#and vol 9 soundtrack is straight up not working

[foldingfittedsheets]

Hey I usually look for movies and TV shows, does anyone know a place to reacquire digital music that was previously purchased but now unavailable?

[iamafanofcartoons]

Rabbit Debunks Hbomberguy’s “RWBY is Disappointing Video” and explains why the Critics are wrong about RWBY.  Part 1 of 2

Making a thread reacting to the hbomberguy RWBY is Disappointing video.

Mostly as a refresher and also because there’s been a lot of dissension regarding it so why not.

Intro Calls it R (Rue) By lmaoo.

You’re not supposed to pronounce the W So the gist of it, is that he feels like it has great concept that could be interesting, but fails to execute it in any meaningful way???

Like overall it’s bad but there’s few good glimpses-

Of what could be a great show.

I guess for now I guess I can give it the benefit of the doubt and assume good intentions so far.

No words on the History of Monty Oum and RT history.

I mean it pretty much all checks out

Though immediately admitting your bias against the show takes the validity of some of your criticisms away ngl.

So he loves the Red Trailer but brings up the views it gained and then brings up the views of the episodes (Vol 1 ep 1 and 2) as a sort of gotcha like “oh see the trailer is more popular than the episode like look at the 15M to (episode 2) 6.8M ratio!!!”

Like those are two-  Wildly different things my guy

But what’s up with that “Red Like Roses Part 1 is the best composed music Jess has ever done” take?????

That’s wild asF fr.

Like no way you listened to the soundtracks of V1-3 and still have that opinion.

Like it’s amazing but????

“Does she get the scar from the fight or from something else, oooo mysterious”.

Is this a bit????

She so obviously gets the scar from the fight so I hope it’s just a bit lmao.

Also the complaint about Adam is so weird?

“He’s so obviously a bad guy that it doesn’t make sense”

“Since there’s already wolves set up as the baddies in the series”

Like, it’s not word for word what he said but that’s the gist of it?

It’s a bad and very nitpicky complaint since there are many series with more than 1 antagonist and antagonistic force.

I don’t know.

Saying “it’s coming from a well meaning place” but then saying it’s extremely bad, followed up by an intro song saying that RWBY is lame and it sucks all while dedicating it to Monty is…. So disgusting??? And very disingenuous???

Using the ending of Vol 2 as a point in your “they don’t know their story” when Ruby is laying down all the things that they have yet to solve (leading into the new volume and this laying down the groundwork for it)

It’s obviously in your face my dude.

Ah damn, a little out of order, but is there instances where Miles or Kerry  acknowledges good faith criticism? Panels? Deleted tweets? Anything?

Mainly just curious if it’s true that they haven’t and he just didn’t do the research by saying he “has a hard time finding any”

Another thing. Forgot to mention.

Really wish he prefaced his complaints about the voice acting and writing that he understood that the studio itself was amateurish and small with not a lot of budget to work with. (Unless that’s true) not that there isn’t criticism but that- There are TANGIBLE reasons why it’s the way that it is.

Where Do We Even Start?

Uhhh they never dropped the Dust Theft plot line????

Volume 2 was literally the culmination of the dust theft and the reason is because of Cinder’s plans.

Another thing that’s in your face but just, weirdly you gloss over???

“The intro doesn’t set up the story properly… leaves out the fragile peace between the nations…. Leaves out faunus… leaves out semblances…”

Quite literally, the intro talks about things that weren’t even revealed until Vol 4 to 9. The intro is good and sets up what it NEEDS-

Like sure you can say “oh but it’s only added till later when they got the story that they wanted to tell straight”

Mate, a pro tip for a lot of writers renowned/acclaimed have admitted that some of their works or some of their best writing decisions were made by the seat- Of their pants.

You think Naruto, one of the most iconic and popular anime of all time would have spun into how it is just off the intro of the first episode?

What about Bleach?

ATLA?

One Piece???

There are so many instances where the intro just isn’t all encompassing bc- That just isn’t how story writing goes.

You can have the best most rigid outline in the whole world, but at times you’re gonna go off script because there’s something you want to expand upon more or explore.

Ends off this segment by saying that RWBY’s story is interesting and it has neat ideas (backahandedly by adding “to write a wiki about”) but the storytelling only gets worse.

Which, I sort of disagree with???

It’s not stellar by any means, but I chalk that up with them- Not having the sort of resources available.

However from what they managed TO put together it was coherent enough to convey what they were meaning to portray.

Though I do have my gripes with certain aspects of the first two volumes.

But from V3 on? It’s only gotten- Stronger.

Yes I harp on V5 a LOT and it’s still one of the weaker volumes, but the conversations and character dynamics where stronger than they’ve been.

It was mainly the animation in the last few episodes of the giant fight that I just, wasn’t vibing with at all.

Worldbuilding and Conveyance

So next he talks about how aura was explained.

Bringing up both Harry Potter and ATLA and how they tell it as an example.

Following it up by making a rwby edit to make it seem as if it was mundane and boring.

Which isnt the case at all.

If you- Actually take the time to watch the scene.

It's about 1:20 long and while the explanation of what Aura does is being told to the viewer, it shows Ren taking down the King Taijitu with his aura.

It's another valid form of story telling because it's not just two characters talking on screen.

it's also giving us an insight of how it would be put into action.

"No one just happens to have full on speeches prepared in case anyone is to ask"

Uhhh, have you met Weiss?

Even the examples you gave literally is Hermione and Katara.

"Why does Jaune not know about this?

When he came from a long line of hero's and monster Hunters."

Idk, how does Naruto not know about Chakra despite 8 years as a academy student.

He probably just skipped out on it or didn't take it seriously enough.

He never went to- A prep school like Signal either.

His transcripts were faked, so you could easily say he went to Beacon with nothing more than a Dime, A old Rickety sword and a dream lol.

Also Pyrrha is super smart and also a really great battle tactician.

Of course she would be able to- recite what Aura does word for word.

It's not mischaracterization.

You just want to twist that narrative against her.

And not just that, I feel a strong mischaracterization of Jaune.

If Jaune is played off as an idiot for jokes, that's cool. But if he's shown to just not- Understand or doesn't know about the world at large, then that could hint at the fact that Jaune is more than just an idiot.

He's probably born in the sticks/boonies.

A country bumpkin if you will where Hunters aren't all that well known nor pop culture.

It doesn't dumb down the other characters.

Because Weiss is frustrated herself that someone so famous isn't recognizable by anyone and everyone in the world.

Same thing with her and the SDC

For Christ sakes, he only knew Pyrrha from a cereal box be fr

Well he brings up the Jaundice thing and yeah that's fair, a lot of people have gripes with that (i'm not one of them) and brings up how Pyrrha is only really a character for Jaune's development as a fighter and romance option but not much else on her own.

Which... Yeah I kinda- get that too.

Like, I liked Pyrrha too, but I do wish she had more to do in V1 and 2.

But in V3 is where she shines.

Hell there were so many people who did cry and got shocked by the end of Vol 3 even with the amount of screentime she gets.

"Praise RWBY for being feminist and progessive cause most of the mcs are women... But Jaune has 4 episodes dedicated to him, and has the coolest girl in school flirting and helping him become a stronger warrior."

Jaune isn't the main character.

How I've always viewed RWBY and JNPR has always been: RWBY as the protagonist and JNPR as the deuteragonist.

They hold about the same amount of importance because of how close their teams are.

So of course you're going to want to give the deuteragonist development and screentime to.

And yes Jaune had Jaundice.

RWBY still has an ABSURD amount of episodes dedicated to them as well so the balance/ration will always be in RWBY's favor regardless of how you feel about Jaune as a character and Jaune's importance to the story.

Same goes for the rest of NPR

"The writer's dont know what Yang's semblance is.

It goes from her being angry, to it being her taking hits and she transfers that energy back to them by hitting them again, and then temper tantrums, and then re-xeplain it as a redirection of energy stored from hits."-

Uhh, no.

Her semblance has always been about redirection of stored energy from attacks and aiming them back at the opponent.

Every single time we see her use it, it's always after she's taken several hits.

It's probably still possible to use it without taking hits, but its more than- likely less powerful.

He goes on to talk about how semblances are abstract and only gets mentioned 14 episodes later.

Which sure ok, but the gist of them and how they work are still easily within the story.

Could they have expanded upon it more earlier on? Yeah they could.

But to sit there and say, "When Pyrrha used her abilities and Ruby and Weiss look at her like she was weird and surprised and confused she has powers too"

no no no no no, that is grossly misreading the scene.

Pyrrha has kept her semblance a secret from anyone and everyone.

