Juno

I just watched this again. Love starting movies at midnight. It's like the 20th time I've seen it, but for the record I haven't watched it in a while, so it was with kinda fresh eyes. The basic story is a sixteen year old girl is bored, has sex with her best friend, Paully and she gets pregnant and finds adoptive parents. Yeah, that's true and all. But I guess what I love in this is the humor in every scene, the sarcastic, slang slinging, funny catch phrases that come out. Completely random. Like the hamburger phone. Or the music choices. The Melvins, Mott the Hoople, MewithoutYou, Bowie cover, a lot of cool stuff. Basically, you are laughing the whole way through. And it's sharp witted like you wouldn't believe. Love that.
The odd thing that I realized when watching this, it's a lot like Rushmore (Wes Anderson), except it's not quite as awkward. Trust me, if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about. Similar humor, but so wildly different. It looked interesting so I watched it. So should you.

Whip It!

I am a sucker for Ellen Page films. Just saying. Also just got done watching it...so it's fresh in my mind and I'm buying this when I have cash. It's 3am. I have worked my butt off all week on schoolwork staying up till 2 and need to crash, but what am I doing? Writing this blog listening to Cake and other random music. But this movie needs to be told about, yeah it got a lot of hype but people should actually watch it, not talk just about it. First off, here's a fun fact: The restaurant portion was filmed in my small town. The pig?? Yeah, that's been around the area for a while, being decorated by local businesses. I think that's pretty awesome. Seeing it on the way to school makes me smile. Now, a bit more. An old diner was transformed to become a location. Proud of that, especially with the film industry moving itself to Michigan to help the economy. I applaud that :) More and more filming is going to be happening here, which makes me so elated, I can't even describe. So please be excited that all this business is coming here, I know I am.

But this story is so much cooler than that. And it's oddly ironic with my life.. read on... WARNING: possibly I slip in some spoilers, but I'll try not to ;)

This story takes place in Bodeen, TX. Small town. Bliss (main character- Ellen Page) goes to school, works at the Oink Joint, and does pageants for her mom even though she doesn't believe in them. Then one day they visit Austin (so want to visit there), where they visit this vintage shop where the team of Roller Derby girls comes in announcing their newest game. Liz is then hooked, wanting to go see it. She goes. Sees a whole new life ahead of her. The thing is with Roller Derby, it's more than just tough girls beating the crap out of each other...it's female empowerment. It's this kinda thing where this idea is now being talked about, where girls are getting their aggression out in a good way with people who care about them instead of getting in trouble. Makes sense. Think about it. But when she learns that she loves it, Bliss finds another family instead of her dull life in Bodeen. After her first game, at the after party she meets this awesome musician dude-- in all honesty, I wish he had better hair haha, who with a cute smile and sense of humor with great music taste captures her heart.
That's the beginning. No spoilers yet :)
Her best friend, who is trying to get into Ivy League schools is common, we all have a friend doing that, or know of someone like that. Another thing that makes me love this film. The relation to my actual life, which is kinda freaky, but in a good way.

WARNING: Kinda-sorta spoiler.

It's weird, I live in a small town that I don't necessarily love and been considering moving closer to the city so I can be closer to the things and people I love, and it's all about finding yourself and being yourself. Being a strong, independent woman-- who is a complete bada$$. I am all for that! I guess that's where it relates to me, I am normally going for my own thing while everyone else has their own lives to worry about,I live in small town, friends with musicians, and I am thinking about moving closer to the city...but one thing that sticks out from the film is that one of the characters say "don't throw out your old family because you have a new one," trying to do that, but have made better friends who actually know and care about the same things, who relate to me more...who understand. You don't have to explain certain things, they already know. For example, one of my newest, really good friend and I started talking to because we like similar music or well he started talking to me. I don't have to explain who Tom Waits is. Or Fellini. Or James Dean. Oh my God, that would be awful. I'd be sad. Know what I mean?
Also, you get to learn about Roller Derby. It's awesome,it's like football with rollerskates. Tough, contact sport. Kind of reminds me of soccer/rugby too. But a bit vicious. It is also a sub-culture thing, not everyone knows about it. Nor do they care to know. The Roller Derby idea hasn't hit everywhere, even though it would be awesome if it did. Oh, the music in this film is fantastic, I had to keep pulling out my phone to figure out who the artists are with Song ID.
Drew Barrymore directed this and has a guest spot in it. It's her directorial debut, and with all her film experience shows she can do this. It was an awesome feature, showing something current (with the insight into Roller Derby) with a mainstay theme of growing up. It's awesome, from the art direction, idea, all of it. And I'm really tempted to try it, even though when I put on rollerskates the last time, I fell. An epic fall, but it was hilarious so I didn't care :)

