My albums of the year

Upon attempting to put this together I realized I listened to a LOT less new music in the last year. Less than at any point in my life since I was probably 14. Not working at Best Buy anymore has really limited a lot of my exposure to unknown stuff. Because of this the list is more a list of my favorite artists that put out albums this year than anything else. The list is also much more arbitrary in it's rankings as well because nothing really blew me away this year. For the hip-hop fans I really wanted to listen to the new Raekwon and Mos Def albums but just never made the time. I also avoided live discs or compilations.


Honorable mention:
Ben Harper & Relentless 7 - White Lies For Dark Times: The heaviest CD Harper has ever made but doesn't sacrifice his soulful vocals.
Bob Mould - Life and Times - A nice summary of the styles Mould has played throughout his career from Husker Du style through Sugar and his previous solo work.
Blakroc - S/T: A really interesting album. Atmospheric Black Keys songs with a great selection of Hip-Hop artists on top. Plus it has ODB!
Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid: Black Keys singer/guitarist solo album needs more of a rock edge to make my list but it's a great listen anyway.
Fastball - Little White Lies: A very underrated guitar pop band who most people likely think of as a 1 hit wonder. All their stuff is solid.
Gov't Mule - By a Thread: They don't do anything much differently than they've done for years and that's a good thing in this case.
Grant Hart - Hot Wax - The other songwriter from Husker Du can still turn out great Guitar rock when he gets around to making an album.
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown: I don't like it nearly as much as American Idiot and I wish they'd bring more punk edge these days but they've gotten really good at writing anthemic rock songs.
Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar: Drive By Truckers frontman's 2nd solo album was recorded over the last 5 years and has some great songs. "Back of a Bible" just kills me.
Son Volt - American Central Dust: A pretty contemplative album by Jay Farrar and crew. I really enjoy most of it but some of the lyrics don't seem to fit.
Them Crooked Vultures - S/T: It probably came out too late in the year and would likely be in the top 10 if I wrote this in a month. It's just a really good heavy rock album.


10. The Black Crowes - Before the Frost: It was recorded live but isn't really a live album. Either way it's just really good. Chris Robinson has never sounded better.

9. Derek Trucks Band - Already Free: Their most accessible album yet. Trucks still plays guitar like a madman and singer Mike Mattison's soul vocals play a much bigger role than past albums.

8. Cracker - Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey: Cracker's "punk" album shows they can still rock and their sense of humor still comes through loud and clear.

7. Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream: A fairly minor album in Bruce's career but still very enjoyable. It's more of a pop album than anything else.

6. Wilco - S/T: Another great album from Wilco. A nice mix of roots rock and their more experimental side as well.

5. Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall: Their 1st album in many years shows off their diversity, from Hardcore to pop punk and some ska the deluxe edition even has acoustic versions as well.

4. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - S/T: It could use more pacing variations as most songs are mid tempo but Jason is an excellent songwriter and it shows.

3. Bob Dylan - Together Through Life: Like Bruce it's a minor album in his career and I'm probably overrating it but it's still fantastic and it really upped the ante on accordion use in rock.

2. Ike Reilly - Hard Luck Stories: I'm biased towards Ike but it doesn't matter his songs are great. They're funny and in a lot of cases poignant.

1. Pearl Jam - Backspacer: Their shortest album ever is fantastic. They don't waste any time with a mediocre song. All killer no filler is appropriate here.

There's my list. Ask me again in 2 weeks and it will probably be different.

Top albums of the decade.

I was drunkenly talking with a buddy of mine the other night about our favorite albums from the last decade. It was very hard for me to do because of alcohol and an extreme decline of music quality IMO. I went through my cd collection and came up with this list while bored. I'm only using 1 album per artist and the rankings are pretty volatile but here is what I came up with. I wanted to do a top 10 but pulled 20 discs and don't feel like narrowing them all down so I'll just rank 'em all with 10 Honorable Mentions and 10 ranks. I'm a punk/roots/classic rock guy so the list is pretty reflective of that. Some are not that well known and most are from earlier in the decade, it must take me a while to fully appreciate newer albums.

Honorable Mention:

Rolling Stones: Bigger Bang (2005)- Their best album in many years.

Bruce Springsteen: The Rising (2002)- The subject matter and timing was perfect for an E-street band reuinion.

Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)- I like "Being There" better but that was in the 90's.

Pulley: Matters (2004)- These guys are a great pop-punk band, "Matters" is my favorite of their albums. Former baseball player Scott Radinsky is ther singer.

The Hold Steady: Almost Killed Me (2004)- All their albums are great but this one wins out for me due to how well it flows.

The Methadones: Not Economically Viable (2004)- Chicago pop-punk at it's finest. Plus it's a loose concept album based on Michael Douglas' character in Falling Down.

The Slackers: Peculiar (2006)- The best traditional ska band in business today. This is their most concise album.

Rise Against: Revolutions Per Minute (2003)- They've become fairly popular the last few albums but this earlier one is my favorite. It's got a harder edge to it and has a pretty rockin but ironic Journey cover. (I hate fvckin' Journey)

Social Distortion: Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004)- I wish they were more prolific because I love Social D. This might not be their best album but it's their only one this decade.