No one knows what it is or if she even had one.

They were just confused by what she did, why her hand glowed black, and why her hand was out.

It had nothing to do with them being confused about why someone else had a semblance, but more so they never knew what Pyrrha's was.

and also, the reading of Semblance = magic is both meh and eh.

Like if you looked at any and every single semblance that exists in RWBY, every single one of them have to do with concepts that has nothing to do with earth, wind, fire, and water.

Whereas Magic in the series- has Maidens throwing storms, lightning bolts, fire, ice, etc. at any enemy they choose.

That's the major difference between magic and semblance.

Magic is divine, naturalistic. Semblances are more man made if that makes sense.

Man he really does not like how semblances are portrayed/exposited.

Like it's been just as long as he harped on for Pyrrha expositing the aura scene.

like the exaggeration that he's going to, to explain this is kinda crazy

It's not a semi complicated concept at all, like he said it was.

It's very easy to follow and very easy to understand. he brings up Emerald and Cinder knowing about it, but doesn't bring up the fact that Pyrrha had to have put it in her application for Beacon or her personal- record that only Beacon has track of.

A record that they broke into with the helps of Watts, but not just that.

But Mercury also figured it out because he's an intelligent fighter just like Pyrrha is.

You can just say that Pyrrha's opponents were all just dumb for not figuring it out.

But no, it's just bad writing I guess.

Brings up WoR as an example of not being able to tell the story completely and labels it as homework.

It's not necessarily out of the norm though.

There are lots of character guides, extra material that expands on characters, worlds-

nd ideas that you can't really put the time in the show to do.

Like let's look at the first 3 volumes and how most episodes where 12-15 minutes long.

And even then they were still trying to get the hang of writing for something so massive as RWBY.

Having extra material so readers can get a better understanding of the world around them isn't bad. because even then, most everyone knows who Faunus are.

How Aura works, what a semblance is. all of these on a surface level.

If you want to dig deep, thats what WoR is for.

Unless you just wanna insult the show and embrace ignorance?

Some Positive Examples

Such a nothing complaint really. 

Just Miles and Kerry's writing vs Monty's character acting (in terms of how he conveys the four in a team fight (example being Team RWBY vs Mecha Roman)). 

I mean, I dont know what to really say here.

"The writers are so busy writing drama and wacky skits to explain why they're friends while Monty is putting in the REAL work with the fight scenes and showing how close they are and how far ruby has come at becoming a leader."  

Yeah... Cause that's what writers and animators do

Briefly touches on Ships and how Monty, Kerry, and Miles referenced them in the fight. (also decided to call it creepy since Ruby is 15 and the other girls are 17...

Which isn't that bad??

Like Sophomore and Senior in High School really).

Wasn't Ichigo Kurosaki 15 and Naruto not even 13?

Also says they didn't make a name- for Ruby and Yang because of the certain fans that ship those two together so they avoided that one altogether

.... Which yeah??? Did you want them too lol??

I can't seem to see his point of bringing this up because on one hand it feels like he's admonishing them for it, but  on the other hand he seems... like he's a little upset that they dont have a team attack name?

Maybe just at the inconsistency of it. Which i can understand.

I would have maybe came up with one that isn't fandom made so they can have a cool SISTERS team attack, like Rose Dragon!

Ends off this segment talking about more Miles and Kerry vs Monty (with Shawn being added in).

Another example of writing vs character expositing through animation by using the Pyrrha vs Mercury fight as well as the exposition between Emerald, Cinder, and Mercury.

Lots of talk about animation being weird and how he's seen worse animation but the stories were good enough to overlook it.

I'd be a broken record by stating this again and again.

But just look at what they had to work with. Look at how divided the writing and the animation- really were with Monty coming up with new characters that the team had to shove in last minute.

Look at Poser even and how the engine was something really only Monty and Shane (oops I made a mistake in that other post) could work to the level that they did.

Look at RT and even CRWBY at the time.

And now look where they are now.

You can't tell me that they've gone downhill when most of your gripes that you've complained about are/have been fixed in the later seasons.

Gonna end it here and make it a 2 parter. This thread is-

Long enough and I'm tired extremely lol.

I'll do a QRT tomorrow and start it back up. 

If anyone has more to add or correct me on, feel free to QRT anything you feel i didnt do a good job of explaining or just missed in general.

Any help is appreciated.

https://twitter.com/PhonyMangaka/status/1653898140678856704

[agodsmachine]

5. 9. 13. 18. 22. 25.

song of the year?

GRAH hard to say!! i've listened to a lot of songs that have stuck with me throughout the year,,,, though one that accompanied me for months straight yet couldn't make it to spotify wrapped 2024 because the album got taken down was checkmate from the rwby vol. 9 soundtrack!

5. tv show of the year?

ARCANE i don't care if people say the second season was bad, for me it was a good experience from start to finish

9. best month for you this year?

okay this is gonna sound very lame but i have very short-term memory HSJHEYU although this last stretch of december i was able to relax and rest up after insernship and other personal stuff, so i guess i'll go with that

13. how was your birthday this year?

it was okay, i think! chill as usual

18. a memorable meal this year?

my brother made hambagu twice this year and it was soooo good, especially the second time!

22. favorite place you visited this year?

i haven't been to many places so i can't say, sadly :(

25. did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? describe one

BOY DID I, I'VE GOT AN ENTIRE CLOWN CAR OF THOSE some worth mentioning include a bunch of digimon ocs from a project i started with a friend, a few monster hunter ones, AN ENTIRE CAST FOR A MAGICAL GIRL CAMPAIGN, and a new batch of esper ocs, based off the game dislyte!

i won't go much in depth because this post is already long as it is probably and i've still gotta flesh things out, but one of them is cyrus (skinfaxi)!! he's a teacher of sorts specialized in helping and guiding kids who've had their esper awakening at a young age, and in the past he used to work in a circus (though he's not very keen on talking about that), so he knows how to make lessons fun and engaging for his class

[rikeijo]

Today's translation #115

Figure Skating Life vol. 9, The choreographer Miyamoto Kenji's commentary on all programs in Yuri!!! on ICE

Phichit Chulanont (20) Thailand

Changing the history of Thai figure skating

Yuuri's rinkmate from the time when he was training in the USA. He was 3rd at Four Continents Championships last season, and his success has rewritten the history of skating in Thailand, a country which in the past didn't have any remarkable skaters. His only quad is the quad toe loop, but he possesses a natural glitz that mesmerizes people who watch him. This season, he skates both short and free program to soundtracks from movies he always wanted to skate to. He loves social media and his skills at taking selfies are impressive. At present, he returned to Thailand and trains at a rink in Bangkok.

SP: Shall We Skate? O.S.T. from The King and the Skater

I created the short program with this idea in my mind of elegantly escorting a woman. It's not a ballroom dance, but that was the inspiration. The program is about the King and a skater, so the movements are very sophisticated.

FS: Terra Incognita O.S.T. from The King and the Skater 2

When I was working on the free program, my back was hurting, so physically, it was the toughest program for me. I tried my best to make the program feel Thai. Yamamoto-director and Kubo-sensei, however, were very particular about what they wanted, like "No, not like that. Could you do it more like this?", so I looked at a lot of photos and videos while working on this program. To give the choreography a folk feel, I was intentionally rising up my toes and bending my knees, but if the whole program was like that, it would look silly. That's why, to make the folk-like elements stand out and give the program a nice balance, in other parts of the program, I was skating on properly straight legs.