I'm buying this. Going to watch it again this weekend. When I'm supposed to be studying.

Photo Credits of Non-Whip It! Roller Derby pics: Lisa Lin Olsen. Thanks!
They are taken at a local Roller Derby league... no actors.
And I did watch Juno too. Ellen Page double-feature. And I'm going to watch Whip It! again... like within the next hour or two...

Damien Rice's O

I have heard of Damien Rice plenty of times, but discovered his music when going through random YouTube Paolo Nutini trails, he sang "La Fille Danse" by the way that song isn't on this album but even in two different languages it still remains awe-inspiring. His female accompaniment, Lisa Hannigan creates an creative and unique spin with his voice. O starts with the song, "Delicate" which it is in many ways, from the soft vocals and calming words of his love, even though it may be a confused love and treating everything delicately in the relationship. "Volcano" is one of my favorites on this record, I don't really know why. The lyrics are amazing, for example "You give me miles and miles of mountains/And I'll ask for the sea" even though they are sweet and heartfelt, and with Lisa's own style to add a different spin on things. Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, born in Dublin who has hit up most of the major folk festivals around the world, known for his talent with words and with playing many instruments, such as guitar, cello, violin, piano, and drums. He can be a one man band. He started in a band Juniper, where they produced singles and got signed, but after not enjoying that success he ventured going solo, which O is an example of this. "The Blower's Daughter" was the initial hit from the album, with good reason. A simple, beautiful love song that starts with "And so it is/Just like you said it would be/Life goes easy on me/Most of the time," what can I say. Just listen to it. His collaboration with Lisa is like Glen Hansard's and Marketa Irglova's of Once and The Frames. Maybe it's the Irish singer-songwriter thing that I like. It just works. I don't quite know. Well, "Cannonball" proceeds, and it's strange, how in this album all I want to do is just give you lyrics to give you the hint of what the song is like... not describe it myself. Let Damien speak through it through his words...or his words say it better. So here they are, "Stones taught me to fly/Love, it taught me to lie/Life, it taught me to die/So it's not hard to fall/When you float like a cannonball." Holy crap. Amazing. I am in awe of lyrics like that. Those are the kind of lyrics that I listen to over and over again because of how well they intertwine with the musical composition and yet it is filled with so much emotion. Holy crap. Now, the next song has started playing, "Older Chests" that brings me back to old Celtic folk tales, like in the portion of lyrics "They watch their city change/Children scream, or so it seems,/Louder than before/Out of doors, into stores with bigger names/Mama tried to wash their faces/But these kids they lost their graces/And daddy lost at the races too many times." A modern folk song, so I'd say. I love how he puts words together and creates a story, a scene, a passing of time. The change of pace transitions, as "Amie" a song about growing up, maturing, filled with guitars and violins that produces such great emotional depth that makes you feel the same emotions he feels. "Cheers Darlin' " follows, and it sort of reminds me of M. Ward's cover of Bowie's "Let's Dance" with the similar atmosphere and attitude of dancing and singing with your lover, even though the songs are so different. That's a combination. Bowie+ Damien Rice+ M. Ward. Imagine that collaboration. I'd buy it. But that's just me. "Cold Water" starts out with piano playing, and is a duet of Damien and Lisa's, where they sing of always loving each other. Oh so mellow, and yet so calming at the same time. I've switched from listening on my speakers to earbuds, so much better. I can't quite describe the deep, bass like voices during the choruses but they are freaking amazing with their ability to fill the room. Lisa starts out the next song, "I Remember" is all her; writing about how she remembers the times with Damien when they were dating, falling in love. Then Damien unexpectedly comes in with a cry begging to be back together. They are split up, by the way. I love the guitars at the end of this. Awesome. Competely unforeseen. "Eskimo" ends the album, with a 16 minute tribute to his "eskimo friend when he's down." Whoever that eskimo friend may be, that friend is very lucky. His lyrics are amazing. "Tiredness fuels empty thoughts/I find myself disposed/Brightness fills empty space/In search of inspiration/Harder now with higher speed" That's all I have to say. And even when "Eskimo" seems over, keep on listening. Now listen to the album on repeat and you won't be sorry.