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers: Americano (2004)- My favorite RCPM album, a great example of really solid roots rock.

10. Andrew W.K.: I Get Wet (2002)- The loudest, dumbest/smartest album of the decade. I love it most will likely hate it. Party Hard!

9. Mad Caddies: Just One More (2003) - The most eclectic album on this list. A ska band at it's core, they play punk, ska, reggae, soul, latin and dixieland jazz and mix it all up beautifully.

8. Green Day: American Idiot (2004) - If it wasn't for overexposure this would surely be higher on my list. It's still a very ambitious and fantastic album, I just don't need to hear Blvd of Broken Dreams ever again.

7. Dillinger Four: Vs. God (2000)- Either the heaviest pop punk album or the poppiest hardcore album I've ever heard. This one took a few years to grow on me but it's really amazing, even if the songs all sound the same. Bonus points for being from Minneapolis and for a member owning the Triple Rock.

6. Pearl Jam: Pearl Jam (2006)- A return to hard rock = best PJ album since Vs. There are some great ballads on there as well.

5. Drive-By Truckers: The Dirty South (2004)- It was hard to pick one DBT album but I went with this. 3 Singer/songwriters/Guitar players at the top of their game, not to mention how much it rocks.

4. The Gaslight Anthem: The '59 Sound (2008)- Working class punk. I love this band and specifically this album. I've listened to it so many time in the past year it's ridiculous.

3. The Black Keys: Rubber Factory (2004)- With apologies to the White Stripes these guys are the best 2 person blues-based rock band around. This album is their most consistent. A few acoustic songs balance the album that is otherwise full of ass-kickin songs with surprisingly good production values for being recorded in a basement.

2. Bob Dylan: Love and Theft (2001)- This is in my top 5 Dylan albums of all time which is really saying something. Every song is fantastic and lyrically Dylan still makes me laugh and think better than almost anyone.

1. Ike Reilly Assassination: Sparkle in the Finish (2004)- If I wasn't limiting myself to 1 album per artist Ike would have 3 in this list. He's a more rockin' version of Dylan and just as good a lyricist and songwriter. If you've never heard of Ike I would strongly recommend checking him out. It helps that he plays in the Twin cities about 4 times a year and his shows are always amazing.

Adventureland: Blu-ray (2009)

Who says the 80's only had crappy music? The Replacements, Husker Du, Nick Lowe, Velvet Underground, New York Dolls, Big Star, this sounds a lot like what's on my Ipod. It's also the base of the soundtrack for the movie Adventureland. Of course there are also such 80's luminaries as Whitesnake, Wang Chung, The Outfield and Falco present as well.

If you can't tell, I felt the music in Adventureland out-shined the movie itself. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the film because I really did, it's just that when the opening credits play "Bastards of Young" over them you've got a lot to live up to in my book. The biggest problem is that the marketing for the film made it look like wacky comedy and except for a few moments, it's a lot more of a serious coming of age movie.

The 2 leads, Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, have good chemistry and the more comic relief roles are well played by Bill Hader, Kristen Wig, and the kid that runs around punching people in the balls for the entire movie. There are a few pacing issues and a lot of the characters can be offputting at times but overall it's a good example of a simple story told well.

Being a dialogue driven Dramedy there isn't much for the Blu-ray to do. The image is fine but the movie isn't filmed in a way that's going to be very impressive in high-def. The audio is pretty much the same. The music sounds great in all it's uncompressed glory but that's about all that is noteworthy.

Adventureland is different than what I thought it would be but due to the performances and the soundtrack I really enjoyed it.

Ratings:
Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 3/5

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

I've been having a hard time coming up with a review for "Inglourious Basterds." I loved the movie but I got so caught up in watching it that it's difficult for me to comment on it critically. I can tell you that it's full of great dialogue, some very exciting action pieces, a lot of graphic violence and great performances, particularly from Christoph Waltz as the head "Jew hunter."

Tarantino the writer really makes Tarantino the director's job easy. Aside from a few flashy camera angles QT really just lets the story tell itself. The only small complaint I have is that the movie bogs down a little in the midst of all the exposition that goes on and that the "Basterds" don't really do all that much throughout the movie.

These complaints again are very minor, while I don't think "Basterds" is Tarantino's best movie or even in the top half it's still far better than 95% of all other movies I have seen recently. After I see it for a second time hopefully I will be able to look at it closer and not be so caught up in the story. That might be the best praise I can give it, even at over 2.5 hours my attention never faded.

They Live (1988)

Chewin' bubblegum and Kickin' ass, what more to life is there? I would say very little, except when for the times you run out of gum and discover through a pair of sunglasses that half the people surrounding you are actually aliens.

This is the basic plot of They Live, John Carpenters darkly comedic tale of alien takeover that also doubles as an satire about commercialism and greed in 1980's America. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper stars as George Nada who discovers the alien plan and single-handedly has to take them down . Sure he gets some help from Frank Armitage (Keith David) but it's pretty much Piper's show the whole movie.