[nxsmss]

movies I watched in March

I made some changes about how I will post these. first of all, I won't be adding the cast and plot because I'm too lazy, sorry. second, I added if I would watch the movie again, and lastly I'm gonna post my reviews every week because doing it monthly makes the list too long imo

wonder woman

finding ohana

the lost city of z

promising young woman

the last sharknado: it's about time

secret society of second born royals

sentinelle

captain america civil war

doctor strange

guardians of the galaxy vol. 2

deadpool

instant family

spiderman homecoming

deadpool 2

rock it

groupies bleiben nicht zum frühstück

yes day

the amazing spiderman

mulan (2020)

happy death day 2U

contagion

jumanji

thor ragnarok

guns akimbo

black panther

infinity war

1. wonder woman

okay, first of all it's an amazing movie there's no doubt in that but there are just two tiny things that are bugging me and maybe it's just because it's a DC movie and my dad basically punched it into me to be a marvel fan since I was 10. so, i did not like those shots were the characters were either falling because of a punch or jumping several hundred meters. it just looks weird and unnatural in my opinion. and the other thing... could they give her any less clothing?!?! I know it's very comic accurate but c'mon

7.5/10

would I watch it again? probably ya

2. finding ohana

this was such a cute fun little movie. i really enjoyed. it's kinda like 'journey to the center of earth' just made for today's generation and it made me feel a little nostalgic. I fuxking loved ioane's throwing up noises

8/10

would I watch it again? hm I'm gonna go with yes

3. the lost city of z

its a good movie, i can't deny that and I should definitely give it a higher rating but I thought it was like this exciting adventure movie, which it wasn't, it is based on real events and I didn't know that starting this movie. what didnt help, was that I was really tired when I watched it. I fell asleep for a bit and even my dad fell asleep, which kinda says a lot cause he never falls asleep during a movie (only if it's really late, which it wasn't. we finished it before 11)

I have to admit I think my rating would be a lot higher if I went into this movie with a different mindset!! I feel sorry only giving it 4 stars :(

4/10

would I watch it again? yes when I'm in the right mood

4. promising young woman

oh I liked this, I really did and I can recommend watching this. I did like the end, not cassie's end tho, but u like that they all kind got what they deserve. (little spoiler I was really rooting for ryan and him turning out to be an ass kinda crushed me a little)

8/10

would I watch it again? hm not sure

5. the last sharknado: it's about time

my friends hate me for watching all of these movies and tbh I hate myself too for doing so🤦🏻‍♀️ they are all so terrible!! and I have no idea if they do that on purpose or not, I really hope so. it's just so fucking bad that it's funny again. the plot is just stupid and we do not talk about the special effects. I cant really give a serious rating to this movie because it would have to be like a 0. but I feel like I cant rate it like that because I still fuckifn enjoyed watching it haha

I fucking lost it when fin pulled the sword out of the stone and it was a chainsaw

would I watch it again? yes and I hate myself for this answer

6. secret society of second born royals

fun little family movie, makes me wish I was a second born haha. it's good, there was a very very unexpected twist in this movie that neither me or my family saw coming. I just think it wasn't exactly my type

4/10

would I watch it again? nah

7. sentinelle

yea um.. it's a no from me. it was kinda really boring and it felt like there wasn't happening anything. it was supposed to be an action movie but there was hardly any action in it

2/10

would I watch it again? no

8. captain america civil war

another one of my favorite marvel movies

10/10

would I watch it again? yes

9. doctor strange

dont know what to say hahaha but if i could be a character in the mcu i would very much like it if i was a sorceress

9/10

would I watch it again? yes

10. guardians of the galaxy vol. 2

I think this is in general one of the least favourite movies in the fandom but I like it a lot. think i actually like it more that the first one and I love that we saw more of yondu in this, I really like his "powers" and the end was really sad.

8.5/10

would I watch it again? yes

11. deadpool + 14. deadpool 2

love love love the deadpool movies!!! can only recommend them. I like the second a bit more tho. what I was disappointed in, before it was released they made such a big deal about the rating saying "oh its gonna be so brutal and blah blah blah" and then, both of the movies are rated age 16+. I remember, for the first one I was so excited and then i watched it and i was like "well.. that wasn't exactly how I thought it was gonna be but okay

8/10

8.5/10

would I watch it again? yup

12. instant family

this is one of my absolute favorite movies ever. god I love it so much and the end always makes me cry (not in a sad way)

10/10 definitely

would I watch it again? YES

13. spiderman homecoming

I dont know what it is with me and this movie but I just dont really like it. I cant explain it. I'm also not the biggest mcu spiderman fan (sorry, please dont hate on me)

5/10

would I watch it again? yes if I'm doing a mcu rewatch but I don't think I would ever pick homecoming to watch when I'm bored

15. rock it

this has to be one of my favourite childhood movies (I dont even knowing I can say childhood, I was like 10 when it came out haha) I feel so sorry for all you non german speakers that cant enjoy this movie as much as i/we do. god I love it so much😂 and why the fuck isn't the soundtrack on spotify, I hate it

if you're german and you didn't watch this movie as a child I am very sorry for you.

I can already see myself watching "groupies bleiben nicht zum frühstück" sometime soon🤦🏻‍♀️

10/10 (god I had to) actually no 9/10 because of the ending. I'd liked it more if they would have kicked her out of the school and they got the band back together

would I watch it again? duh

16. groupies bleiben nicht zum frühstück

yup, I watched it. and I dont like it that I did because my aggression level was already high when I started and this movie did not help with it. the main actress is just no. I'm not sure if it's her or the character but I absolutely do not like her performance in this. argh it makes me want to break something. the songs slap tho!!

this movie is just straight up 1D fanfiction from 2013

4/10 but the songs are definitely 10/10 (they definitely got inspired by green day)

would I watch it again? ugh I hope not.

17. yes day

oh I loved this movie!! fun little family movie. it only has 5.7 stars on IMDb which i totally dont get, should be higher imo. loved seeing edgar ramirez in something other than an action/thriller kinda movie.

9/10

would I watch it again? yes but I don't think anytime soon

18. the amazing spiderman

aahh the feelings I got watching this movie. like I was 12 again... I love it and this movie. andrew garfield is my favorite spiderman and no one can change my mind.

9/10

would I watch it again? yup

19. mulan (2020)

I liked it. I don't know/remember the original disney movie so maybe that's why I like it. to me it feels like they got inspired by the original movie and made a version for (young) adults. it definitely didn't feel like a kids movie

5/10

would I watch it again? I think so yea

20. happy death day 2u

naahh I didnt like this one. the first one was good (I think, I dont remember) but this one was really boring. if it wasn't for my dad I would've stopped the movie half way through

1/10

would I watch it again? no.

21. contagion

it's a very good and interesting movie but tbh i was a bit bored towards the end but maybe that was just because of my mood

6/10

would I watch it again? hm, yea probably

22. jumanji

I'm not really a fan of Dwayne Johnson but I like/tolerate him in this haha. it's a fun adventure movie, I really like it, can recommend. when I watched it in theaters I didn't know nick jonas was in it and when he showed up my sister and I completely lost it

8.5/10

would I watch it again? yes

23. thor ragnarok

another one of my favorite marvel movie. I think definitely top 5. cinematography, soundtrack, jeff goldblum, everything is just 😚👌🏼 I just realised I really miss heimdall. such an underrated character and I wish he didn't die in infinity war

god the memories I get watching this movie. I think since ultron, my family and i have been to the premiere/the first screening, whatever, of every marvel movie and for some reason this was monday midnight, no idea why... but we went anyways. my mom drank 2 liters of cola, we were home again at like 3am and everyone had to get up by like 7 the next day because of school and work.

10/10

would I watch it again? hell yes haha

24. guns akimbo

wow. I gotta say I went into this with very low expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. nice fun action movie but it also made you think about some serious issues afterwards. I loved the camera work on most of the action scenes.

7.5/10

would I watch it again? yea maybe

25. black panther

it's a fucking masterpiece!!

10/10

would I watch it again? stupid question

26. infinity war

painful

10/10

would I watch it again? another stupid question

[fiftytwotwenty]

Movie Monday - Mar 30th, 2020

"Best Movie Mixtape"

"*aka - BEST SOUNDTRACK*":

**A Top 10 List**:

* Disclaimer - Because the best way to Kick off a Highly Arguable Topic is a Declaration of Disclaims:

EXCLUSIONS:

Soundtracks highlighting Singular Artists: So Sayonara Purple Rain, A Star is Born (2019), and Toy Story 1 and 2 - We all know Prince is King, Gaga is a Unicorn, and Randy Newman looks a Wal-Mart Greeter with Jazzy Windpipes but We are looking for a Perfect Movie Mixtape.

Musicals: Sorry, West Side Story, Grease, and The Greatest Showman - We promise to watch you on VH1 this weekend.

Story Specific Song Soundtracks: LL Cool J can host a Lip Sync Battle between Aladdin and Princess Anna as soon as Disney's copyright expires in about 70years.

Soundtracks Highlighting Musical Groups/Bands: That Thing You Do, Straight Outta Compton, and Bohemian Rhapsody - We will Sing Your Tunes again at the Top of our Lungs when the shades are pulled and we are all alone in our home.

Pure Score Soundtracks: John Williams, We love what you did for Star Wars and Indiana Jones but we need a little more verbal queues.

Instrumental Soundtracks: We are talking to you Kubrick. *

Some Quick History - The First commerical Soundtrack came from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (also the first time Disney milked his creation for all they are worth) in 1937. The first Instrumental/Score Soundtrack didn't drop until 1942's Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book (NOT the Disney version). The first Pop Song Heavy soundtrack was birthed with a Short Experimental Film called Scorpio Rising in 1963 - it had no written dialogue and used music from Elvis, Ray Charles, and more to carry the story. Some reports go on to say the One of the First (but Not the First) Mainstream Full Length Feature film to pair with a Pop Soundtrack was Easy Rider (1969 - starring Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper) and ever since cinema has been churning out the Movie Mixtapes like Duckie.

