no
more than grunt, Fellbeasts screamed, and the Eagles, who were
meant to talk, just stayed silent. How much will the portayle of such
animals change in the Hobbit?

Guillermo del Toro: I think it should be done exactly as in the book- the “talking beast” motif has to exist already to allow for that great character that is
Smaug. It is far more jarring to have a linear movie and then – out of
the blue – a talking Dragon....

We’ll see about the “Tra-la-la-“ later- but the book, I believe, in
echoing the “loss of innocence” England experienced after WWI, is a
passage form innocence to a darker, more somber state- The visual /
thematic progression should reflect that in the camera style, color
palette, textural choices, etc.

Guillermo del Toro:
Smaug should not be "the Dragon in the Hobbit movie" as if it was
just "another" creature in a Bestiary. Smaug should be "The
DRAGON" for all movies past and present. The shadow he cast and
the greed he comes to embody- the "need to own" casts its long
shadow and creates a thematic / dramatic continuity of sorts that
articulates the story throughout-

In that respect, Smaug the CHARACTER is as important, if not more
important, than the design. The character will emerge form the
writing- and in that the Magnificent arrogance, intelligence,
sophistication and greed of Smaug shine through-

In fact, Thorin's greed is a thematic extension of this and Bilbo's
"Letting go" and his noble switching of sides when the dwarves prove
to be in the wrong is its conceptual counterpart (that is a hard one to
get through, Bilbo's heroism is a quiet, moral one) and the thematic
thread reaches its climax in the Bilbo / Thorin death bed scene.

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May 19, 2008

A Creative Review and Roiling Discussion...

...of the new Prince Caspian movie is presented by Jeffrey Overstreet on his blog.

I have posted a comment, which I also reproduce here.

Very creative review, Jeffrey, and a very graciously moderated discussion. I agree that “subvert” and “sinister” are perhaps a little too strong words to employ, but, to be fair, you are only positing these as possibilities. Nonetheless, it is quite disappointing the changes to which Douglas Gresham is willing to sign off on, and, therefore, I think we can question just how good a grasp he has on his step-father’s work.

A couple little notes. To be fair, I do not have the book here as I write, but I do believe that Peter does lop off the head of one of the two Telmarine Lords after they kill Miraz (which was fairly nicely done in the moview with the arrow, though Lewis’ duel scene is far more intimately staged). Still, the violence was rather too much for a PG movie, particularly all the throat slicings.

Also, there is perhaps some merit for women fighting in Narnia, but the fighter of the two Queens is Queen Lucy in The Horse and His Boy and not Queen Susan. Well, at least Lucy is with the archers in Archenland and is said to frequently go to battle.

The changing of Aslan’s lines is rather distressing, as is the the severe editing of his role. There is very little serious playfulness and holy fear about this Aslan. I very much missed him flinging Trumpkin into the air, catching him, and then saying (I believe) “Shall we be friends?” But, as you noted, the entire Trumpkin character has been changed from skeptic to a somewhat disappointed and apathetic believer.

I must say I did enjoy the movie, but perhaps because of severely lowered expectations and by pouring meaning and my own imagination into little things the filmakers gave us (like tossing bones to dogs), like the apples in the woods around Cair Paravel and the bulgy bear sucking his paws. And I felt rather moved at Susan leaving Narnia, for the very last time. And, for the record, Peter and Susan have to leave Narnia because they have received what Narnia, and what Lewis intended the books to accomplish for children (old and young), intended them to receive, an introduction to Christ, a theme which only gets stonger as the stories go along.

Perhaps my reaction after the movie in envisioning how movie makers might address future films was more telling of my heart, though, I think. I seriously doubt whether they can make the story of Eustace and his de-dragoning without stripping it of its meaning. And will Lucy be chided for eavesdropping? And what really is the big deal about sailing to Aslan’s country anyway? Can the Reepicheep envisioned in this movie be made to have such a sweet dream?

And I really want the filmmakers to cease and desist after the Silver Chair, which I believe they may anyway (the BBC folk did, though I don’t know the real reason). I think the The Horse and His Boy could be a very cinematic story, but think it would be viewed (perhaps somewhat justifiably so, I am at pains to say) as a bit racist, particularly in a post-911 world. And The Magician’s Nephew and The Last Battle, well, if you strip the religious imagery out of these there is not much left. And if the film makers are unable to depict the holy and good and whimsical aspects of Narnia now (and this may simply be a function of all of us having our sense of story predicated and tinged by Fall), I do not want to see them attempt depicting a New Narnia. There are so many ways the last two books could be messed up, I would prefer not to see them even try.

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April 30, 2008

A Little Like Lars; Only a Little

I was talking with a freind tonight how blogs can be funny things, and how sometimes people can oscillate between unhelpful openess and unhelpful holding back from the sharing of thoughts that really may help or encourage someone else if only they were shared. This seems to be a perpetual conversation I have with both fans and foes of blogging. In fact, I think these oscillations in openess often come to find their place in the blog life cycle (yes, I believe there is such a thing, but that will have to wait for another post), until the blogger finds his or her voice and settles down to do what they find is most helpful for them and their readers. Do people really think in these terms about their blogs? Probably not, but I sometimes do, and from what I have seen these dynamics do play out in a sort of trial and error process for many bloggers.

With regard to this blog, I have been told in the somewhat distance past that one friend stopped reading it, because she thought it too personal and revealing. That may be one of the reasons that it now features pictures more often than not, but not the only one. I really like to take pictures!

Perhaps blog entries should have ratings, like the rating system for video games. For example the rating for the following entry might look something like this:

In all seriousness, though, I really appreciated the movie Lars and the Real Girllargely because I could resonate with it on several levels. I could resonate with a movie about a dysfunctional man who buys a sex doll, you ask? Well, first of all, you should know that the role the sex part of the sex doll plays in the movie is very minimal and inconsequential. It is, indeed, a sex doll, but the setup is not generally exploited for cheap laughs, which would have only served to undermine the point and power of the parable of the movie. And, it is indeed a parable, an implausible, exaggerated story told to make a point, a sweet and moving point.

I did a recent Facebook status update saying that I have a cardigan very similar to Lars', which I do, but which I also meant metaphorically. In some ways, though thank the Lord not in such extreme ways, I can relate to the concept that deep wounding and pain can have long lasting effects that stretch into the future or ambush us when least expected. In fact, I believe we all can relate to this, on one level or another. For some the wounds seem deeper, though, and their (our) ability to bounce back seems to be not as robust as that of others, for whatever reasons, which may or may not be ever understood.