Political points aside They Live is not a film meant to be taken very seriously, Carpenter keeps it comedic with very little sense of dread throughout. The centerpiece is a long street fight between George and Frank that was later parodied in the South Park episode "Cripplefight." The special effects have not aged all that well but they do fit in with the tone of the movie. The acting is as good as can be expected when Piper is your lead. To his credit he delivers a good performance, with equal parts smart-ass and bewilderment at his situation.

They Live is a nice addition to Carpenter's catalog, but it likely isn't necessary viewing for anyone outside of it's fanbase. It's a fine way to waste a couple hours but aside from a few moments it's not totally memorable.

Rating: 3/5

Knowing: Blu-ray (2009)

Actor Nicolas Cage, Director Alex Proyas ("The Crow", "Dark City", "I, Robot"). Two names that either mean a great movie or a horrible one. This is a horrible one. Taking what may have been an interesting idea at one point and completeinly blowing it up into this big budget B-movie does no one any favors.

I'm not going to go into the plot because it's ridiculous and not worth paying attention to. The movie is so far fetched even by Sci-fi standards it's amazing. Cage is in fine form here going from completely unemotional and monotone in the first half to completely overacting the entire second half. For a movie with a plot as ridiculous as this it sure takes itself seriously, there is no intentional humor to be found here. What is funny is some of the CGI used, 2 scenes in particular really look like they were made on a 5 year old laptop.

I've really enjoyed some of Proyas' movies, especially "Dark City," but this one is just not good. Even the score drove me crazy, it sounds like an old hitchcock score ramped up to 11 and then played at inappropriate times. Cage driving down the road does not need Psychoesque music blaring over the top. The movie sucked.

The Blu-ray on the other hand is fantastic. Aside from the fake looking CGI it is a very good looking film. Colors are strong if dark and there is a lot of noticeable detail in the actors faces and the sets. The Audio is some of the most bottom-heavy I've ever heard. It's almost too much low end, at times it's distracting. There is plenty of surround activity as well and dialogue is always easy to understand.

Knowing is not worth seeing unless you really like overblown, crappy Sci-fi movies, or want to give your audio system a workout. The Blu-ray is great the movie is definitely not.

Ratings:
Movie 1.5/5
Blu-ray 4.5/5

A River Runs Through It: Blu-ray (1992)

I first saw "A River Runs Through It" in high school. I hated it. I thought it was long, boring and that nothing happened. I also had no interest in fly fishing. Watching it again from a different point of view I can see how truly misguided my thought were.

"River" tells the story of a Montana family living in the Great Depression, it's main focus is on the oldest son Norman (Craig Sheffer). The acting in the movie is pretty stellar throughout but Brad Pitt really does steal the show as younger brother Paul. This was early in Pitt's career, before he was a movie star, but you can really see the charisma and presence that would make him a huge commodity a few years later.

It's also a beautiful movie with very impressive cinematography, there are numerous shots of the Montana wilderness and rivers scattered throughout. Director Robert Redford really puts the viewer right into the heart of western Montana. As for the fly fishing I still don't have any interest in it personally but the movies not really about fishing anyway. It's about growing up and family. I enjoyed it immensely this time around.

The Blu-ray itself is very good as well. For a movie made over 15 years ago the picture quality is excellent. It helps that there are tons of shots of beautiful Montana scenery that translate very well to high def. The Audio is fine too but isn't going to wow anyone, "River" is a very dialogue heavy film and that comes through very clear throughout. Surrounds are minimally used but do offer a lot of nature's presence in the outdoor scenes.

Viewing it as an adult instead of a teenager I really liked "A River Runs Through It." The acting is very good and the story is simple yet interesting, combine that with the Cinematography and some understated directing by Robert Redford and you've got an excellent film.

Ratings:
Movie 4/5
Blu-ray 4/5

Dirty Work (1998)

Most. Underrated. Comedy. Ever. That's pretty much all I should have to say about this movie. If you like Norm MacDonald and have never seen it, you have no idea how much you are missing.

Norm plays, well pretty much Norm. It's a movie that has fake dead hookers in the trunks of cars for revenge and Chris Farley with half a nose because a Saigon Whore bit it off. This means that you can't worry about the shoddy acting or the plot or anything other than laughing at the spectacle of it all.

The movie is hilarious I've seen it more than enough times to have it memorized and I still crack up every time I watch it. It's that funny. Unless you're that dude that fired Norm from weekend update because he "isn't funny" you will laugh at Dirty Work, a lot.

Rating 5/5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix: Blu-ray (2007)

I finally made it through all the Harry Potter movies right in time for Half Blood Prince to hit theaters. I enjoyed the series far more than I thought I would and especially the 3rd, 4th and 5th volumes. Order of the Phoenix is the aforementioned 5th film and I've been told is generally held in slightly less regard by hardcore Potter fans, I disagree.