Over the last 3 weeks I have researched, reviewed, heard, and discussed almost 100 different Soundtracks and Boy are my Ears Tired!

So, Hop in Your Whip, Roll Down the Tint, and Get Ready to Bop because Here is My Comprehensive List of Best Movie Soundtracks Hits:

#10: Suicide Squad

Mostly Rap and Hip-Hop this Soundtrack totally makes up for the film which was lacking. This album is filled with tasy tunes and collabs from Lil' Wayne, Imagine Dragons, Action Bronson, Logic, Rick Ross, Rick James, Skrillex, Eminem, and even Etta James. One of the Best Things to come out of DC.

#9: Drive

Bust out your White Jacket and Driving Gloves cause we have a Synthesizer worth Cruisin' To.

#8: The Big Chill

WHAT! You haven't seen The Big Chill? Yeah, I believe it. The movie is probably not on many peoples minds but The Big Chill is an appropriate description of the soundtrack- Motown Heavy Hits to Cozy up to. Chill with The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin.

#7: Garden State

Extra! Extra! Pretentious Indie Flick makes Good with Pretentious, Yet Still Enjoyable, Indie Soundtrack! Mellow Out and Brood with The Shins, Cold Play, and Simon and Garfunkel.

#6: (500) Days of Summer

A more upbeat Garden State-esque Soundtrack - (500) Days of Summer experiences the Highs and Lows of being in love. You also fall in love with hits from Regina Spektor, The Smiths, Hall and Oates, and even stylings from the Leading Lady, Zooey Deschanel.

#5: Guardians of the Galaxy

Peter Quill's Mom was not Joking when she dubbed her cassette "Awesome Mix Vol. 1". An oddball movie that makes an odd pairing of music which gleefully works. Bring on the Blues Suede, David Bowie, and The Jackson 5 to name a few.

#4: Dirty Dancing

Oh yeah, this soundtrack will take you back. Flit and Sashay Away your Day with the buzz and hums of Bruce Channel, The Blow Monkeys, and an Original Diddy sung by Patrick Swayze himself.

#3: Dazed and Confused

You know what I like about this Soundtrack, Man? I Get Older, It Stays The Same...This Soundtrack is Your Personal Time Machine to 1976 with (Now Classic) Rock of ZZ Top, Kiss, Ted Nugent, Leonard Skynyrd, The Runaways, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath.

#2: 50 Shades of Grey

I know! I am shitting my pantaloons with this one - to be honest this was almost my #1 Spot. 50 Shades gives us a Smooth Soundtrack featuring The Weekend, Ellie Goulding, Beyonce, Sia, and even Frank Sinatra - but what's keeping 50 Shades from the Top Spot... It's just a little too chill - Imma gonna need a little more Foreplay for Everyday Play.

AND FOR OUR #1 MOVIE MIXTAPE...

Drum Roll, Please...

#1: Deadpool 2:

Don't Count Out Deadpool. Sure it seems like it would be Rough and Tough Soundtrack, but Deadpool makes it easy for us to get in tuned with our Soft and Vunerable side as well - a Perfect Mix of Dubstep, Rap, Ballads, and Pop.

Full Track List (Red/Italics Tracks are Bonus Tracks from the Deluxe Soundtrack):

Ashes (from "Deadpool 2" Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Celine Dion

Welcome to the Party - Lil Pump, French Montana, Diplo

You Can't Stop This Motherf**ker (Choir Only Mix (from "Deadpool 2")) - Tyler Bates

Deadpool Rap (X-Force Remix (from "Deadpool 2"))

Nobody Speak - Run The Jewels, DJ Shadow

In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel

Take on Me (MTV Unplugged - Summer Solstice) - A-ha

If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher

9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

All Out of Love - Air Supply

We Belong (Single Version) - Pat Benatar

Tomorrow - Alicia Morton

Mutant Convoy - Tyler Bates

Bangarang - Skrillex, Sirah

Ashes - Jordan Smith

Love Hurts - The Osborne Brothers

Fight Dirty - Guignol

Fly Like an Eagle- The Steve Miller Band

Honorable Mention BONUS SOUNDTRACK:

- #11: Space Jam

[nathanneedsausername]

The MCU (So Far) Ranked

With Avengers: Endgame right around the corner now feels like a good time to talk about all 21 films that brought us to this moment.

#21 -  Thor: The Dark World (Alan Taylor) 

Rating - 3/10

Look, there always has to be one.

Thor: The Dark World suffers from the same problem that most bad comic book movies do it is simply forgettable, this is the worst type of film to write about because I have noting to say. Far from being insultingly bad but also far from being any good. Honestly if you ever plan on cramming these films again do yourself a favour and skip this one.

#20 -  The Incredible Hulk (Louis Leterrier)

Rating - 4/10

You can skip this one too. 

The Incredible Hulk is a product of its time, in the late ‘00s this was about as good as action movies not called The Dark Knight got. This one isn’t unwatchable and the bit were The Hulk kicks Tim Roth into a tree is pretty cool but given how little this film has effected the franchise going forward you really wont miss anything by skipping it.

#19 - Iron Man 2 (Jon Favreau)

Rating - 4/10

I get why they made this movie, but I’d rather they hadn’t.

Iron Man 2 is basically just a teaser trailer for the better movies that were about to come out. This movie consists of boring conversations between Tony Stark and Nick Fury and even more boring scenes with the villains that really kicked of the cliché that these movies have boring villains. The suitcase Iron Man suit is really dope though.

#18 - Ant-Man and the Wasp (Peyton Reed)

Rating - 6/10

Meh.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is actually pretty good. Paul Rudd is allowed to fully explore his comedic talent making this a very watchable film however the script lacks any focus and it is ultimately difficult to stay invested in anything happening on screen. It’s a mixed bag but it’s pretty fun.

#17 - Thor (Kenneth Branagh)

Rating - 6/10

Kenneth Branagh made a super-hero movie, this is about as good as that idea could ever have been.

Thor is a surprisingly small movie, revisiting this film now feels slightly strange given what we have since seen of the character. Branagh was always the wrong choice to direct a Marvel movie especially during a time were the studio had far more say than any of their filmmakers. It’s worth revising this film to set up the Avengers but other than that it isn’t anything special.

#16 - Avengers: Age of Ultron (Joss Whedon)

Rating - 6/10

It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that this movie is just ok.

Avengers: Age of Ultron should be so much better than it is but it ended up being the poster child for when a studio gets cold feet and tries to take over on directors vision. Joss Whedon is an excellent story teller but this does not so off his talents at all. Once again this certainly isn’t a bad film it just isn’t great, there is some good dialogue and the introduction of both Scarlet Witch and Vision is worth seeing.

#15 - Captain America: The First Avenger (Joe Johnston)

Rating - 7/10

Way more camp than I remember .

Captain America: The First Avenger feels as though it has taken the framework of a more conventional war drama and just thrown in some superhero stuff and I don’t necessarily think that is a bad thing. When this film embraces its campness it can be very entertaining. Chris Evans was a prefect casting choice for Steve Rodgers and this film does go in an unexpected direction by making Captain America basically just a mascot but once again the villain is weak and large sections of the plot are forgettable. Overall worth re-watching it is probably better than you remember. 

#14 -  Captain Marvel (Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden)

Rating - 7/10

I’m sorry, I like this one.

Captain Marvel might be the most controversial film in the whole franchise. I have some grievances with this one, namely lack of any style or originality in the writing or direction but the chemistry between Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson helps to make this an enjoyable watch. I know you probably don’t agree with me but this is my list and I like this movie, so there!

#13 - Iron Man (Jon Favreau)

Rating - 7/10

Not as great as I remember but still pretty good.

Iron Man will forever be remembered as a film that changed cinema witch is so weird to me having re-watched it recently. This is a rather slow and somewhat  cliché 2000s action flick with a paper-thin plot. Robert Downey Jr. and Jeff Bridges both give it their all and I have nothing but respect for Jon Favreau for turning RDJ’s mad ramblings into a coherent film.

#12 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (James Gunn)

Rating - 7/10

I’m still not sure how to take this.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the most visually stunning film in the MCU, almost every shot could be used as a laptop wallpaper. This also has quite possibly the strongest theming as its story about fatherhood and toxic relationships can bring a tear to your eye if you let it. So it is such a shame that this film is full of jokes that just do not land and weird side plots that feel like set-ups for movies that Marvel would probably never let James Gunn make. I kinda love this movie but this is as high as I can put it on this list.