In the beautiful little movie The Spitfire Grill, Percy Talbot says, "“You suppose if a wound goes real deep, the healing of it can hurt almost as bad as what caused it?” When I first heard that quote, I thought "Wow." And, again, I think we can all relate, whether it be the healing of our emotional hurts or even the healing of our souls in discipleship as we recover from the self-inflicted wounds of sin. The cure may, indeed, need to be as painful as the wound caused by the sin, even if we do not bear the penalty for that sin ourselves if we are believers, as Eustace could well attest to as a result of his dedragoning.

Without giving out too many details, which would make the hypothetical rating I gave this blog post an accurate description, I also resonated with Lars and the Real Girl because Lars' past did involve the death of a parent, the extreme sorrow of the remaining parent, and subsequent stunting of his ability to deal with life and relationships well, a stunting characterized sometimes by paralyzing fear.

Another thing that I really appreciated about the movie was that though the reactions and altruism of the townspeople toward Lars are implausible, the love of Lars' sister-in-law for Lars and Lars deep concern for her, which he is unable to express, are not implausible. People can and do love one another like this. I loved how his sister-in-law deeply cared for him and loved him. I have received great care, too, from lovely sisters acquired through the marriage of my brothers :)

Nor is his relationship with his brother unrealistic. Perhaps the resolution that occurs, a confession of abandonment which is followed in very short order by forgiveness, is rather foreshortened compared to how the process generally works in real life, but brothers do talk with one another, come to understand one another, forgive one another, and learn to love one another better. And it is amazing to watch Lars' brother grow as a man before our very eyes. That is another characteristic of many movies that I am drawn toward; they make me want to be a better man.

Needless to say, I highly recommend the movie. I apologize for the slight spoilers. I do not think they spoiled too, too much, however. Finally, finally a brief note on one of the endorsement on the cover of the DVD. Maxim magazine writes "A whimsical, funny, moving film!" First, though the latter two adjectives do apply and especially the last one, I do not think I would call the movie "whimsical" exactly. OK, maybe a scene or two, but that is it. On a broader level, I do not think that Maxim magazine should be allowed to use the word "whimsical," in any case. It does not seem to be a word that fits well with the purposes and mindset of the magazine at large, a mindset which, sadly, I too fall into from time to time, a mindset which has nothing at all to do with the delightful, almost holy, quality of whimsy.

Oh, dang it! That last line might just have earned the rating.

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April 26, 2008

Reepicheep is on His Way

It might not really be Prince Caspian ;) but it looks pretty cool. Reeicheep here. The Prince is here (a rather silly accent, I'm afraid). Creatures, sets, more Reepicheep, more Caspian, and a Narnian raid on Miraz His Castle? Sigh. And in all this footage, at first hearing, I have not heard one piece of dialog which I recognized from the book :(

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March 13, 2008

Vampire Weekend

Well, posting this note about this band is probably scratching the same itch as did my posts about Lily Allen and the Arctic Monkeys, as they are another band whose music I really like, whose lyrics are clever, and yet still rather sketchy at times. I don't know why exactly, but the music just makes me happy, almost enough to dance; almost, but not quite ;)

Evidently Vampire Weekend has some connection with African pop music that they evidently gleaned from listening to African records, but they do not have much connection with Africa other than that. In an email exhange, Kirk, asked some interesting questions of what it means for artists to lift musical styles from a culture without having any connection to that culture. A great thing to discuss. I suppose cross-pollination of music across cultures has been going on for a long, long time, and while I do not have much use for fusion cooking, though I love to experience diverse cuisines on their own terms, I do often like the fusions of styles in music. And, I have figured out that I really like chimey guitars. Again, I think they make me happy. And I really like the percussion on this album, too. Oh, yeah and VW members wear preppy nineties clothing and sing largely about the priviliged life of wealthy east coast college students. It all is a bit of a weird combo.

Without further ado, here are some samples from Vampire Weekend, here is their web page which has lyrics, here are some rave reviews they have been getting, and here is one and two videos of them singing their songs in the streets of paris; pretty creative. Also, the creator of the last two videos, Blogotheque, produces some pretty cool videos of artists which can be found on youtube, such as Sufjan singing "Lakes of Canada" by the Innocence Mission. Other artists receiving the blogotheque treatment:
More Sufjan
Arcade Fire ("Neon Bible" in an elevator)
Arcade Fire "Wake Up"
David Bazan
Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird too
My Brightest Diamond (this one is for Jesse)
More MBD

Enjoy.

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January 22, 2008

Take Two on Jesus and the Eschaton

As good an artistic counterpoint as any to the view of Jesus and the last days expressed in the Bright Eyes song of yesterday's posting might be found in the quirky, lovely music of Page France.

*Click here for "Chariot" and "Jesus" and two others
*The lyrics to "Chariot" and "Jesus"
*An excellent article on Page France and other artists by Jeremy Huggins
*Mr. Peach's excellent blog where I read of Jeremy's article.

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January 21, 2008

Juno: Quick Hit Review

This review is a quick hit review because I did not get out of the theatre more than 20 minutes ago, and because I really don't want to say too much. Here goes:
*Enjoyed it immensely.
*Great, quirky soundtrack.
*There are scenes that ambushed me.
*I have feelings that are too personal to blog.
*The movie is too good for me to lay my polemical mitts upon.
* :)

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Intimations of Immortality - Arc of Time by Bright Eyes

Courtesy of Pandora, whist listening to a Postal Service station, I heard "Arc of Time" by Bright Eyes. Fascinating. Here are the lyrics, followed by a couple of thoughts below. You can listen to the song here, but I recommend skipping the video portion, just listening, and following along with the lyrics.