I enjoyed Order of the Phoenix just as much as the 4th film, Goblet of Fire and only slightly less than the 3rd, Prisoner of Azkaban. As in the other films in the series the older the main cast gets the darker and more adult the movies become. I'm generally predisposed to that sort of thing so maybe that explains my taste in these movies as well.

I really have enjoyed watching Daniel Radcliff mature as an actor, one of my favorite things about this series has been watching him grow and be able to really convey emotions that just weren't there in the beginning. The other young actors don't get as much meat as Radcliff but they are very good at playing these characters as well.

This one didn't have as much humor to alleviate the darker aspects and that may be why some Potter fans don't care for it as much. Also the book is longest in the series and it's the shortest movie so I suppose there are lots of moments left out that certain fans feel are very important. Since I haven't read the books these things do not concern me.

The Blu-ray is the best of the series. The video has more definition and depth and is pretty much reference quality. The audio is the most powerful of the movies as well. It mixes subtlety in when needed and the action scenes roar.

I really enjoyed Order of the Phoenix and I'll probably end up seeing Half Blood Prince in theaters (a first for me). I'm not even embarrassed to say it.

Rating
Movie 4/5
Blu-ray 4.5/5

Uncle Face's Fun Day

River Falls Wi, it's a magic town. The magic tends to get a little out of hand at times and never more so than during the town festival, River Falls Days. This RF days was an especially magical occasion, thanks to one man in particular. This man is one of our greatest living entertainers. This man is "Face." I can't claim to know Face very well but we've met a few times and I admire his commitment to his craft. He's willing to go the extra mile to guarantee everyone's enjoyment. This day he went about 5 extra miles. Here is a brief rundown of the proceedings with estimated time stamps.


12-2 - It begins, I was not present for all of this but it involved drinking about half a bottle of apple pucker, caramel schnapps and vodka plus countless keg beers.

2:16 - "let me tell ya a story bout how I'm not afraid to hit women."

2:20 - Face wonders why people are angry with his decision to throw a bottle in the street asking "don't we want a fun day?" This made the rest of the afternoon known as "Uncle Face's Fun Day."

2:50 - "Daddy smells like an uppercut"

3:16 - passed out on the lawn.

3:20 - awake, sitting upright.

3:45 - Joe declares what happens next to be Face's "go to move" the "go to move" turns out to be: puking on himself while upright then falling over, while still in the act of puking.

5:15 - Face awakes and starts to drink again, this is where my memory gets a little hazy, I beleive a kegstand was done and I know there were chants of "USA USA" for bottle finishing encouragement.

5:35 - Face trips over the keg and Hans gets pissed and starts hitting him with random objects, at one point picking up the keg and swinging it while Face eggs him on. Asking to be hit in the head with a keg, ridiculous. This is when the party breaks up and we head to the bars and Face goes to sleep for the night.

It was one of the mot entertaining 3 hours of my life. I did feel bad by the end but all in all it was fantastic. Face, I salute you. Forget those bud light commercials you are a real man of genius.

Rating 5/5

Son Volt: American Central Dust (2009)

Son Volt's previous two albums 2005's Okemah and the Melody of Riot and 2007's Trace were a hard rocking album and an experimental album respectively. Neither did much in the way of expanding Son Volt's audience bigger. American Central Dust is a return to their more rustic country/folk sound that leader Jay Farrar has been playing since the days of Uncle Tupelo.

The music is mostly acoustic with Farrar's vocals being the emphasis, this is both good and bad. Jay's voice sounds really good some of his lyrics are just plain awkward. There is more than one occasion where the words just don't fit the vocal line, he's trying to cram too many words into not enough space. This is a relatively minor complaint for me though as it only happens 3 or 4 times in the whole album and the rest is very good, laid back stuff.

My favorite songs as of this moment are "Dynamite," "Cocaine and Ashes" "When the Wheels Don't Move" and the closer "Jukebox of Steel" the only song that may qualify as rock.

American Central Dust is not going to be for anyone who can't stand country music but it's also not going win anyone over who is tied to what the radio passes for country these days. It's very enjoyable for fans of previous Son Volt albums or anyone interested in seeing what "Alt country" (whatever the hell that is/was) has come to.

Rating 3.5/5

Bruno (2009)

Forget Brokeback Mountain this is the gayest movie I have ever seen, I mean that in a very good way. Bruno will always be compared to Sacha Baron Cohen's other character Borat. Bruno was my least favorite character on Da Ali G Show and I don't think the movie Bruno is as good as Borat was but it's still undeniably funny. Cohen once again proves to be absolutely fearless, his willingness to do literally anything is remarkable.

The plot doesn't matter, everything is an excuse to push the envelope and Bruno does just that. From early scenes involving some very inventive ways to sodomize a pygmy (all consensual) to hitting on Ron Paul or parading around while being locked in a sort of homo love trap, Bruno does not fail. I don't know how they got this movie rated "R."

It's not just about shock humor though as the movie also looks at our obsession with celebrity and the actual hatred behind homophobia. We see what some parents are willing to do with their infant's just for the chance for their baby to be a star. I don't want to give away anything so there will not be details given out but it's pretty shocking.