#11 -  Captain America: Civil War (Anthony Russo, Joe Russo)

Rating - 8/10

The fight scene though!

Captain America: Civil War is one great fight scene that is all anyone ever wants to talk about. I think the rest of the movie is also pretty good, this was our first look at how the Russo brothers would handle a larger ensemble cast and every character gets the screen time they deserve. Really though the airport fight is amazing!

#10 - Doctor Strange (Scott Derrickson)

Rating - 8/10

The word Strange is in the title.

Doctor Strange has a remarkably safe plot given the source materiel, although that can all be forgiven given how amazing the visual effects are. This is a very entertaining film mainly for the creative and ingenious uses of special effects. This film can drag a bit but it is worth it to see something that gives the end of 2001 a run for its money.

#9 - Iron Man 3 (Shane Black)

Rating - 8/10

And you thought my views on Captain Marvel were controversial!

Iron Man 3 is great and I will not change my mind on that. This was the first team up between Robert Downey Jr. and screenwriter/director Shane Black since 2005′s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and it was worth the wait. The dialogue is sharp and the plot with Tony Stark dealing with P.T.S.D. after the events of The Avengers makes for a great character study. 

I am aware that the general consensus is that the plot twist sucks but with Ben Kingsley’s fantastic performance and the wonderfully absurd way that it is reveled I can’t help but love it. In all honesty I just to big a Shane Black fan to hate this (the same logic does not apply to The Predator).

#8 - Ant-Man (Peyton Reed)

Rating - 8/10

I can only image how great the Edgar Wright version of this would have been.

Ant-Man is so much better than people give it credit for. The dialogue is constantly funny and the screenplay is paced perfectly so that the film never has a dull moment even in the quieter character scenes. Moments like the train-set fight and the first time Scott Lang uses the Ant-Man suit are among the best scenes in the whole franchise. Like most people I have to believe that the Edgar Wright version would have been better but I must say that Peyton Reed did a pretty great job piecing what he had together.  

#7 - Black Panther (Ryan Coogler)

Rating - 8/10

Marvel’s little awards season darling.

Black Panther is somehow one of the most important and talked about films of the decade and in all honesty it sort of deserves it. Coogler does what other MCU filmmakers would never do and dives head first into real world political issue, ending his film with a poignant note about free trade and open borders. Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger adds a nuance that is missing in most comic book movies. Overall Black Panther is a breath of fresh air in an over-saturated genre. 

P.S that soundtrack is awesome!

#6 - Thor: Ragnarok (Taika Waititi)

Rating - 8/10

How did this happen?

Thor: Ragnarok is everything I wanted it to be. Taika Waititi is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today and it is great to see a major studio allow such a unique voice to make the exact film that they wanted to without sacrificing their creativity. This is not only one of the best Marvel films but one of the best straight comedies of the decade. I cannot wait to see what Waititi has in store in the future.

#5 - Spider-Man: Homecoming (Jon Watts)

Rating - 8/10

Things are looking up for Spider-Man.

Spider-Man: Homecoming was my favourite Spider-Man movie up until very recently. This genuinely feels like watching an 80s John Hughes film in the 2010s that also happens to action sequences in it. The scene where Peter Parker and Adrian Toomes are in the car together is brilliantly tense and shows of the dramatic range of both Tom Holland and Michael Keaton. The characters feel real and fleshed out and the breezy feel of the editing brings the world to life through the naive eyes of a young Peter Parker. I honestly can’t believe how good this ended up being.

#4 - Avengers: Infinity War (Joe Russo, Anthony Russo)

Rating - 9/10

This simply should not have worked.

Avengers: Infinity War is one of the most ambitious films in cinema history. I have so much respect for the Russo brothers for managing to make a film with this many characters and this many plot points feels cohesive and endlessly entertaining. I think the real triumph of Infinity War is how watchable and fun this movie is despite being 2 1/2 hours long, full of characters and constantly hitting you in the face with really depressing stuff. Let’s hope that the Russo brothers can pull of the same trick twice. 

#3 - The Avengers (Joss Whedon)

Rating - 9/10

This movie isn’t given enough credit anyone.

The Avengers was a huge gamble back in 2012 and although it may now feel quaint given the achievement that was last year’s Infinity War Joss Whedon was able change the landscape of blockbuster cinema and make this whole thing possible. Almost every plot point in this film has since become cliché, Whedon and Feige laid out a blueprint for success that no one else has been able to copy since. The Joss Whedon humour and snarky dialogue  helped to pave the way that these characters would interact in the future and his unique approach to  utilizing an ensemble cast makes this film worth revisiting over and over again.  

#2 -  Guardians of the Galaxy (James Gunn)

Rating - 9/10

James Gunn hit the mainstream with a movie about a talking raccoon, I can never complain about the Hollywood system ever again.

Guardians of the Galaxy should not work on most levels but Gunn was just crazy enough to pull it off. The character interactions here rival the Wheadon penned interactions in The Avengers and the Gunn’s direction brings the strange worlds he has created to live in striking ways. Gunn was given a chance to showcase his humour and he ran with it, Guardians goes from dark and meandering to fun and rapidly paced within seconds and it is a complete joy to watch no matter how many times you have seen it.

#1 - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Joe Russo, Anthony Russo)

Rating - 9/10

The Russo brothers came out swinging.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is an entertaining, tightly directed, brilliantly acted, fast paced and well edited action film that just so happens to be a squeal to the First Avenger. Many of the best moments in the franchise are in this film including the elevator scene and the fight on the bridge, this film also has great character interactions especially with Steve Rodgers and Nick Fury. This feels like an update on classic James Bond stories with a modern edge, this is everything that a comic book movie could be and I highly recommend checking it out again if you haven’t seen it in a while. There is no question that The Winter Soldier is the best of the MCU.

Franchise Rating - 7.1/10

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[haivanhuynh]

pl. rando opening sept.