You can make a plan
Carve it into stone
Like a feather falling
It is still unknown
Until the clock speaks up
Says it's time to go
You could choose the high
Or the lower road
You might clinch your fist
You might fork your tongue
As you curse or praise
All the things you've done
And the faders move
And the music dies
As we pass over
On the arc of time

So you nurse your love
Like a wounded dove
In the covered cage of night
Every star is crossed
By phrenetic thoughts
That seperate and then collide
And they twist like sheets
Till you fall asleep
And they finally unwind
It's a black balloon
It's a dream you'll soon deny

I hear if you make friends
With Jesus Christ
You will get right up
From that chalk outline
And then you'll get dolled up
And you'll dress in white
All to take your place
In his chorus line

And then in you'll come
With those marching drums
In a saintly compromise
No more whiskey slurs
No more blonde haired girls
For your whole eternal life
And you'll do the dance
That was choreographed
At the very dawn of time
Saying, I told you son
The day would come
You would die, you'd die, you'd die, you'd die
You would die, you'd die, you'd die, you'd die
You would die, you'd die, you'd die, you'd die
You would die, you'd die, you'd die

To the deepest part
Of the human heart
The fear of death expands
Till we crack the code
We have always known
But could never understand
On a circuit board
We will soon be born
Again, again, again, again
And again, again, again, again
And again, again, again, again
And again, again, again

This song has all sorts of interesting things going on in it and I am sure I will not allude to them all. The first verse manags to present two competing views of destiny, the preordained one and the one best captured by the opening sequence of Forrest Gump (presented here with a different score). Conor Oberst also reflects on the choice one makes vis a vis God concerning "All the things you've done," repentance or fist clenching. Verse two is less straightforward, but seems to be talking about the process of dying.

Verse three is what really got me to write this post. Oberst presents a fairly disdainful view of Christianity, it seems. Some such reactions occur, I think, because of poor presentations of the truth of Christianity by Christians; some, though, are simply the choice that is at the core of all of our sin, the choice to not submit to God. Unfortunately, Oberst seems to see such submission as bland conformity. And there is a degree to which this is true; we are all clothed in white, the colorings of our sinfulness (which seem so multi-hued and interesting but eventually just blend to black black) must be covered in the white which symbolizes holiness.

Even as I type that, I feel the need to defend it. Well, I am not going to. It is simply one image, an important one, that describes what Christ does for us vis a vis clothing our sin, and if he chooses seemingly uniform white robes to symbolize that, so be it. The story does not end there, though, the problem comes because we, as Christians, have not fully articulated the truth that there will be a new heaven and a new earth, perhaps because we are not told much about how the new earth and our new bodies will exist.

This is where I think the role of the Christian artist can be very useful, indeed the role of any artist who wittingly or unwittingly captures a glimpse of truth, as so often happens in movies, sometimes without the director even realizing the implications of what he or she has made. I think art which points out the real blackness and horridness of sin is useful in this way. Art which points out the beauty of goodness is a much harder thing to achieve, but it also happens everywhere too. The Holy Spirit is a sneaky one. One of these places where I have appreciated both of these tasks being done well is in C. S. Lewis book Perelandra. It may may not be as artfully subtle as contemporary tastes would like, but it paints an amazing picture of the beauty and diversity and freedom that flows out of obedience. His chapter on "the Great Dance" puts to bed mocking notions such as that of Oberst's in which obedience equals the bland conformity of a chorus line. Admittedly, unfortunately many Christians are often guilty of presenting just such a view of the implications of obedience.

The final verse of "Arc of Time" is also fascinating because Oberst seems to be positing an alternate form of eternity in a digital media. Judging from the tone of the verse, though, I am not sure if he is excited about that prospect either. The concept of digital immortality was the theme of this short story I wrote, and two others which are somewhere down the pipeline, which I hope to one day make into sort of a trilogy. This song seems to jive well with the theme of Oberst's album name Digital Ash in a Digital Urn. I might have to check out the rest of it.

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December 16, 2007

The Strong Hand of Love

From the poetic heart of Mark Heard, covered by Bruce Cockburn. I never get tired of this song.

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December 5, 2007

Caspian

Not sure I'm exactly liking the look of things. Still, will have to wait and see.

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November 20, 2007

The Golden Compass - A Trustworthy Guide

Well, the major movie filling the holiday fantasy slot this holiday season will be The Golden Compass, the first movie to be made from a trilogy of books by Philip Pullman, which he partially wrote to discredit his understanding of Christianity and its God as oppressive, worthy to be overthrown.

If you want to prepare yourself for the upcoming controversy concerning the movie or would just like a discerning guide to help navigate the trilogy, I can think of no one better to be that guide than Jeffrey Overstreet, flim critic and author. Here is a very thoughtful post as to how Christians might think about and respond sensitively to Philip Pullman's books and the upcoming motion picture. Below is a short excerpt, but I highly recommend reading the entire post if you are at all interested in this matter. Oh, and Jeffrey has also recently written a fantasy novel himself, which I hope to be digging into over the holidays. And here is another of his books on the movies.

The best way to make Phillip Pullman’s stories look like gospel truth is to respond by acting like the villainous Christians in his stories.

The best way to expose Pullman’s lie is to respond like Christ himself: With grace and truth, not hysteria and condemnation.

If we respond with wrath, condemnation, and protest, we play right into Pullman’s naive caricature of Christianity. I’m not saying we shouldn’t point out where he is wrong. His story is deeply flawed, and his religious bigotry is shameful. We should not ignore that. But we also should not ignore the excellence of his artistry. And should speak the truth in love, as Christ commands us. We should respond with truth and grace.

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November 12, 2007

One Great Song: Three Versions

The original (brilliant music; brilliant video; a single touch makes it all worthwhile). A cover on Prozac. A cover that's off it's meds (really clever and gets more amazing as it goes along, until, that is, its crazy ending).

As a bonus, here is one of my favorite videos ever from the man who brought you the Prozac version above. I doubt that it is a single take or anything like, but it's beautiful and bears a fuller discussion than I can begin on my own just now. Oh, and pay attention or just watch it thrice.

Who said this was only a photoblog. But if it's photos you want and are in the St. Louis area this Saturday evening, you might consider this (the details under Art @ the Institute about a third of the way down the page). I will have several pieces on exhibit, and will also be giving a five minute talk as well.

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September 25, 2007

Two From Rich. No, Make That Three

You really must hear these on Rich's album Brother's Keeper, but the lyrics work pretty well alone, too.