No one is given a bigger send up than the folks who attended "Straight Dave's Man Slammin' Max Out" a small MMA type event meant to celebrate "everything hetro." These folks get quite the surprise.

There are tons of other jokes through out the movie and not everything is golden. The hits are mostly home runs and not a lot of singles and I was rolling in my seat on more than one occasion. I would assume that you already know if you're going to like Bruno or not and if you think you will you're not going to be disappointed. It's not the funniest movie I've ever seen but well worth the trip.

Rating 4/5

Tango and Cash: Blu-ray (1989)

It starts with "Rambo's a pussy" and ends with the most overplayed high-five in movie history but Tango and Cash is a good time. Basic plot: 2 super cops get framed, go to jail, get revenge the end. Insert an vast array of one-liners, some over the top violence, a whole lot of homoerotic undertones and you've got a film.

If you've never seen Tango and Cash and are not a fan of 80's action movies then stay far, far away. If you want to revisit your youth, check your brain at the door and see some shit blow up then Tango and Cash is for you. Cast wise Stallone and Russell are doing their thing so you know what you're getting there Terri Hatcher dances half naked for a while so that's cool. There's a lot of bad guys all led by Jack Palance who steals every scene he's in with some of the most ridiculous line reading in recorded film and I mean that in a great way.

The Blu-ray is about as good as can be expected I suppose, it looks better than ever but isn't exactly mind-blowing. The audio is loud but there's not much in the way of surround use and a lack on low-end. All that aside the movie's 20 years old so what are you going to expect?

It's not gonna top the list of my favorite 80's action movies (Commando and Road House) but I enjoy Tango and Cash to this day, I find it impossible to hate a movie that is so obviously meant not to be taken seriously. I can't give it a great score because my strict movie rating moral code won't allow it but man that high five is epic.

Ratings
Movie 3/5
Blu-ray 3/5

Red Rock West (1992)

Why won't Nicolas Cage make movies like this anymore? Red Rock West is a very good low budget thriller from 1992. Cage plays a drifter who just keeps getting caught up in impossible situations with less than stellar consequences.

Director/screenwriter John Dahl (Rounders) doesn't do anything fancy, he just tells the story. There are lots of noir elements in the movie, murder, Femme Fatale, quirky characters and it's all handled very well. Cage himself is excellent in his pre action hero movies and doesn't disppoint here. I've never been a fan of Laura Flynn Boyle but she's good in this as well. Dennis Hopper plays another crazy bad guy, not nearly as out there as his Blue Velvet character but rather effective.

If you're into film noir you will like Red Rock West, no new ground was broken and the movie had pretty much slipped under the radar but it's still a good way to pass a couple hours. Far better than waiting for National Treasure 3.

Rating 3.5/5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Blu-ray (2005)

The Goblet of Fire is the 4th film in the Harry Potter series. I didn't enjoy it as much as the 3rd movie Prisoner of Azkaban but still found it to be very good. All the elements of the series are here but as the characters grow up the series continues to move in a darker direction.

The cast also improves with every movie as we pretty much see these young actors get better at their craft before our eyes. Daniel Radcliff in particular shows more and more emotion with every movie as he portrays Harry's growth into adolescence and struggles with what happened to his parents.

The action sequences in the movie are very good as well and while director Mike Newell doesn't use as many flashy tricks as Alfonso Cuaron did he's still a remarkably more skilled director than Chris Colombus. My only real complaint is that everything seems rushed, having been told by various HP experts that the book is 300 pages longer than previous ones and yet the movie is the same length I see how that would be a problem.

The Blu-ray is pretty much even with Azkaban as video and audio quality is very good as well. Video clarity is outstanding and so are color levels. It's another movie that should only be experienced in high def. Sound wise there is pleny of surround activity and very good low end while dialog remains very well prioritized.

I really liked Goblet of Fire and just because I like Azakban more doesn't mean I was disappointed in the movie, it's very enjoyable and continues to change my mind about the Harry Potter series.

Rating
Movie 4/5
Blu-ray 4.5/5

Drive-By Truckers, Live From Austin Texas CD/DVD (2009)

I love the Drive-By Truckers! There are very few bands playing today that capture what I consider the spirit of rock and roll as well as they do. Recorded in Sept. 2008 Live From Austin Texas is a great showcase for the Truckers and their brand of rock.

Their latest Studio album "Brighter Than Creations Dark" shows off their country side more than previous albums and that carries over to this set as well. Starting off with the country/folk songs "Perfect Timing" and "Heathens" the album builds throughout getting heavier and heavier until the final hard rocking closers "Let there be Rock" and "Marry Me." Along the way they mix in songs from their early career with mostly new material.

This is the first chance I've had to see the band in with their new guitarist John Neff and his Steel Guitar is present throughout giving the band much of their country sound. Neff can also pick up an Electric Guitar and give the Truckers their 3 axe attack that was their trademark with old guitarist Jason Isbell.