Untitled #8 (Popplagið) 11:45 Sigur Rós ( ) Alternative Post Rock 1 2002 9/2/2018 2:05 PM Blows II 4:25 Alexandra Grimal Owls Talk Jazz 1 2010 9/2/2018 1:53 PM City 6:27 Jah Wobble Bedroom Album Unknown 1 1983 9/2/2018 1:48 PM 疾走はらぺこ 1:34 梶浦由記 エレメンタルジェレイド 同契(リアクト) Re-No:1 SOUND-SIDE OST 2 2005 9/2/2018 1:42 PM Bent Violins (Collage Two) 9:57 Roger Eno Getting Warmer Dream 2 2001 9/2/2018 1:40 PM Meta-Matic 2:30 Praxis Metatron Avantgarde 1 1994 9/2/2018 1:30 PM 08 Track 8 2 4:19 Nujabes Good Music Cuisine Ristorante Mix Tape Misc 5 9/2/2018 1:28 PM Commissioning A Symphony In C 2:59 Cake Comfort Eagle Indie Rock 1 2001 9/2/2018 1:24 PM Entering The Now 4:20 David Darling / Eve Kodiak The Return Of Desire - Improvisations Instrumental 2 2008 9/2/2018 1:21 PM Papillon 3:26 Secret Garden Songs From A Secret Garden (Mercury 528 230-2) New Age, Neoclassical 1 1995 80 9/2/2018 1:16 PM Chaconne 3:28 Secret Garden Songs From A Secret Garden (Mercury 528 230-2) New Age, Neoclassical 1 1995 9/2/2018 1:13 PM Renouncement 4:05 Micheal Hoppe The Unforgetting Heart New Age 1 1998 9/2/2018 1:09 PM Battle Frontier 6:04 Yoko Kanno Macross Frontier O.S.T. 2 Nyan Tora Soundtrack, anime 1 2008 9/2/2018 1:05 PM Moment’s Notice 9:56 Steve Roach & Robert Logan Second Nature Ethnoambient 4 2016 9/2/2018 12:59 PM The Deep (Extended LP Version) 4:29 Humanoid The Deep Acid House/House 2 1989 9/2/2018 12:49 PM 'Why Does Someone Have to Die?' 3:57 Philip Glass The Hours Classical 2 2002 9/2/2018 12:45 PM Lane 2:58 Max Richter The Last Days On Mars (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Soundtrack 2 2013 9/2/2018 12:41 PM Black (Live At Kaufman Astoria Studios - MTV Unplugged - New York, NY 3/16/1992) 5:40 Pearl Jam Pearl Jam Twenty (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) rock, grunge, alt 1 2011 9/2/2018 12:38 PM Helix 3:44 Steve Roach Spiral Meditations Ethnoambient 3 2013 80 9/2/2018 12:32 PM Elgar / Enigma Variations - Finale (EDU) (1926) 4:42 Elgar 4 The Elgar Edition: The Complete Electrical Recordings of Sir Edward Elgar Classical 1 1926 9/2/2018 12:29 PM 終極 2:40 KOEI Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI Soundtrack, game 1 2006 9/2/2018 12:24 PM Dreaming the World 3:38 R. Carlos Nakai & William Eaton & Will Clipman Feather, Stone & Light New Age, Native American 2 1995 9/2/2018 12:21 PM Funky Town 5:03 Paul Horn Brazilian Images Jazz 1 1991 9/2/2018 12:18 PM Night Crossing 5:47 Al Gromer Khan & Kai Taschner Black Marble & Sweet Fire New Age 1 1996 9/2/2018 12:13 PM All Through the Night 10:48 Dean Evenson & D'Rachael Joy to the World New Age 3 1994 9/2/2018 12:07 PM Gently My Love 6:23 Paul Avgerinos Law of Attraction New Age 1 2010 9/2/2018 10:39 AM Last Steam Engine Train 3:06 Leo Kottke The Best Of Leo Kottke folk, acoustic 1 1987 9/2/2018 10:33 AM Seven Magnificat Antiphons (for choir) - Part 5 1:54 Arvo Part The Best Of Arvo Part Neo-Classical 1 2004 9/2/2018 10:30 AM Movement III 'The Blue Deer' 12:55 Philip Glass Symphony No.7 - Toltec Classical 3 2009 9/2/2018 10:28 AM In un'altra vita 6:54 Ludovico Einaudi La Scala: Concert Neo-Classical 1 2003 9/1/2018 8:38 PM TITLE BACK (MAP) 0:07 Capcom Makaimura Ongakutaizen Ghosts 'n Goblins Soundtrack, game 1 2005 9/1/2018 8:31 PM The Dream 4:30 Secret Garden Winter Poem New Age, Neoclassical 1 2011 9/1/2018 8:31 PM Amber Light 3:43 Mike Oldfield The Millennium Bell New Age 2 1999 9/1/2018 8:27 PM 12 Variations on Handels =See the Conqu'ring Hero comes=,WoO 45-Variation 1 0:42 Beethoven Complete Piano Works for Cello and Piano CD2 Classical 1 1998 9/1/2018 8:23 PM 20. Sustained by Hate 2:38 Masashi Hamauzu FINAL FANTASY XIII Original Soundtrack Disc 2 Soundtrack, game 1 2010 9/1/2018 8:22 PM Wide Waters Flow 6:08 Daniel Kobialka Oh What a Beautiful Morning New Age 1 1991 9/1/2018 8:20 PM 雨に濡れた慕情 3:41 ちあきなおみ Women's Water 水の女 OST Soundtrack 1 2002 80 9/1/2018 8:14 PM John Adams / John's Book of Alleged Dances - Alligator Escalator 3:55 Kronos Quartet 25 Years (Disc 1) (John Adams, Arvo Pärt) Classical 2 1998 9/1/2018 8:10 PM Worldwide Roaming 7:29 Pete Namlook & Karl Berger Polytime Electronic 1 1998 80 9/1/2018 8:06 PM House Of The Waters 4:48 Tuu All Our Ancestors Ambient 7 1995 100 9/1/2018 7:59 PM Interlude -Shakuhachi- 1:08 Kiyoshi Yoshida Asian Drums II New Age 1 2001 9/1/2018 7:54 PM The Treason Of Isengard 4:01 Howard Shore The Lord Of The Rings - The Fellowship Of The Ring Soundtrack, score 2 2001 80 9/1/2018 7:53 PM Adrift in Tangier 3:42 Ottmar Liebert The Hours between Night + Day Flamenco 1 1993 9/1/2018 7:49 PM Earthloop 3:46 Gas Gas 0095 Electronic 1 1995 9/1/2018 7:45 PM Closer Than Love 5:44 Richard Burmer Bhakti Point New Age 3 1992 9/1/2018 7:41 PM I Wish I Knew 4:39 Bill Evans Explorations Jazz 2 2010 9/1/2018 7:35 PM Starbright 5:06 Keith Jarrett Facing You Jazz 2 1972 9/1/2018 7:31 PM Artificial Seaside 16:30 Second Nature Second Nature electronic, ambient, chill out, experimental 3 1996 9/1/2018 7:26 PM the function inside the form 8:23 Steve Roach Skeleton Keys Atmospheric, Ambient, Berlin-School, Experimental 7 2015 9/1/2018 7:09 PM she was here, alone 2:17 梶浦由記 僕だけがいない街 オリジナル・サウンドトラック1 OST 2 2016 9/1/2018 7:01 PM The Stones Of Southcroft 4:29 Ayman Moon Shines Last New Age 5 1992 80 9/1/2018 6:59 PM Data Screen 0:58 Hitoshi Sakimoto “FINAL FANTASY TACTICS” Original Soundtrack Disc 1 Soundtrack, game 4 1997 100 9/1/2018 6:54 PM Time for Time 3:33 Steve Roach Now ~ Traveler Traditional Electronic 6 1983 9/1/2018 6:53 PM A Beginning In Light 8:33 Ian Boddy & Markus Reuter Distant Rituals Electronic 1 1999 9/1/2018 6:50 PM Greenstreet 6:16 John Abercrombie Quartet 39 Steps Jazz 1 2013 9/1/2018 6:41 PM Fine Time 4:43 New Order Technique (Collector's Edition) CD1 Electronic, Rock, Synthpop 1 2008 9/1/2018 6:35 PM Blue Horses 4:19 Philip Aaberg Out of the Frame Jazz 4 1988 9/1/2018 6:30 PM maytown 4:27 David Hudson Yigi Yigi: Solo Didgeridoo other 1 1997 9/1/2018 6:26 PM Transcendent One Theme 1:12 Mark Morgan Planescape: Torment Soundtrack, game 1 1999 9/1/2018 6:21 PM Messages 7:40 Vangelis Voices Electronic, Sympho Prog Art Rock 1 1995 9/1/2018 6:20 PM Better Man (Guitar and Organ Only) 3:55 Pearl Jam Vs. & Vitalogy (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered] rock, grunge, alt 1 2011 9/1/2018 6:12 PM The Kiss 3:57 Philip Glass The Hours Classical 2 2002 9/1/2018 6:08 PM Darkness moon 1:40 梶浦由記 TBSアニメーション「Pandora Hearts」オリジナルサウンドトラック1 OST 1 2009 9/1/2018 6:05 PM String Quartet No. 2 (Company) . III 1:32 Philip Glass & Kronos Quartet Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass Classical 6 1995 9/1/2018 6:03 PM Cactus Jack (Galbadian Anthem) 1:30 Nobuo Uematsu Final Fantasy VIII: Original Soundtrack (disc 2) Soundtrack, game 2 1999 9/1/2018 6:01 PM Scramble [Live] 2:22 California Guitar Trio Rocks The West Acoustic 1 2000 9/1/2018 6:00 PM Starflight 1 3:01 Kevin Braheny Galaxies Ambient 3 1988 9/1/2018 5:57 PM K Dub 10 2:39 Jah Wobble & The Nippon Dub Esemble Japanese Dub Dub 1 2010 9/1/2018 5:54 PM Hajimari - Sozo 9:53 Kitaro Daylight, Moonlight - Live in Yakushiji CD1 New Age 3 2002 9/1/2018 5:52 PM Kammer 6:53 Wolfgang Voigt Freiland Klavierkultur Electronic 1 2010 9/1/2018 5:42 PM Transformati 1:06 Biosphere L'Incoronazione Di Poppea Modern Classical/Ambient 1 2012 9/1/2018 5:35 PM Kintamani 5:20 Jon Mark Asia Journey New Age 1 1996 9/1/2018 5:34 PM Behind Green Eyes 5:06 Shadowfax Folklsongs For A Nuclear Village (LP) New Age 1 1988 9/1/2018 5:29 PM One Fine Day 2:45 The Offspring Conspiracy Of One Punk Rock 1 2000 9/1/2018 5:23 PM Dreams Of Surf 2:40 Vangelis Reprise 1990-1999 Electronic, Sympho Prog Art Rock 2 1999 9/1/2018 5:21 PM A Premonition 0:51 Yoko Shimomura FINAL FANTASY XV Original Soundtrack Disc 2 Soundtrack, game 2 2016 9/1/2018 5:18 PM Vie De Reve - Le Miroir Brise 5:16 Klaus Schulze La Vie Electronique 05 Electronic, Berlin 1 2010 9/1/2018 5:17 PM Suite No 3 in C - 2. Allemande 3:45 Pablo Casals Bach Cello Suites 1-3 Classical 3 1997 9/1/2018 5:12 PM Garden Of The Heart 5:10 Erik Berglund Elysium Abode Of The Angels New Age 2 1994 9/1/2018 5:08 PM crouka (feat. egil olsen) 3:54 Yoko Kanno petal dance Original Piano Score Soundtrack 1 2013 9/1/2018 4:23 PM Elysium Basin 4:32 Tangerine Dream Mars Mission Counter Eletronic, Berlin 3 2007 9/1/2018 4:15 PM Mauritius 4:36 Sam Cardon Earth Cinema Soundtrack 1 2000 9/1/2018 4:11 PM 聖乙女の祈り 3:40 梶浦由記 FictionJunction 2008-2010 The BEST of Yuki Kajiura LIVE OST 1 2010 9/1/2018 4:06 PM Air 'You' Coda 14:39 VA Replugged Electronic 1 1994 9/1/2018 4:01 PM Washed Up On A Beach Of Infants 2:39 Chromatics Chrome Rats Vs. Basement Ruts New Wave 3 2003 9/1/2018 3:47 PM Triad- St. Patrick, Cu Chulainn, Oisin 4:25 ENYA Enya , The Celts New Age 2 1992 9/1/2018 3:44 PM 氷雨月のスケッチ 4:30 Akiko Yano さとがえるコンサート J-Pop 1 2015 9/1/2018 3:40 PM 想い、それは少女の煌き 3:39 梶浦由記 TVアニメ『舞-HiME』オリジナルサウンドトラック Vol.2 舞 OST 1 2005 9/1/2018 3:35 PM Big Chocobo! 0:29 Nobuo Uematsu Final Fantasy III: Original Sound Version Soundtrack, game 4 1990 9/1/2018 3:31 PM Straight Street 6:19 John Coltrane The Prestige Recordings 6 Jazz 1 1991 9/1/2018 3:31 PM City Of Joy 4:04 Yulara Livin' In Peace New Age 1 2003 9/1/2018 3:25 PM The Embrace 5:40 David Lanz Heartsounds New Age 1 1983 9/1/2018 3:21 PM Fantasy of Tsugaru - Hour of The Sea 幻想·東日流 海の刻 4:18 Himekami 姫神 Tsugaru 東日流 New Age 3 1994 80 9/1/2018 3:15 PM What's New 3:48 John Coltrane Ballads Jazz 1 1962 9/1/2018 3:11 PM