Cry the Name

I cannot hide this longing that grows
In this temple of silence and stars
But a thief in the night stole in and broke
Every chain that had bound up my heart
I cannot cling to shadows again
So here on this altar tonight
I lay every dream I've ever dreamt
To burn in the fire He lights

I cry the Name of the One who loves me
The Name of the One on whom I call
'Til it roars like thunder
Rolling down these canyon walls

I cry the Name of the One who loves me
The Name of the One on whom I call
'Til it roars like thunder
Rolling down these canyon walls

Every breath I've ever breathed
Was sent as a gift from on high
And with all that is left of all that is me
Up to the Heavens I cry

The Name of the One who loves me
The Name of the One on whom I call
'Til it roars like thunder
Rolling down these canyon walls

I cry the Name of the One who loves me
The Name of the One on whom I call
'Til it roars like thunder
Rolling down these canyon walls

The Breaks

Here is my heart take what you want
'Cause I have no use for it anyway
Well of all the stupid things I've ever said
This could be the worst may be the best
But those are the breaks
These are the bruises
And if I can't give myself away I'm the only one who loses
And I don't want to lose this

It is the sea that makes the sailor
And the land that shapes the sea
And I do not know yet what I am made of
Or all I may someday be
And it is the wood that makes a carpenter
It's the very tools of his trade
And it is love that makes a lover
And a cross that makes a saint

Here is my song, listen if you will
But I have no heart for it anymore
I just have half a mind to cut it loose
And if it sails off into the blue
Then I'll just let it soar
And the sky is better keeping
And I won't be any poorer
For giving it its freedom
And here's one for freedom

It is the sea that makes the sailor
And the land that shapes the sea
And I do not know yet what I am made of
Or all I may someday be
It is the wood that makes a carpenter
It's the very tools of his trade
And it is love that makes a lover
And a cross that makes a saint

And a brilliant, but difficult, bonus from The Jesus Record

Hard to Get

You who live in heaven
Hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth
Who are afraid of being left by those we love
And who get hardened by the hurt

Do you remember when You lived down here where we all scrape
To find the faith to ask for daily bread
Did You forget about us after You had flown away
Well I memorized every word You said

Still I'm so scared, I'm holding my breath
While You're up there just playing hard to get

You who live in radiance
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in skin
We have a love that's not as patient as Yours was
Still we do love now and then

Did You ever know loneliness
Did You ever know need
Do You remember just how long a night can get?
When You were barely holding on
And Your friends fall asleep
And don't see the blood that's running in Your sweat

Will those who mourn be left uncomforted
While You're up there just playing hard to get?

And I know you bore our sorrows
And I know you feel our pain
And I know it would not hurt any less
Even if it could be explained

And I know that I am only lashing out
At the One who loves me most
And after I figured this, somehow
All I really need to know

Is if You who live in eternity
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in time
We can't see what's ahead
And we can not get free of what we've left behind
I'm reeling from these voices that keep screaming in my ears
All the words of shame and doubt, blame and regret

I can't see how You're leading me unless You've led me here
Where I'm lost enough to let myself be led
And so You've been here all along I guess
It's just Your ways and You are just plain hard to get

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September 10, 2007

La Vita Est "Bella"

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to this film. I have not properly seen the trailer as I am at work nor have I read all of this article, but I have read enough to be very excited.

Addendum
Here is the trailer. I could not readily find on the movie site.

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September 2, 2007

Quotable

I think the following quote is pretty good in describing part of the relationship between art and life and some of thepotentially unpredictable aspects of depression, or at the very least it is very well written. It is taken from this good article on the recent suicide attempt by Owen Wilson, that I saw via Jeffrey Overstreet's movie and arts blog.

"Art is always informed by life, but one doesn't automatically predict the other. Depression is a implacably private thing, a fog comprised of biography, present-tense experience and body chemistry. It's as unpredictable as the elements and as unknowable as God. It's an abyss that you fall into, and you either die there or climb out. "

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August 14, 2007

Waiting for Caspian

Rather impatiently I might add, not because I am certain that they are going to do a good job, but because I want to see if they do well enough to get to some of the other books which are far more film friendly in my mind.

At any rate, whilst vainly searching for a trailer, I found this fan trailer on Youtube. Now the quality of the visuals, of course, is not extraordinary, but I think most of ideas for the shots and sequencing are pretty good. Best of all the lines are delivered with such strength that they make the piece. Plus, the acting is pretty good too. Here it is. Enjoy. It all seems to me like some thing that young Wachsmuths and Badenochs (if you know them, I'm sure you're smiling) might put together, and that is a compliment in both directions.

It looks like PrinceCaspian is having fun learning to work with a camera and developing ideas in his head. I am not a film person, but it seems like there is potential here, if for no other reason than the effort these took to make, though I think there is more than that. See particularly "Love Thy Neighbor," "Freedom From Me," and "Wood and Lizards." The age on the profile says 37, so I am not sure if a father is shooting these or the principle actor, and that that is just a fake age.

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August 1, 2007

Bravia Advert II

I don't know if I ever posted a link to the second advertisement for Sony's Bravia television. This one is called "Paint" and involves carefully choreographed explosions of paint on and around a vacant apartment building in Glasgow. I still think I like the first advertisement, "Balls," better, I believe because of the wistful/melancholy song which serves as its soundtrack and because of the more random bouncing of balls, which is often captured in slow motion, but the second ad is truly amazing in its complexity and scale. Be sure to watch the "Behind the scenes" video. The new video can be accessed by clicking on the image above. Oh, be sure to and turn your sound up at the end of "Paint" for a lovely ending. To see the first video again you really must see the extended edition here.

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June 29, 2007

Can't Wait. Dish Me Up Some Ratatouille

Here is an extended clip (gasp). Here is a review from Jeffrey.

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June 28, 2007

Amazing. Truly.

I became aware of this story by reading the blog of an efriend, Joy. It made her cry. It deeply moved me, both because of the power of the performance and the refreshment of truly seeing substance triumph over style, when so often the opposite is the case these days. This audtion is an amazing video, because while watching it you really get the sense that it is like the documenting of a bolt out of the blue.

Paul, it turns out, has had some training and performance experience, but only stictly amateur stuff. Here is his website with more videos.

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June 11, 2007

Once

This past Friday night, several friends and I began a lovely evening by going to see the movie Once, and I highly recommend that you do the same, at least once, and maybe twice as I plan to do when I get the chance. It is a musical for folk who don't like musicals (though you have to be able to at least tolerate a contemporary style of sort of singer-songwriter music). It is a celebration of creativity and friendship. It is a serious look at making a good choice, which more often than not is the harder choice of the two, when you desperately want to do the opposite. It is a beautiful, small film about beauty in the difficulties of life. It makes me want to go to Ireland (though I will more likely go to Scotland to get that fix).