The album is great with main Truckers, Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, really delivering, neither one is a traditionally good vocalist but their flawed voices fit the lyrics and sound of the band perfectly. If you have never heard the band before this isn't the best way to become acquainted but if you're a fan or just want to watch/hear an amazing live band this album is highly recommenced.

Rating 4/5

Public Enemies (2009)

Michael Mann can sure direct an action sequence. Mann, the director of Collateral, Heat, Ali and Miami Vice brings his visual flair to the story of John Dillinger the famous bank robber and Public Enemy No. 1. Starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and about 20 other actors whose faces you will know, even if you can't think of their names.

The movie is a technical marvel. Mann's use of lighting, lens filters, combined with unique camera movements and angles, brings a very stylish and effective look to the film. The action sequences are the biggest highlight of the movie, Tommy Guns blaze open in numerous bank robbing sequences and Mann doesn't resort to quick cutting enabling the viewer to actually tell what's going on.

The downside of the movie is that there is no emotional connection to anyone in the film. We root for Dillinger because Depp is great in the role and because he's Johnny Depp. Bale plays lawman Melvin Purvis, the lead investigator into Dillenger's doings, but isn't given much to do besides act serious and determined. The love story works the same, we accept that Billie Frechette falls easily in love with Dillinger because he's charming and he's famous, it just happens really fast. It also can become tricky to keep track of everyone in Dillinger's gang, we just don't see enough of them. I think this would work better as a miniseries, really letting more characters be fleshed out and given screen time.

All in all I do believe the good outweighs the bad Mann's direction and style is just too enjoyable but I'm not sure if the movie will hold up on repeat viewings. It's definitely worth seeing, just don't expect a timeless gangster movie.

Rating 3.5/5

Do the Right Thing: Blu-ray (1989)

Do the Right Thing is the best movie Spike Lee has ever made, it's thought provoking, culturally significant, well-written/acted and completely entertaining from start to finish. This is the film that put Spike Lee on the map. Nominated for many awards (although only 2 Oscars) it was also very well received.

Set in a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the year, tensions rise with the heat. As the day goes by everyone gets more irritable until finally things erupt. The ensemble cast features Lee himself, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, John Turturro, Bill Nunn , Sam Jackson and is the first film credit for both Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez. All the actors are excellent with the possible exception of Lee. The only real complaint that I have is that Lee's portrayal of Mookie is underwhelming, compared to the rest of the cast.

Although I am not a huge fan of Lee's acting abilities he more than makes up for it with the writing and directing. Every character feels real and is well rounded. Lee's direction puts you right in the middle of the scenes with different camera angles conveying different emotions within each character arc.

Do the Right Thing is also a movie that will make you think. It's main focus is race relations and it raises many significant questions, without giving any clear cut answers, allowing the viewer to form their own opinions about what "the right thing" is.

The Blu-ray looks great for a 20-year old movie, it's brighter than previous video version due to removing a slightly red filter and colors really pop. Detail is also very good, the transfer is not at the level of a new release film but holds up remarkably well. The audio also gets a big jump in it's lossless format. Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" has never been so powerfull. The song is played 15 times in the movie and literally shook my house, for reference I played my cd copy after watching the movie and it was nowhere near comparison.

If you have never seen Do the Right Thing, you need to, as soon as possible. There are no easy answers but it could help you figure out what you believe in, you will not be disappointed.

Rating
Movie 5/5
Blu-ray4.5/5

Narc (2002)

Narc is a aggressive, intense, cop drama. It's mostly notable for the fine performances by both Jason Patric and Ray Liotta. Both actors are at the top of their game with Liotta getting to display a great range while Patric gives a very nuanced performance. This movie is not for the squeamish as it's very violent and foul mouthed.

Director Joe Carnahan immediatly puts the viewer right into the lives of these guys and never lets us out. The plot is not as straight forward as immediatly thought with a few twists that may not be completely shocking but probably won't be the first thing you think of.

If you like cop movies and have never seen Narc I highly recommend you do so, it's not going to blow you away or reinvent anything it's just a good solid story with great acting.

Rating 4/5

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Phillip Marlowe is a iconic character, from the pages of Raymond Chandler novels to portrayals on film by the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Robert Mitchum. Robert Altmans' The Long Goodbye took that character (who very much was a man stuck in the late 40's early 50's) and transplanted him to the mid-70's without updating his personal traits. Marlowe does not fit in with the lifestyle of the 70's, with his strict moral codes and lack of health consciousness (he's the only character to smoke in the movie and does so in every scene).

I'm not going to get into the plot (it involves a murder and some gangsters and some Private detecting) of the film because it's more about style and mood. Elliott Gould is great in the lead role. He's constantly talking to himself and has a smart-ass remark for everything thrown his way. Sterling Hayden is amazing as well as hard-drinking author Robert Wade, displaying a uncanny ability to fly off the handle at any given moment. Keep an eye out for a early career appearance by a certain muscle-bound Governor as well (sporting an incredible moustache).