[agentnico]

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Review

So, I find myself in a conundrum. I have seen the big flick of the year, Avengers: Infinity War, however I have no idea how to go about reviewing it. “How so?” you ask. “Just give it a score and be done with it, you silly tot!” you exclaim again. “Well,” I reply. “Firstly don’t call me a tot, who uses ‘tot’ these days anyway? Secondly, let me explain.” Then I take a deep breath, look around wearily at the eager swarm of Marvel fans, and begin my tale of woe...

I hated Avengers: Infinity War... Wow, that was not that difficult to explain actually! Alright, alright! Hang on, hold your “f*ck” screaming crusade back, I haven’t finished yet. Basically, I simply am not the right target audience for this film it seems. And I say ‘it seems’ because in all fairness I used to really enjoy Marvel films. But in the past year I began developing this illness called superhero fatigue! Yes, yes, I hear your shocking screams, it’s a terrible terrible illness, worse than what the Black Death did back in the day. The truth needs to be faced though, I have been infected, like in The Walking Dead, only better, cause that show sucks now! I mean really, what happened to that show??...............*sob* anyway, that’s a rant for another day. Having become more and more bored with superhero flicks, with certain exceptions like the first Deadpool, Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther actually surprising me, and especially following those last two I was hopeful that this new Marvel entry was not going to be affected by my disease filled mind......okay, that’s a lie, I wasn’t optimistic about this film whatsoever from the start, my friends Paul and Josh would confirm how not-excited I was for this film (hey, I guess this is what a shout out is, cool, hello you guys!!!). But I went into this film with an open-ish mind......and yeah, bloody hated, didn’t I. So here I am wondering how to go about reviewing this film (if I can call it that), because as I said, I hated it, but that doesn’t mean its a bad film. For a casual movie goer and most definitely for Marvel fans I’m sure it a great time, I’m sure people will love it..........holy mother of crabs, this movie has a 9/10 on IMDb? What in the actual a**?? Sorry, sorry, I promised to be calm. Who am I kidding, I didn’t promise jack sh**! But where was I? Ah, yes, the Avengers: Infinity War. So yes, this is 100% Marvel fan service and I understand why people like this film, it has everything a popcorn movie needs going for it, so it’s not my place to give this film a proper review or score as I am not the right demographic and it’s not my place to stray away casual movie-goers from enjoying this film. However who cares what I say, we all know this movie is going to make over a billion regardless what I say. *looks at phone* Oh bloody hell, it already made a billion! Well. Well then. I guess I’m just going to leave some of my personal thoughts on the film down below, I know that I usually don’t do spoilers but, you know, f*** it, SPOILER WARNING!!

Plot: The big purple dude finally gets of his chair after taking the big giant 10 year dump and goes to collect a bunch of stones to shove up his anus. Okay, not his anus, but who cares about this plot description, if you’re reading this you should have already saw the film or, like me, don’t care about it. Once again, SPOILER WARNING. Don’t read anymore, as I’m going to spoil everything in 3, 2, 1...

Thanos dies!! Alright, I’m kidding, Thanos is fine, but seriously, spoilers ahead.

MAGNOLIA YOU ARE NOT - There are too many characters in this film which the story does not manage to balance well, so many of them are under-used. And yes, I did a Magnolia reference, even though this is not the kind of film to compare to Magnolia, but I don’t care, I’m being biased, deal with it!!

THE PLOT - What plot?? I’m kidding, but seriously, what plot?? The film is made up of an escalating series of fight vignettes all under the motto of “We have to stop Thanos!” Especially to the end of the film, we keep cutting to these various locations with different characters that it is hardly possible to engage with any of the stories.

AGE OF THANOS - Yeah, yeah, I know, everyone loves Josh Brolin as Thanos. Well sorry to disappoint, folks, I didn’t like him. C’mon now, get on the trend with this ‘review’, it’s obviously a negative one, stop getting surprised at everything I didn’t like! Obviously if you liked his character, good on you, but I didn’t. In my eyes it was yet again another big CGI villain like the one-note Ultron from the last Avengers flick, only bigger and, in all fairness, had a better motivation, but I found that Brolin played him quite monotone. Yes, you see his tears when he has to kill Gamora to receive the Soul Stone, but I didn’t find that emotional whatsoever. But that’s just me. Or is it?......no, no, it’s definitely just me. I feel your hatred towards me soothing through your body as you are reading this.

THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES - Oh look, it’s another massive battle with CGI monsters! Wooo!!

DEADPOOL...ONLY IT’S PG! *GASP!* - MCU films are known to incorporate humour into all their films, but in this one it felt too forced. With the amount of jokes they had it really took away from the gravitas of the darker more emotional moments. As an example, Gamora’s death is straight away followed by a joke about Starbucks. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll happily laugh about Starbucks any day, but still.

“AMERICA, F*** YEAH!!” - Of course the first time aliens arrive on Earth it’s obviously in America! How else are we gonna feel patriotic, eh?

SILLY-LORD - Star-Lord messing up the whole plan at the end with taking the gauntlet of Thanos’ hand could have been done much smoother. Like I get why he was annoyed and angry, but Tony was literally shouting in his ear saying for him to just wait one more minute so that they could take off the glove and then he would have had full right to Fight Club him to his full heart’s desire. But nooooooo, let’s have our characters make dumb decisions. And I’m not just talking about Star-Lord! P.S. Yes, I understand that the whole Star-Lord shtick is a set-up towards Doctor Strange’s ultimate plan of what he saw in the future, but it still feels like a deus ex machina cop out nonetheless.

THE TRUE HEROES - Okay, so I’m sure out of all the complaints on this list I think with this one you might actually agree. Where in the world were Valkyrie, Korg and Miek at the beginning with the Asgardian ship? It’s not like the credits rolled after Thor: Ragnarok and Korg and Valkyrie decided to jump out of the ship into the cosmos in search of coffee? Right? Right??