Here is the review that hooked me into seeing this movie, but beware it has major spoilers. Here is the official movie site, which has the trailer and, I believe, loops the entire amazing soundtrack to the film (plus, there are loads of extra video clips lower on the page). And here is the Metacritic site, where it has received an amazing aggregate score. There is more music from the principle actors in the film here and here.

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May 25, 2007

Songs for a Grey Day

They're Scottish. Their music has a melancholy bent to match their homeland. They're Travis, and their videos, which generally have high production values and concepts, are available on Youtube.

Driftwood
-this is the first Travis song I heard and probably is my favorite. The video is pretty cool too, imagining the taking of a school picture at a girls school and the lads as the school teachers. Cool slow motion when it rains.

Turn 1 / Turn 2
-I like this song an awful lot too. "Turn 1" is my favorite Travis video, I think. "Don't doubt my Chi." And the lass is nice.

Why Does it Always Rain On Me
-A little strange, but it is set on the Scottish moors, Fran Healy's wearing a kilt (contemporary though it be), and there is a cool stunt. What's not to like?

Flowers in the Window-An even stranger video, though it does rather celebrate pregnancy nicely. In an interview I read or heard, Fran is a feminist. The single image of a non-Travis male in this video is a bit unsettling. I don't know exactly what to make of it and whether that was Travis' choice or the director's, whom I think they tend to generally give a free hand.

Closer / Click here to loop the audio of Closer...it bears repeated listens.
-This is their latest. Quirky. Ben Stiller. The melody is oh so lovely.

There are other nice Travis songs and videos. This will have to do for now though. Enjoy.

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May 3, 2007

Interesting Linkin Park Video

I did not know much about the music of Linkin Park until I went to a Francis Schaeffer lecture about their music presented by Travis Scott. I did not subsequently go out and buy a bunch of their albums as they are a touch heavy for my tastes for me to listen to them on a consistent basis. Yet, having borrowed some CD's for a while and having watched some videos at Travis' talk, I certainly appreciated both the music and searching lyrics and images they present in some of their songs.

Travis has a link to their most recent video here and invites discussion. I have put in my two cents there and so will not do so here. I think the video is well worth watching, and be sure to jump in to the discussion if you are inclined. If you are a Linkin Park fan, make sure to check the article version of Travis' talk as well.

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May 2, 2007

Spiderman 3 Gets 3.5 Stars Out of 4...

...from Jeffrey Overstreet, a favorite film reviewer of mine. Here is his review and discussion questions. I thought of including a gratuitous picture of "the radiant Kirsten Dunst," as Overstreet describes her, but decided on this cool, bad Spidey picture instead.

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April 30, 2007

Elizabeth I in Elizabeth 2

So are you still bummed, as I am, that in 1998 the fluffy Shakespeare in Love won best picture over Elizabeth and, more criminally, Mrs. Chris Martin won best actress over Cate Blanchett. The final moments of Elizabeth are powerful and chilling.

Well, if you are still bummed, then perhaps The Golden Age will help soothe the sting. Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, and Samantha Morton...it should be good. Here's the trailer. Here's the official site.

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April 27, 2007

If these old walls, If these old walls could speak...

If you follow the links and have read some of the articles which I have written in catapult magazine, you may know that my relationship with Christian music is somewhat conflicted and distant. It once meant a great deal to me, though, and some albums truly rise above the simple and restrictive moniker of Christian music. Last weekend, as I was cleaning my room (an activity which itself can be both melancholy and invigorating, with each of these emotions competing for preeminence), I listened to Amy Grant's Lead Me On (1988) and remembered just how much I love that album and how good some of the songs on it are. And evidently CCM magazine agreed, listing it their top Christian album ever. Here is Lead me On on Rhapsody (sign up and get 25 free listens).

I confess that I do not claim to be an expert on Amy Grant's music as a whole. I checked out somewhere after Heart in Motion, when she headed down a somewhat more pop direction. It was not that I minded, the songs were decent, but in some ways were a step down from what I had heard on Lead Me On. And when she and Gary Chapman divorced and she shortly thereafter remarried Vince Gill, well, I pretty much, angrily, dismissed her altogether. (Whether that anger was jutified or useful or righteous or not will have to wait for another post. My thoughts on divorce are complex, full of emotion, and perhaps evolving). Since then, though, my attitude to her has settled more into disappointment and resignation, not at her so much as to the the prevalence of these sorrows in the world itself, in my life even. What made the failure of her marriage particularly so painful, though, partly was due to what I thought then was the tough idealism of Lead Me On, which evidently was neither tough or idealistic enough.

Here are some quick takes on some tracks that stand out.

Continue reading "If these old walls, If these old walls could speak..."

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April 19, 2007

As You Like It ::: Branagh ::: Ninjas ::: Romola Garai

Indeed. This new adaptation from Branagh has them all and Kevin Kline and Alfred Molina and Dallas Bryce Howard. I must confess, I have not read As You Like It, so am a bit in the dark.

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April 9, 2007

Another Myspace Success Story-Kate Walsh

Kate is nothing like the Arctic Monkeys, but like them has leveraged Myspace to achieve some notereity. Nice voice, nice mellow music. Here is an article. Here is her Myspace page (a very nice Myspace page, I might add-white space, no clutter). She does have some weird background vocals on "Don't Break My Heart Again," though not as bizarre as the 50s-ish ones on K.T. Tunstall's song "Stoppin the Love." Strange.

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March 14, 2007

Name Dropping

Despite my comments on my recent article on music, on rare occassions I actually get ahead of the musical curve or at least track with it. Sometimes this occurs because I have been listening to Virgin Radio, which being a pop station located across the pond occassionally provides me with either new music finds or finds that are new to me. I think the station is responsible for introducing me to at least Travis, Keane, and K. T. Tunstall. I can't remember if there are anymore just now.

More often than not, though, I am am introduced to a new artist through a friend. One of the bands I was turned on to last year was the Arctic Monkeys (click here for their favorite song of mine featuring Hermione Granger, even though the version is not great, and here for a clever video involving Paddy Considine, the lead, male actor from In America).

I was introduced to Lilly Allen, by flatmate Sweet Chicken (yeah, I tossed "flatmate" in there just for the Brit-ish vibe). I am not sure I am going to go out and buy her CD, but her music is fun and her lyrics witty, even if rather saucy at times. On her album cover she seems to be cultivating the image of a chav (a British social group I find fascinating for some reason), which the Monkeys also do a bit. Their album Whatever People Say That I Am, That's What I'm Not was almost a chav concept album.