7 Tattoos: A Memoir in the Flesh by Peter Trachtenburg

I just finished reading this book last night, and since I haven't put any literature stuff up on here lately, thought why not?
Honestly I loved this book, partly because of my interest in tattoo design and the stories and reasons why the person is inked. And how they got it done, feelings when the got it done...the whole story I guess. I forgot to mention he was a short fiction author before this literary endeavor. And the book delivered. I love how into tattoo design Peter is, and how he brings up origins of his sketches, and that he actually visited the places where they were inspired by. Super cool. I don't know how he did this, but the whole time I felt like I was chatting with him in a tattoo shop, with the needles going off with Slam (his main tattoo artist) giving him a touch-up or a new design, yet deeply know him as a person. And somehow his style of writing reminds me of Chuck Palahnuik, talking about times in his life in the Village when he was a drug addict. But I really liked his honesty, with the situation and himself. That's hard to pull off. Peter discusses his travels to Malaysia to see the real tribal tattoos to see the Dayaks that started the trend to where it is now considered a classic design category, and the curiosity in that intrigued me. I also want to travel. His references to all sorts of things made me enjoy the book even more-> whether it be music, films, or just popular culture. It felt like he was talking to me, not just babbling about his tattoos. His life story is on his body, with the art that reflects his life-- in most ways throughout life that creates many different meanings. For example, a few of his tattoos are religious based, and seeing that he went to a Jewish religious school it makes sense, but he isn't strictly any religion-- which I also find to be interesting and admire in this literature. While reading the book, whether it be before bed, on the beach, or just relaxing I always wanted to read more and didn't want to put my bookmark in. My brother and mother both read this before I did, and they are both tattooed, and they said it was a great book. I honestly agree. It hits more on just the art, it touches on adolescence,world religions, people (in general) and our life's stories. Which I am really into hearing people's and learning from them, and telling them to more people (if they permit, of course). It is a journey of him finding himself and reflecting his life using his 7 tattoos. Fantastic book. The writing is real, raw, edgy and holds nothing back, and a delight to read if you are interested in unique autobiographies, tattoos in general and in depth, people's stories and psychology, relationships (any), Darren Aronoskfy films and Chuck Palahnuik books and concepts, even Tom Waits too. :)

Starting Stranger than Fiction by Palahnuik tonight. No it is not the Will Ferrell movie, it is a collection of stories about the oddities of the world we live in. My brother just finished it also.

This book also made me incredibly excited for Kat Von D's sophomore book- The Tattoo Chronicles which is going to be released on October 26, 2010. =]

Check them out!

(500) Days of Summer.

