Category: Music

Modest Mouse/764-HERO

I’m pretty excited. Not only is the film festival going to be great, but now I have tickets to a show by Modest Mouse and 764-HERO. I discovered Modest Mouse about 6 months ago, and think they’re genius. Not easily categorizable (is that a word?), but excellent musicians of the “speed up, slow down, speed up” school. Check them out if you can. And I’m actually looking forward to 764-HERO, too, after downloading some perfectly legal MP3s from the Up Records site.

American cousins, you will soon bow down before us…

Weekend Purchases

Weekend purchases:

  • The Flashing Lights-Where The Change Is – I know they opened for Sloan on their most recent tour, but thanks go to Jack for turning me on to The Flashing Lights!
  • Galaxie 500-The Portable Galaxie 500 – A selection from their entire 3 CD output, released by Ryko.
  • Withnail and I (DVD) – OK, I gave in. I just got it for a decent price. If Criterion comes out with a better version later, I’ll give this away. More people need to see this film anyway.

I’m starting to get excited about the Toronto International Film Festival. This will be my sixth year going, and I usually see between 10-15 films each year. This is the 25th anniversary year, too. I’ve seen so many good films and also movie stars and directors, too. Last year, Brooke got Ralph Fiennes’ autograph, which made her weak at the knees for about a month. I got John Turturro’s a few years ago, but I’m not much of an autograph hound. I find it embarrassing. I’ll try to report on what good stuff I see, as some of it at least will be released later to wide distribution.

Gun Wounds Again?

More music purchased on the weekend:

  • Everclear-So Much For The Afterglow (used)
  • Sinead O’Connor-Faith and Courage

Also, another fun dinner party with Jen and David, with a funny conversation about job titles on the set of porn films (anyone wanna work as a “grip”??). This week, though, will be hellish at work. We have a big deadline, and I’m working practically alone without much of a roadmap. Should be a bumpy week. Got a funny email last Friday which I forwarded to far too many people. Actual subtitles seen in Japanese films:

  1. I am damn unsatisfied to be killed in this way.
  2. Fatty, you with your thick face have hurt my instep.
  3. Gun wounds again?
  4. Same old rules: no eyes, no groin.
  5. A normal person wouldn’t steal pituitaries.
  6. Damn, I’ll burn you into a BBQ chicken!
  7. Take my advice, or I’ll spank you without pants.
  8. Who gave you the nerve to get killed here?
  9. Quiet or I’ll blow your throat up.
  10. You always use violence. I should’ve ordered glutinous rice chicken.
  11. I’ll fire aimlessly if you don’t come out!
  12. You daring lousy guy.
  13. Beat him out of recognizable shape!
  14. I have been scared shitless too much lately.
  15. I got knife scars more than the number of your leg’s hair!
  16. Beware! Your bones are going to be disconnected.
  17. The bullets inside are very hot. Why do I feel so cold?
  18. How can you use my intestines as a gift?
  19. This will be of fine service for you, you bag of the scum. I am sure you will not mind that I remove your manhoods and leave them out on the dessert flour for your aunts to eat.
  20. Yah-hah, evil spider woman! I have captured you by the short rabbits and can now deliver you violently to your gynecologist for a thorough extermination.
  21. Greetings, large black person. Let us not forget to form a team up together and go into the country to inflict the pain of our karate feets on some ass of the giant lizard person.

New Radiohead

Andy has news about the new Radiohead CD coming out. His entry today reminded me that of course OK Computer has to be on my “Desert Island Discs.” So, I’m adding yet another:

  • Radiohead-OK Computer

What are the discs you couldn’t live without?

69 Love Songs

This weekend, I finally sprung the 60 bucks for The Magnetic Fields’ 3-CD set, “69 Love Songs.” With tax, it came to $68.99, just shy of $69, as the store clerk so wittily pointed out. My verdict, based only on Vol.1, is good, very good. Stephin Merritt’s voice takes getting used to, and the arrangements are pretty spare, but the guy has a way with words, and some really beautiful music. It’s all about the love, baby!