Lilly, though, grew up in a rather privileged upbringing. In this NPR article, which links to a number of her songs, she is described thusly, "Allen says most people in her life are fair game, and she likens her music to a diary of her life." Musically, "Her musical influences draw from the many albums she listens to, and include ska, hip-hop, New Orleans jazz and polkas." And here is NPR audio review by Ken Tucker with audio clips and, well, an NPR-ish critique, "she presents a cheerful, even vehement, positivism that gives her demands for respect, her contempt for authority, a wallop." And here is her Myspace (MY-Severly, Pathetically, Aesthecially-Challenged Expression) page.

Namedropping over. For now at least ;)

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February 23, 2007

Twas Grace That Taught My Heart to Fear

I would encourage you all to catch Amazing Grace this weekend and help give it a good opening box office. And it is getting pretty good reviews. Joe Williams from the post did not like it because it did not focus on the perspective of slaves much at all. This may be a fair criticism, and perhaps a better, fuller movie could have been made, but Wilberforce is still well worth celebrating. Here is Joe's review and St. Louis movie times and locations. Here is a more positive review. And here is the trailer.

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January 31, 2007

Heartbreakingly Beautiful

I am not a huge Wizard of Oz fan, by any means. I find the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sung by Judy Garland and others as dreamy, somewhat wistful, and somewhat sappy all at once. I find the medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World" sung by Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole heartbreakingly beautiful. It weighs my heart with sad joy and makes it soar all at once. It has been used with several movies and commercials, and I can completely understand why, as it would lend its qualities to whatever it is coupled with. I first heard it during the credits of the film Finding Forrester, which I enjoyed quite a bit on its own, and stood in the half-lit theater while the credits rolled, soaking it in.

You can hear it on Youtube here over a montage of images of Iz's life and the spreading of his ashes at sea. Sadly, unchecked obesity led to a short life of 38, though from afar they seem like a happy 38. If you want to hear a cleaner copy of the song, click here. Rhapsody will give you something like 25 free listens when you sign up. While your there, check out Iz's Hawaiian version of John Denver's "Country Roads." Nice.

I have done a Melancholdy/Beautiful post before about songs that make me ache. Do you know the feeling? Do you have a song?

And how nice is the ukulele.

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September 26, 2006

Side of the Road

One of my happiest thrift store music finds turned out to be a tape of Lucinda Williams' self-titled release from 1988. It cannot really be purchased any more as a CD and only a few places as a download, though MSN music has it for a good price (you can hear a sample of "Side of the Road" here). Almost every song on here is brilliant in a country-blues sort of way, with many describing life in depressed rural Louisiana. "Passionate Kisses," which was later, and rather more successfully, recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter is on here too, and is the peppiest song on the album.

Perhaps my favorite song on the album, though, is "Side of the Road." There was a time when I would have reacted strongly, in fear, against this sentiment if I were in a relationship and my partner had expressed it. I would understand it pretty well now I think. Indeed, I believe I would own it for myself at times, understanding the need for separation...reflection...creation...recreation...reconnection. The words are brilliant, but your really have to hear the song to get the full effect. Favorite stanza? 2.

Side of the Road

You wait in the car on the side of the road
Lemme go and stand awhile, I wanna know you're there but I wanna be alone
If only for a minute or two
I wanna see what it feels like to be without you
I wanna know the touch of my own skin
Against the sun, against the wind

I walked out in a field, the grass was high, it brushed against my legs
I just stood and looked out at the open space and a farmhouse out a ways
And I wondered about the people who lived in it
And I wondered if they were happy and content
Were there children and a man and a wife?
Did she love him and take her hair down at night?

If I stray away too far from you, don't go and try to find me
It doesn't mean I don't love you, it doesn't mean I won't come back and
stay beside you
It only means I need a little time
To follow that unbroken line
To a place where the wild things grow
To a place where I used to always go

La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la
La la la la, la la la, la la la, la la la
If only for a minute or two
I wanna see what it feels like to be without you
I wanna know the touch of my own skin
Against the sun, against the wind

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August 18, 2006

My Comments on Comments by Gimli, or is it Treebeard

Here is a link to some remarkable comments by John Rhys-Davies relating the war against Islamic extremism and the Lord of the Rings. I am particularly pleased with my comment on this post, so I thought I would post a link to post and comments. Jump in if you like.

Or perhaps this is just a sneaky way to get you to check out my favorite film reviewer. No, I eschew sneakiness! Or am trying to more and more anyway.

Here is his movie review blog (Updated frequently).
Here is his main reviews page, which includes books and music. Jeffrey is a huge Sam Phillips and Over the Rhine fan.
And an article about him.

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August 7, 2006

"The frost, sometimes it makes the blade stick"

That is a line from a movie I forgot I rather like a lot and just got done watching. Sure it is largely just Braveheart (which I like to say that I will watch at the drop of a head) in sandals and togas and true it does have a rather disturbing brother/sister relationship plotline (though thankfully this is seen as abhorrent and not dwelt upon) and it does have a fair bit of blood, but I like it nonetheless. And even though it portrays a pagan conception of heaven, without any notion of going to see God almighty first and foremost, I like its focus on seeing loved ones again. And the cinematography and soundtrack really help in accentuating this, the soundtrack particularly. With these and its notions of honor and valor, it rather gets all my emotions going.

Also immediately after watching this in the cinema and even now I think Connie Nielsen would have made a wonderful Jadis, aka the White Witch, for the Narnia movie. I think she would have been better than Tilda Swinton. Connie is rather lovely in this movie, but she is also tall and imperious and I think she could pull off the severe/beautiful evil look that Jadis is meant to have.

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August 2, 2006

Movie Tag

I am sure there are many variations of these questions out there on the web, but here are some I came up with based on our recent questionaire on books that made the rounds. Enjoy! Plus, if you have more than one film in each category, no worries, list 'em.

1) What is a movie that changed the way you think and act? Or just got you thinking, if the first question is too intimidating.

This is a tough one. Who wrote these questions? The Mission.

2) It's a late autumn evening and rainy and cold? What do you have for dinner/snack? What movie do you pop in the DVD player?