The movie is rooted in noir tradition but turns it a bit on its side, making for a very enjoyable experience. I highly recommend everyone with a passing interest in Film Noir or detective stories to check out The Long Goodbye. It's a little bit different and not for everyone but I really enjoy this film.

Rating 4.5/5

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Blu-ray (2004)

The Prisoner of Azkaban is the 3rd Harry Potter movie and easily the best of the first three. New director Alfonso Cuaron brings much more style and energy to the movie than Chris Columbus who directed the first two. The subject matter is also darker and that transfers over to the look of the movie as well. While it follows the same formula of the previous movies it twists everything into a more complex and satisfying film. The standard Quidditch match moves from bright and sunny to taking place in the middle of a thunderstorm. The threat of death looms over almost every shot while still leaving room for some much needed comedic moments.

Cuaron twists camera angles and uses less traditional cuts to tell the story whereas Columbus relied on a more "everyman" approach. All three lead actors also give their best performances to date, with Daniel Radcliff actually showing off some real emotion. I've read complaints that the plot is too convoluted but I had no problems following along.

The Blu-ray sports an excellent video transfer as well. There is not nearly as much color as the previous films but detail is improved from previous Blu-ray's. The audio really benefits from Cuaron's style as well, surrounds are much more active in establishing ambiance and the action sequences are mesmerizing.

I really liked Prisoner of Azkaban and as a long-time detractor of the Harry Potter series it kind of pains me to admit it. I will likely never be a hardcore Potter kind of guy but if the series continues in the direction established here than I will be more than happy to keep watching.

Rating
Movie 4.5/5
Blu-ray 4.5/5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Blu-ray (2002)

The 2nd Harry Potter movie is pretty much the first movie remade but better. It's darker, has more action and is more mysterious but follows the same basic layout of the Sorcerer's Stone.

The first half hour was a complete waste of time. The Dobby character is extremely annoying, CG characters that talk in the 3rd person and beat on themselves might be hilarious for an 8-year old but they do nothing for me. Thankfully Dobby goes away for a majority of the movie and we get to focus further on the relationship between the 3 main children. The acting from all 3 is better than in Sorcerer's Stone but is still nothing that got me excited. The adult actors have their roles reduced a bit but all put in fine performances. The movie is about 20 or 30 minutes too long as well, I've never read the books but I imagine that the director was trying to be as faithful as possible and not leave anything out.

The Blu-ray itself is a huge step up from Sorcerer's Stone. The hazy style of the first movie is replaced with a much cleaner look that reproduces very well to high def. The audio is also a step up not only in bottom end but overall clarity as well.

Chamber of Secrets was significantly better than the Sorcerer's Stone and I'm looking forward to watching the 3rd movie since it's directed by Alfonso Cuaron whose work I love in Children of Men.

Rating
Movie 3.5/5
Blu-ray 4/5

The Omega Man (1971)

The Omega man is based on Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend. I've never seen the Vincent Price version from the 60's but I have seen the Will Smith version. I wasn't really big on that version but it blows away this one.

To put it simply Omega Man has not aged well at all. There is no set up, a lot of stuff not happening in the middle and a anticlimactic ending. The dialog is atrocious, with the Zombies talking Jive and looking like taller versions of the dwarfs in Spaceballs. Charlton Heston is once again playing himself and aside from his ability to say "bastards" better than anyone else in history, doesn't bring too much to the table. The clothing worn is especially ridiculous with the high point being Heston's dinner clothes which consists of the puffy shirt from Seinfeld with a green velour overcoat.



There's not much else to say except you can likely never see Omega Man and not feel badly about it.

Rating 1.5/5

Elvis Costello at Taste of Minnesota

Before I get into the actual concert I'd like to point out the stupidity of the "gold circle" seats. They were less than half full which had the band playing to 3 rows of people, then a big empty spot, then everyone else. It's gotta suck some of the energy out of the performance and be disappointing to the artists.

Aside from that the show went really well. The band was tight and Elvis' voice was in good form. He seemed to sing a bit behind the band as well but I've seen that on his dvd's as well so I assume it's intentional.

I've never thought of Costello as being a festival type performer since I don't think a lot of people know his music very well. He seems like he plays to a select fan base not the masses. The set list reflected this as well, it was mostly songs that people are going to at least recognize if not know. Pump it Up, Watching the Detectives, Radio Radio, Peace Love Understanding and Alison all got played along with a couple songs from the new album with a few snippets of covers thrown in.

I enjoyed the show but I'd also really like to see a Elvis concert in a more intimate setting with a dedicated fan base, I can only assume the energy would be higher and that Elvis himself would have a bit more interaction with the crowd. I'm going to drop the rating a bit based more on the venue than the performance.

Rating 3.5/5

The Yakuza (1974)

I watched The Yakuza for 3 reasons
1) It was the first screenplay by Paul Schrader to be made into a movie, two years before Taxi Driver which is one my top 5 movies of all time(this week)
2)It was directed by Sidney Pollack
3)It stars Robert Mitchum, who's movies I've been watching in droves the last 2 weeks.