A boy meets girl. But it is not a love story. The film starts out with a song by Regina Spektor, with photos and videos of the boy and girl's childhood. I knew from the second that started I was going to like this film. Notice film being used instead of movie. Well, there is this boy, ok adult named Tom (Jordan Gorden-Levitt), a boy who grew up in New Jersey listening to British pop songs, and movies filled with perfect love stories, and somehow misinterpreted The Graduate's ending. And the girl, Summer (Zooey Deschanel) was from a small town in Michigan, riding horses and had a 60's haircut, yet cut it herself after her parents divorce. Tom is in LA, to go pursue his dreams of being an architect, yet he works writing greeting cards. And on just a normal day, Summer shows up. The day was no longer normal. He tries to get her attention, and while on the elevator he puts on his headphones and they are playing the Smiths (this character scores major points with me) and she says into his ear "Smiths. I love The Smiths." Tom is now infatuated. Awww.. you can guess where this is going, the traditional(ish) plotline...the hot guy and pretty girl fall in love.. get married, live happily ever after. But remember, I told you this is not a love story. And all those conceptions you have are ALL wrong. Yup. You are probably wrong. One night, at an office party where they all go to a local bar and sing karaoke one of his friends gets wasted and "accidentally" tells Summer that Tom likes her. UH-OH. The humor is this film is dead-on, sarcastic, using music and film references to explain things, and letting the story roll on. A hint while you are watching it, pay attention to the numbers. It goes back and forth, which I personally love because it makes you have to actually watch the movie as it goes on, and it's not like you can sit there and text the whole time and you can understand what's going on. I really like when you have to sit down and just watch a film to understand it. Less conversation, have some popcorn and watch it :) I love certain scenes, like the couple in the park playing the "Penis" game, or pretending they are married in IKEA running around all the rooms and set-ups, all of that kind of fun stuff...
or Tom asking his little sister for advice on girls, and while this whole supposed love story goes on. Something happens. Summer wants to cut it off. This comes out of nowhere. Completely out of left field. As this shocker comes, they must figure everything out. This is not a love story. It's up to you to watch it and see how it ends, and if you originally came on here for music-- the soundtrack is pretty sweet. Tom wears a Clash shirt, Joy Division (it doesn't say it-- but since I know album art & a JD fan I noticed) and plays The Smiths a lot...
Enjoy it. It's soo good!

Mike Patton.

Mike Patton. aka Genius. Thinking about that today.
Mike is a genius. Flat out. Hands down.
He started out being the lead singer of the alternative metal band, Faith No More, while working on Mr. Bungle. Then after his career with the band, then he started doing many side projects- which turned into some major musical advances showcasing his talent and skill. He came into Faith No More after their lead singer who moved on to another band, and with Mr. Bungle simultaneously. Mr. Bungle is an experimental/avant garde metal group, and are known for their worldwide cult following. It's awesome stuff. Mike Patton has worked with major artists, doing all sorts of vocal styling. Another band he has been in is Tomahawk filled with members of various bands, creating a truly unique sound-- even for the mind bending creativity of Mike Patton. This initial thought that got me to write this blog, was a flashback of watching a video of him and Bjork working together on her album Medulla, and how enthused I became because it is two geniuses working together. Even when he uses special or additional devices, it still remains to be freakin' amazing.
Check out some links of the pair recording:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwcCeQwk1QE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zefkHnDkM1s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7_B3VfrplY&feature=related
Now I need to write on her. I've barely made a dent in all the musical work he had done. Phew. I'm currently listening to Peeping Tom, where he collaborates with many artists of soo many genres (hip hop, electronica, alternative, jazz), and that only makes him more appealing. For example, one of the songs on the album is a duet of Norah Jones and he, singing an unconventional song for each artist. Except with Mike, there is nothing that is unconventional. He has played at Bizarre Fest in Germany. Sometimes I feel overstimulated while listening to his music- with the noises and sounds, coming from multiple instruments and synths or even it could be his voice (he is that talented) *gasp in amazement* His vocal range is probably the most versatile I've ever heard. He can sing falsettos, scat, beat-box, croon, rap, and make his mouth an instrument in of itself, where you can hear in all the projects. He is also known for making the layers of vocals for video games, where the sounds of the game creators use a human voice making the animal noises, like in I Am Legend. Mike is also known for producing music with John Zorn and creating and co-running the label with Greg Werckman, Ipecac Recordings. I am in awe of what this man can do, by bypassing previous ideas of what the human voice can do, creating groundbreaking music, with whatever he touches. His lyrics are also just as bold as he is, being blunt and sarcastic, as in "I know that a-holes grow on trees, but I'm just here to trim the leaves," which I enjoy laughing while listening. That lyric gets me everytime. I love his style so much. He is a genius, for his talent and span of work that is so wide. He is a major influence on music today, and will continue to be. I love hearing whatever he is currently working on. :D

Kind of glad my mom got me into him (along with my inevitable adoration for Tom Waits). I love having parents so into music. Really I do.