I make some clam chowder with garlic and butter. Perhaps have some smoked oysters on toast. Some sweet milky tea and something sweet. Or just have some popcorny butter instead. Or pizza and coke. OK, Neil, enough with the food! For the movie, I think I have to pick one of the Austen movies. Pride and Prejudice (BBC), Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, or Emma.

3) You are off to wee Himalayan hamlet for a year, your laptop hard drive can hold one film. What will it be?

Pride and Prejudice

4) What movie made you laugh the hardest? What movie made you cry?

*Not huge on comedies. The Princess Bride.
*Shadowlands made me cry. The Return of the King, I think. Well, at least the book does.

5) Favorite actor (female, male)?

*Emily Watson, Emma Thompson, Kirsten Dunst, Franka Potente
*Russel Crowe-Yeah he's a bad boy, but so cool in movies--"The frost, it makes the blade stick." Ethan Hawke.

6) What book or story would you like to see made into a film or what book do you love that could never be made into a film?

Perelandra by C. S. Lewis could never be made into film, not the least reason being because the main characters are naked for most of the novel, but also because I cannot imagine a filmmaker could portray goodness and innocence well. Evil is easy to portray. Pure goodness, I think, we have lost are ability to imagine, almost. Lewis does a pretty good job at it.

7) What is a movie that immediately after you watched it, you wish you hadn't?

*Ransom-bloody and vengeful
*Howard's End-the depressing conclusion of lives lived outside of moral strictures.

8) Do you read movie reviews? Before, after, never? Whose reviews do you find the best? Are you an analyzer?

Yes, and generally before seeing the movie. Sometimes this is to my detriment; often though it heightens and feeds my enjoyment. Jeffrey Overstreet. And, yup, I'm one of those.

9) What movie do you think is a must see, but that you can only recommend with caveats? What movie do you really like, but can only recommend with caveats?

*Magnolia
*The Boxer-Daniel Day Lewis, Emily Watson, bleak Irish weather, boxing--Alas, it features a lot of the Irish national word (hint it begins with an "f") and is really about adultery.

10) What movie do you most wish to share with your friends?

About a Boy

Now tag at least 5 people.

Heather
Claire newbie!
Heidi V.
Heidi H.
Tanya
Angela
Laura

No gentlemen? My boys don't blog no mo!

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July 31, 2006

An Illiterate Librarian Plays Tag

Well, I have been tagged by Heather over at Street Acrobatics, in a game which will illustrate just how much of an illterate librarian/almost-english-major I actually am.

Here we go. If you are tagged at the end, please join the chain and play along, if you like that is:

1. One book that changed your life:
*The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass It made it OK to breathe, amidst spastic fits of laughter. A great book to read out loud.
*Perelandra which made me pay attention to Lewis. It makes the holiness and innocence of Pre-Fall life seem not boring, but Life itself.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
*Lewis' books.
*Tolkien's books.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
The Lord of the Rings

4. One book that made you laugh:
The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass

5. One book that made you cry:
Only one?
*The Lord of the Rings
*Anne of Green Gables
*A Severe Mercy,
*The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass
These all made me cry from being overwhelmed by Goodness, in some cases by Mercy too.

6. One book that you wish had been written:
The Perfect Love that Casts Out Fear or just Perfect Love

7. One book that you wish had never been written:
*The Da Vinci Code
*The Left Behind series

8. One book you’re currently reading:
The Children of Men by mystery writer P.D. James, though it is not a mystery per se. I am re-reading this to remember why I liked it in the first place, though I know it is life affirming in a very Christian sense. Movie, which may or may not be good, in the Autumn.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
The Silence of Adam I need to re-read it and this time actually read the kick-your-butt final chapters.

10. Now tag five people:
*Jesse-this is a sneaky way to get another blog entry from Bacon's Great
*Lloyd- Ditto
*Kirk
*Sarah
*Meg

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July 21, 2006

The Strong Hand of Love-The Music of Mark Heard.

In the mid-1990's my brother Virgil and I got into an artist named Mark Heard. His story is somewhat sad in that he was an incredibly gifted, complex, and subtle artist working in the CCM industry, which at the time had little room for either complexity or subtlety. He passed away after a series of heart attacks, the first occurring during a show at the Cornerstone Festival. He left behind a wife and daughter.

He provides an interesting place in my music listening journey, because he was one of the first artists I listened to who honestly reflected on the difficulty of life, even from a Christian perspective. I can remember talking to Virgil about whether listening to his music was quite healthy for the emotions and one's spiritual life. It was a completely valid question for me at the time, but seems somewhat quaint now.

Sadly, Mark Heard really lived at the wrong time. In today's environment when Christian music has become more open and less restrictive and after the alt-country boom of the 1990's, Mark Heard would have had no problem thriving.

Mark Heard is not always the easiest person to listen to, as his vocals are not his strongest suit. My friend Tim Garrett was saying last night that Mark Heard is like Bob Dylan for him, in that he likes his songwriting and lyricism but much perfers it when he hears someone else singing his work. There are some tribute albums where you can do just that and hear other people interpret his work, though the covers are by no means always better.

The best album to get into the music of Mark Heard itself is High Noon (which you will likely have to buy used),

as it collects the past songs off of his last three albums or so. Here are the lyrics to two of my favorites songs, with a link to listen to the latter provided a the end of this post.

__________________________________

I Just Wanna Get Warm

The mouths of the best poets
Speak but a few words
And then lay down
Stone cold in forgotten fields
Life goes on in this ant farm town
Cold to the lifeblood underfoot
All talk and no touch
And I just wanna be real
I just wanna be real

The colors here are monochrome
Studies in one shade of grey
The good times and the hard times
Cut from the same grey cloth
And all the fires that crackle here
Consume but do not burn
All light and no heat
And I just wanna get warm
I just wanna get warm

The days they rattle past me
Like a tunnel round a train
Landscapes and heartaches
I don't know what I feel
All I know is my condition
Is worse than I can tell
The small talk and the slow burn
And I just wanna be healed
I just wanna get well

There are things I should remember
But I have forgotten how
I'm all tied up with no time
Trying do too much
And the thoughts that I've avoided
Are the ones I need right now
Like a warm wind and love's hand
And I just wanna be touched
And I just wanna be real
And I just wanna be well
And I just wanna be healed
And I just wanna be warm

__________________________________

Strong Hand Of Love

Down peppers the rain from a clear blue sky
Down trickles a tear on a youthful face
Feeling in haste and wondering why
Up struggles the sun from a wounded night
Out venture our hearts from their silent shrouds
Trying to ignite but wondering how

We can laugh and we can cry
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows
We can dance and we can sigh
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows

Young dreamers explode like popped balloons
Some kind of emotional rodeo
Learning too slow and acting too soon
Time marches away like a lost platoon
We gracefully age as we feel the weight
Of loving too late and leaving too soon

We can laugh and we can cry
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows
We can dance and we can sigh
And never see the strong hand of love hidden in the shadows

Click here to listen to "Strong Hand of Love" sung by Bruce Cockburn.