I was happy with the movie but not really impressed. Mithum is excellent as an aging tough guy and Takakura Ken is great as well. This may have hit harder in 1974 when Japanese culture was not as prevalant in American movies as it is today. There's lots of talk about honor and some pretty intense fight scenes but nothing really blew me away. I'm having trouble finding things to say, good or bad, about the film so I'll just leave it at that.

Rating 3/5

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Blu-ray (2001)

I watched the first Harry Potter movie when it first came out on DVD. I thought it fucking sucked. I hated every minute of it, I was bored stiff. I'm not sure what made me decide to revisit the series but here we are. After watching it again on blu-ray I enjoyed the movie 100 times more than I did before, with that being said I still did not get into it much. For some reason I've never been a fan of child actors and that holds true in this as well. When the movie relies solely on the kids I lose interest. There's nothing wrong with anything, the subject matter just does not appeal to me. I'm going to try to keep watching the series as I understand it gets significantly better.

The blu-ray is also very average as well the picture is pretty soft for a relatively new title with not a lot of detail. It's again not bad but I've come to expect more from high profiles titles like this. The audio is a little better with some good surround activity but it still lacks punch and weight in the action scenes and there's not much in the way of ambiance.

Rating
Movie 2.5/5
Blu-ray 3/5

The Rolling Stones, Some Girls (1978)

The older I get the more I become a "classicist." Certain albums and movies I would not have given the time to 5 years ago are now among my favorites. Some Girls is a great example of this.
Recorded at the height of Disco and Punk in 1978 the Stones fight back with one of their finest albums ever. Mostly made up oh hard rock, presumably to combat punk, they throw out "When the Whip Comes Down", "Lies", "Respectable", and "Before They Make Me Run" (sung by Keith). They also have time to make their own "disco" songs with "Miss You" and "Shattered." The title track displays some good ol' fashioned misogyny, and I mean that in the best way possible, while "Far Away Eyes" is a great take on country. The real star is "Beast of Burden" perhaps the best ballad the stones ever recorded. " Beast of Burden" is the prime example of my evolving musical taste (I used to hate it). The guitar interplay between Keith and Ronnie Wood is amazing and Mick sings his heart out. Some Girls grows on me every time I hear it now taking it's place in my top 5 Stones albums.

RAting 5/5

Catch-22 (1970)

Based on the Joseph Heller novel (which I have not read) Mike Nichols film is a look at the lives of a WWII Air Force squadron. The cast is incredibly well known with names like Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Martin Sheen, Bob Newhart, Art Garfunkel, Anthony Perkins, Jon Voight, Orson Welles, Bob Balaban and Charles Grodin. Arkin is the definite lead with everyone else playing supporting roles and he delivers a great performance. The movie itself doesn't follow a linear structure and there isn't much in the way of plot. It's mostly just flashbacks and forwards about Arkin's character trying to get out of duty. Essentially a satire about military bureaucracy, I found it to be hilarious. It balances it's more over the top moments really well with some moments of drama to keep it grounded. The movie has aged very well with it's structure being a lot more accepted now than in 1970. I'm sad that it took me this long to watch this movie and now I must read the book as well. I highly recommend Catch-22.

Rating 4.5/5

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

Henry is a normal guy, like you and me, except he kills a lot of people. This low budget horror movie is not going to make you jump out of your seat with fear but it is very disturbing nonetheless. Michael Rooker is fantastic in his film debut, exuding intensity and a calmness that is very frightening. Henry's partner Otis comes off as even more deranged, he's not nearly as collected as Henry and can fly off the handle over nothing. I guess this movie was delayed for 3 years while they tried to avoid a x-rating, the violence doesn't compare to todays horror films like Saw and Hostel in explicetness, but comes off as much more real and unnerving. While not a feel-good movie by any means it's worth viewing for Rooker's performance alone.

Rating 3.5/5

Lifeboat (1944)

Alfred Hitchcock made Lifeboat relatively early in his American directorial career and the title and picture says it all, a bunch of people stranded in a lifeboat. Set in WWII it involves a lifeboat of American and British civilians who take on a Nazi soldier as a fellow castaway and must decide what to do with the man who they are at war with. Between lack of supplies, the weather and their mistrust of the German officer, will everyone survive? Hitchcock is at the top of his game and I really felt like I was in the Lifeboat with these people, the performances are all well acted and the story and moral choices are relevant today.

Rating 4.0/5.0

Wilco (the album) (2009)

After spending the last 15 years experimenting Wilco has used all their tricks to make their self-titled 7th studio album. It seems that they are done reinventing themselves for now and are happy to just consolidate all their strengths into this sound. It's a really good solid album. They do sunny pop and 70's style rock with a little noise thrown in for good measure. Lyrically I haven't really delved into it but it sounds like standard Jeff Tweedy fare to me. It's not going to make them any bigger than they already are or cause anybody who didn't like them before to change their mind. If you liked their last album Sky Blue Sky but wished it wasn't quite so "safe" I highly recommend Wilco (the album).

Rating 4.0/5.0