We go to the movies

Since we're talking movies here. I'd thought I'd add my couple of pennies.

Movie you need to see:

Bus 174: Quite simply the best movie I've seen since lost in translation, and possibly the best documentary I've ever seen. It works on so many levels: as drama, as education, as reality. A truly powerful story of a former street kid in Brazil who hijacks a bus. Shatteringly depressing and yet completely imbued with such a powerful humanity that it promises such hope. The helicopter shots of Rio are breathtaking. If you have a chance, don't miss it.

Movie you don't
Love, Actually: This movie is better described by the problematic themes that stink up this maudlin tripe. Powerful man-servant woman: There are 3! different relationships with this theme of man "falling" for his subservient (4 if you count the rock star/loser manager relationship).
Class issues: rich people are pretty and intelligent, poor people are stupid and ugly.
Body image issues: goes side by side the class issues (guess who the fat people are. Number of people called fat: 4. Number of people who are called "a whale" who are Emma Thompson: 1. Number of people who are repeatedly called fat who are skinnier than RZ in Bridget Jones:1
Racial issues: I'm not actually sure that this is a real problem here. It may even be progressive, but I don't trust this movie. There are four black people in this movie and two of them are played so that you're expecting some blond. Again, maybe okay, but if I ever see it again.
There are other things, but it's not worth it. I should note that I didn't dislike this movie when I was watching it. It just has an aftertaste like american beer.

Movie you should avoid at all costs:

Mystic River: Please don't see this movie. I haven't been so bored in a theatre in a very long time. The acting would be good if the writing weren't so atrocious. The ending feels like it was ripped off that Simpson's episode where Bart's doppleganger is given an air of evilness for no reason. Laurence Fishburne plays a mockery of himself.

Let them sing

If you're looking for a musical diversion, check this website in which you type in words and it plays back samples of real songs to make a new song. Better seen than described.

I may like furry animals, but I aint no hippie

I got an email this morning from Garageband.com. It's this website where people submit their songs to get reviewed and to review other bands. There's a contest thing part too, but that's so not feasible that even a good band probably couldn't do that well.

Charlie, Aaron and I had submitted a couple songs back in the day and it took until now until the second song "crazy girl" got reviewed. I think it's because you need to listen to other people's songs to get them to listen to yours. It's been a very long time since I checked out the site, as the novelty only lasts so long, but it's fun to look at.

People tend to give you reviews that are either honest

a humor song that didn't work for me - technically the song is very well put together - nice vocals and ok guitar - but it reminds me of a children's song performed at the public library - cute but no cigar

or just not paying attention:

well done pro music at the top level could not ask for better

Anyways, the more interesting thing was that people actually did listen to the songs on purpose. There were a bunch of people who added the songs to the personal playlist things you can set up. And there were two "fan" mail letters. One from some guy Eric who played for some Ottawa band, the Shells, who wanted to be added to our mailing list. Sorry, Eric-- that list is still in production. And another from "gr8punkette" who obviously must not be that punk as she took the time to write that "crazy girl rocks!!!!!!"

Another surprise was that "crazy girl" was rated slightly higher than "ain't no hippie." Shocking.

Don't Do X, Blow the Borkenstein, and ...

We was ripped off...How could such an original name just get stolen, right like that from under you.

Speaking of bands, you can check out the website of the world's worst boy band, boysterous. Then again, maybe you shouldn't. Among the many treasures you can read the diary of the big tour with 911! Notable quote: "In our dressing room we had mirrors with the light bulbs all around them. There was a sheet on the wall informing us of the time that each act was due on." Don't miss the descriptions of the hair styling products!

Why yes, I am writing an essay--why do you ask?

Sondre Lerche was a really enjoyable show. Just the little kid Norwegian and his guitar on stage. He really needed a band on some occasions but the intimacy of the event worked for him. I find that the El Mocambo can be a crappy venue sometimes because the back bar area feels separate so people feel like they can talk like it's a bar, making anything mellow nearly impossible to play. But there was serious respect for this little man from the solidly Scandinavian crowd (and I mean that in the best, my they have great scenery in Sweden, way). One of the songs is a duet with a very high pitched woman, and he was able to get the crowd to sing the female parts. Quite ballsy. He also turned the strings and orchestra "Sleep on Needles" into an emo classic--a highlight.

Inquiring minds want to know..

Metric tour dates!

with Broken Social Scene...
12/04/03 Toronto, ON The Phoenix
12/05/03 Montreal, PQ Caberet Du Plateau
12/06/03 Ottawa, ON The Capitol Music Hall

Good thing I was thinking of concerts. I nearly forgot that I had Sondre Lerche tickets for this very evening! Now to get a little homework done in a mad rush before I have to leave.

I went to the website for the music, I swear!

In yet another sign of the impending end of the world, this blog has got me listening complusively to who else but Britney Spears. Forget about that forgettable 'me against the music' and take a gander to the the trippy guitar lines, cool string samples of 'Toxic' (Written by Ms. Dynamite's writer for those needing more motivation).

I'm really getting into these blogs that offer mp3's. Is there a better way to steal music?

By popular demand

The lovely Miss Archibald has made a plea for comments on the blog. Well, actually, she took a swipe at the 'coolness' factor of blogger. So to demonstrate that I can, indeed, play with the big boys, you are now all welcome to give me a "shout out."

Watching the ant people

I went to the Raptors/Mavericks basketball game on thursday and I can't say I was that impressed. Maybe it was the seats--due to my cheapness I got the seats sitting with the pigeons in the rafters in the shadows of a looming luxury box. Maybe it was the low scoring/low tension affair on the court. But I think the real problem was the music. Most of the music itself, per se, I didn't have a problem with. Much better than the kind of schlocky rock music you hear at hockey games. The real problem was that it didn't stop. Ever. It made it almost impossible to distinguish the period of yet another endless time-out from the actual game. All events were soundtracked the same way. Well, they did try to do something, occassionally playing some tinny electronic music that was clearly meant to be the Raptors on attack theme song.

The music meant that for people like me, far from the actual game, we couldn't hear the game itself. There was no tactile experience to it. No sound of a bouncing ball, or the squeaking of sneakers on the court. Nothing. A sterile arena, an ambivalent crowd and a few people silently moving around hundreds of metres below. All in all, no reason to ever go again.

However, Matt provides many reasons to go to Iceland. It sounds like my kind of place. Rachel said that it was great too--even the 6 month old buried, rotten, raw shark that they made her eat. One of these days.