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May 30, 2006

Get a Charge-The Current

Just a quick post from work to let you all know about a cool online radio station I am listening to just now. My friend Annette recommended it as a good source to find new "Finds" in Indie music and to hear what's new from old favorites. And, in my brief listening, I have already found this to be true. Good stuff.

The Current comes to you from Minnesota Public Radio. I would recommend keeping their page open also as you listen as it lets you know who is "Now Playing," always a nice feature.

Also, make sure check out the free track, The Henney Buggy Band, from Sufjan Steven's upcoming album The Avalanche which consists of extra tracks from the Illinois recording sessions.

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May 6, 2006

Eclecticism-In the CD player, on the radio, on the Net

Well, over the past few months I have given serious listening to the following eclectic artists and albums, in chronological order.

Genre: Folk

Several months ago my friend Claire loaned me this CD, which spent several weeks in my car's CD player. Redbird is a sort of folk supergroup, if that is not an oxymoron, consisting of Kris Delmhorst (who, at times, has a voice like smoke), Peter Mulvey, Jeffrey Foucault and David Goodrich. On this album the artists sing each other songs and do covers of artists such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tom Waits and REM as well as singing traditional folk songs. The results are brilliant. I like almost every track on this album, and many tracks I like a lot, including "Ships," "Buckets of Rain," "Moonshiner," "You are the Everything." Favoriter track: "Ithaca," which has some killer lines,

It took this much to make me see
Still I barely understand
Love will always, always be larger and different than our plans

Love will never listen to us
And why should it?
Love knows the score
It builds better songs than we do
It sings in better metaphors.

Genre Guess: Quirky, pop rock

I first heard about Andrew Bird on Jeffrey Overstreet's site. Then a student worker at the library loaned me her copy, which also spent several weeks in the car stereo player. You can listen to the entire album online for free here. The lyrics are often bizarre, sometimes insightful; the music is often quirky, always catchy, sometimes beautiful. Favorite tracks: "Fake Palindromes" and "Masterfade." Favorite lyric, from "Measuring Cups:"

Get out your measuring cups and we'll play a new game
Come to the front of the class and we'll measure your brain
We'll give you a complex and we'll give it a name

Get out your measuring cups and we'll play a new game
Can't have the cream when the crop and the cream are the same
Liquid or gas no more than the glass will contain

When you talk about the hand of glory
A tale that's rather grim and gory
Is it just another children's story that's been de-clawed?
When the tales of brothers Grimm and Gorey have been outlawed

Genre guess: Melodic Punk

My friend Anna loaned me the Arctic Monkey's CD Whatever People Say That I am, That's What I'm Not a few weeks ago, and despite intial revulsion because it is generally quite hard, it has been in the CD player for two weeks. Do you see a patter developing here? I really have no business liking this CD so much, as this excellent review of it in the Gaurdian points out, "For the most part, however, anyone over 30 who finds themselves reflected in Turner's stories of alcopop-fuelled punch-ups and drunken romantic lunges in indie clubs should consider turning the album off and having a long, quiet think about where their life is heading." My life is not nearly that desperate, but I am rather surprised at how much I enjoy the music. Perhaps it is a delayed adolesence. I do like the mellow tracks the best, though. Favorite tracks: "Mardy Bum," "A Certain Romance," "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor." Three songs can be heard and seen in videos here.

The writing is clever, and it is fun to hear the singer sing in an English accent with a heavy dialect. As Anna and Morgan point out, even the swear words sound cool. It is also somewhat of a concept album, with the songs chronicling the night life of a rather depressed English city and its youth, and the album art chronicle, more or less, the day of the character (not a band member) pictured on the album cover. While researching the album I also came a cross a new definition: a chav.

Favorite lyrics:

From "Mardy Bum:" Def. of "mardy" here.

Now then Mardy Bum
I see your frown
And it's like looking down the barrel of a gun
And it goes off
And out come all these words
Oh there's a very pleasant side to you
A side I much prefer

It's one that laughs and jokes around
Remember cuddles in the kitchen
Yeah, to get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember
That on a day like today when you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on

From "A Certain Romance," a song describing chavs:

Over there there's broken bones
There's only music, so that there's new ringtones
And it doesn’t take no Sherlock Holmes
To see it's a little different around here

Genre Guess: Folk/Blues/Country

I have not heard all of the album Where the People Eat by Willy Mason, but heard a good interview with him on NPR's On Point:

Singer songwriter Willy Mason is twenty-one years old, a slightly-known post-grunge American roots singer in his native USA, and a full-blown platinum-selling celebrity abroad.

He grew up, just, on Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine and his parents folk music. He was discovered plunking away on Martha's Vineyard by Nebraska rock iconoclast Conor Oberst, "Bright Eyes."

Now young Willy Mason is being compared to Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. He's opening for Radiohead. And he's been pushed out front as the voice of a new generation looking for the real, the true, in a time of spin and sell.

Several videos are available on his web site. Several songs are available on his Myspace page. I would recommend listening to his UK hit "Oxygen" before seeing the video. Its idealistic and hopeful lyrics are reproduced below. This guy is twenty-one. Wow.

I wanna be better than oxygen
So you can breathe when you're drowning and weak in the knees
I wanna speak louder than Ritalin
For all the children who think that they've got a disease
I wanna be cooler than t.v.
For all the kids that are wondering what they are going to be
We can be stronger than bombs
If you're singing along and you know that you really believe
We can be richer than industry
As long as we know that there's things that we don't really need
We can speak louder than ignorance
Cause we speak in silence every time our eyes meet.

On and on, and on it goes
The world it just keeps spinning
Until i'm dizzy, time to breathe
So close my eyes and start again anew.

I wanna see through all the lies of society
To t