**Just a warning, some of his music takes time to enjoy, or you may not like it at all. But that's okay. He has a devoted following. ;) ***

Yeasayer- Odd Blood

This CD was given to me by a friend, a musician. He had me listen to a few songs, and look at some of their lyrics (which I really liked). And, I never heard of Yeasayer so I happily listened. Really enjoyed, completely different sound, yet it seemed familiar because of my recent listening of Mercury Program and other artists mentioned.
They are a electronic/independent/experimental group. Very cool. Sounds oh so familiar and so different at the same time. A part of the Brooklyn, NY music scene, who along with some of the other major electro-pop bands from: Animal Collective, MGMT, Phoenix, Arcade Fire, and Radiohead. Odd Blood, a self-produced studio album starts out with odd experimental sounds as "The Children" plays, with strange vocals that set the mood as these rhythms play and create this odd atmosphere produced by music, and I imagine an electronica version of Tom Waits if instead of using the unconventional, homemade instruments he used a synthesizer. Wish I love that it initially reminds me of one of my favorite artists. The next song, "Ambling Alp" and instantly my head starts bobbing to the beat as Chris Keating singing the lyrics "You must stick up for yourself, son/Never mind what anybody else done" and even though it may not be your traditional way of giving advice to the younger generation, it sure is more fun way of putting it. Also one of my favorite songs on the album. The hooks are fantastic, leaving you singing the lyrics to yourself, which makes sense seeing that it is one of my main singles on the record. "Madder Red" proceeds, and with the high pitched "UUOOOuuuooooUUUOOOOuuuooooUUOO" that starts the song that are arranged with the words "'Cause lately I have wronged you/And not been on your side, love/Maybe I've been gone/Please don't ask me why" that sounds almost seventies and eighties in style. "I Remember" is such a beautiful love song, and has a very personal meaning to one of the members in how he fell in love with his future wife and how he overcame his fear of flying ("I remember making out on an airplane/Still afraid of flying, but with you I die today, woah"). "O.N.E." is like jumping into a rave, and is a track that you can hear the global influences, from the Middle East to Africa, and is a great song to dance to and have a fun time just listening to as the eclectic tastes come together in harmony. "Love Me Girl" continues the album, and the introduction that is very orchestrated and choreographed electro-beats with choruses that almost sound like string instruments, then quickly transitions to an alternative, art, electro song about a love that may be ending, and holding on tight (figuratively and literally) to her. I really enjoy this song, but I am finding a hard way to describe it accurately, so listen to the full song on YouTube. Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=669mGpzuVxo. Ok, I will admit some favoritism, I love the song "Rome," starts out with a combination of classic dance beats from Morocco and Syria, and yet it is filled with an abnormal "bada$$ity" as the chorus plays, "There's no mistaking that/Rome is gonna be mine/It's just a matter of,/It's just a matter of,/It's just a matter of time," even though the lyrics may not be the most meaningful, but it's enjoyable to listen to, like if Tom Wait's "Goin' Out West" was played by synth artists. "Strange Reunions" brings an entirely different ambiance from the earlier tracks, and with lyrics that fade into the layered sound sequences that almost are electronic chants. Repeated claps and when "Mondegreen" begins inspired by the drug-induced paranoia of Bowie's music, and when I was looking up lyrics, found out that the word "mondegreen" is the word that references lyrics that are misheard, so maybe the song has a double meaning, but maybe that's just a hunch. "Grizelda" is the final song of Odd Blood, and seems to be the quietest and most timid composition with the more mellow concepts and ideas, and the group found a muse in Griselda Blanco, after watching Cocaine Cowboys. Got to love how music and film work together. :)
This trio of musicians takes inspiration in a myriad of places, and stimulates the listener with music from the global community, while they are under the impression that they are enjoying just electro-pop music and with phrases and beats that you won't soon forget.
They are currently on tour, so try and see them!

Websites:
http://www.yeasayer.net
http://www.myspace.com/yeasayer
http://twitter.com/oddblood