#TEAMDRAX - Oh, Drax, if only you were.........actually, I don’t have a problem with Drax. No, I’m serious, this one actually is not a complaint. I know, I surprised myself! I do have to give props to both the writing for and performance of Drax. He was actually hilarious in this film and his jokes were actually well timed. From the awkward spying on Gamora’s and Star-Lord’s intimate moment and him being convinced that he’s invisible saying “I have mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still that I have become invisible to the eye....my movement, is so slow that its imperceptible....I’m sure I’m invisible.” to his description of Thor “It’s like a pirate had a baby with an angel.” to the misunderstanding argument where Quill is asking where Gamora is, Iron Man then questions who Gamora even is and then Drax’s logistical, but at the same time misinterpreted response “I’ll do you one better - WHY is Gamora??” In my eyes, Dave Bautista (with his dead-pan delivery of the lines) stole the show as Drax, though Chris Hemsworth as Thor and his buddy-ing up with Rocket was a nice dynamic.

“FREEDOM! I SAID FREEDOM!” - Not going to lie, when Heimdall was killed I actually felt happy for him. You could see in Idris Elba’s eyes how happy he was that he finally full-filled his contract and was freed from his Marvel obligations. We all knew Idris didn’t want to be a part of this franchise, blame his agent.

HAHA, MIDGET! - No, I’m serious, that’s an actual joke in the film.

“WAS THE MUSIC TOO LOUD?” - And we’re back with Marvel films having generic unmemorable scores/soundtracks. Just a bunch of dramatic noises to keep the crowd pumping. Unlike Thor: Ragnarok or Black Panther (and in all fairness the Guardians of the Galaxy films, though I do have a personal vendetta against Vol.2), which actually had good music accompaniment, but now we’re back where we started. Dang it.

“REST IN PEACE, WHY WON’T YOU LET ME REST IN PEACE??” - Those of you who get what I’m referencing with that sub-title, full respect to you. Any-hoot, half of the Avengers die at the end of this film. And it’s the lack of consequence that annoys me, especially with the knowledge of future films on Marvel’s slate. We know some of them will be back. In all fairness, we do seem to have a few proper permanent deaths (then again, this IS Marvel...) in this film with the likes of Loki, Heimdall (good on you, Idris!), Gamora and Vision, but Marvel does have a problem with killing off characters, which is evident at the end of this film. And yes, you can say that its based off the comics and its supposed to be like that, but it does take away any kind of stakes.

GAME OF STONES - The MCU would work so much better as a high budget TV series, since Infinity War seems both rushed and at the same time drags on so much at 2 hours 40 minutes. It’s overstuffed like Thanos’ gigantic purple jawline!

In all seriousness, if you enjoyed Avengers: Infinity War, I’m glad. Truly, I am, and I totally understand why so many people do indeed like it. For me it has definitely proved that I am more of an indie film fan, as to me this endless array of ACTION, ACTION, ACTION with, in my opinion, no deeper meaning or message, is just not my kind of thing. I have lost any kind of excitement for any upcoming superhero films, minus Deadpool 2, I actually think that one will be a good laugh, but otherwise I should stick with independent cinema. I’m not going to give this film a score, as if I would have, it would have been quite low and would have not been fair on the film since I’m not the right person to rate it.

Overall score: N/A

[secretradiobrooklyn]

SECRET RADIO | 10.19.20

Secret Radio | 10.19.20 |  Hear it here.

1. Melome Clement & Tout Puissant Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - “Gnon Nu To Min Lin”

One thing that consistently amazes me about this TP music is that it’s like listening to classic oldies

I just read that Melome Clement died right at the end of 2012. I hope that means he lived a long life. 

2. Fela Ransome Kuti & His Koola Lobitos - “Wa Dele”

Absolutely awesome footage of Fela Kuti, some from before and after the period of this song. Hell, it opens with a shot of him hugging Ginger Baker. He’s clearly a massively charismatic guy. There’s great footage of the horn players too, and tons of amazing dancing, both onstage and (I think?) backstage. There is also one very bad moment in the footage that is super jarring… but I think on balance the footage gives a huge dose of color to an already colorful song — I know I fell in love with this song long before I saw these shots!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVYqMQ5PKXM

3. Panbers - “Haai”

One side effect of running a music magazine was that music would be sent to us, solicited, unsolicited or otherwise — and I loved it. Part of why I started writing about music was that I loved getting CDs in my literal mailbox. One set that arrived at Eleven before I got there was a beautifully made collection called “Those Shocking Shaking Days: Indonesian Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk 1970-1978.” It wasn’t the kind of thing I was listening to, or for, at the time, but it made a certain impression. Now I’m amazed at how Indonesia, Turkey, Nigeria, France and Benin were pumping out great music in 1978 that all seems like they were part of the same scene… but they couldn’t have been. Right? Italians, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Estonians, Peruvians — just great music being made all over the planet at the same time. Wow.  

4. La Femme - “Welcome America”

This band seems to me like a more modern version of the band Little Rabbits from the ‘90s-‘00s, whose music I totally love. I really like the spoken style of some French pop — like the lyrics aren’t being sung, they’re being announced. I get the impression that this is an indie sort of band in modern French music but not crossed over into the French pop stratosphere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KomjRIqlF7g

A Town Called Panic! soundtrack

If you haven’t seen this movie, we highly recommend it. Don’t even look it up, just pop it in at the top of your queue. It’s really weird and completely rewarding.

5. Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot - “Initials B.B.”

This is one of the foxiest songs ever recorded, in my opinion. I mean, she’s beautiful and he’s beautiful for SURE, but also it’s written into the chords and arrangements. It’s so royal.

For the eye makeup if nothing else:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPOYtC1n5bE

Paige adds:

I should note, Chris and Christine when I dedicated this to Bridget, I was only thinking of the chorus “initials, initials, initials, B. B.” Immediately when it started playing, I realized I’d completely forgotten there were verses and that I have no idea what they’re saying. But considering it’s Serge and Bardot, there’s a high chance it might be a song for grown ups. So just the B.B. part is for Bridget.

6. Betti-Betti - “Guikolo” 

From Bridget to Brigitte Bardot to another B.B.: Betti-Betti. I love the character and timbre of her voice, and the way the horn hits anticipate the beat — everything seems to be out ahead of the beat, it’s amazing. And this is only a hunch, but I think she does the amazing mouth drumming in the middle of the song. If anyone knows whether that’s actually her doing it, I would love to know. I feel like it happens in several of her songs. It just knocks me out every time.

7. Guided By Voices - “Hot Freaks”

This song will always be deep in the heart of my Seattle self. I feel like this is the moment that Guided By Voices became ineluctable. 

8. Techniques Band - “And I Love Her”

So languid, so strangely refracted. 

9. L’Oeil - “Bernadette”

 This song comes from a collection called “Wizzz: French Psychorama (1966-1971), Vol. 1.” Everyone sounds so locked in together on the groove, the vocals can go off on their own TV comedy scene. I want to know more about this band. 

10. William Onyeabor - “Tomorrow” 

The rhythm of this song grows so gradually that you don’t even feel it growing ever more complex until the backing vocals start to wind around each other in an ascending ladder of harmony. Meanwhile, the lead vocal just keeps expressing an absolute truth about life: No one knows tomorrow.

11. Marie Lafôret - “A Demain My Darling”

Lijadu Sisters - “Sunshine”

This is such a pretty song in the verses… but then it opens up into an extended instrumental passage built around this perfect little guitar phrase. I assume great hip hop songs have been built around this sample, but I haven’t heard em yet. In headphones the instruments are being slowly panned around the room in different directions, which is pretty great as well.

12. T P Orchestre Poly Rythmo - “A O O Ida”

When I’m digging around for T.P. tracks I haven’t heard, sometimes a song really lands. I make a note, come back to it a few times, realize I’m into it, cue it up and realize that I should have recognized the song from its place on a comp or something I’ve already heard. But they sound so different from copy to copy! The version of “A O O Ida” here is from a recording of the 1976 original pressing. The version I knew but didn’t even recognize is on Analog Africa’s excellent “The Skeletal Essences of Afro Funk.” At first I thought they were entirely different takes, but they’re not — just really different EQs and mastering. I love all of Analog Africa’s remasters on all of their amazing, amazing compilations, but in this case I prefer the version here. It sounds so sharp and wild. 

13. Teddy Afro - “Mar eske Tuwaf (Fikir Eske Meqabir)”

Teddy Afro must be the biggest entertainer in all of Ethiopia, and he is internationally revered as well. I first heard his music as background music in Ethiopian restaurants, but as I’ve come to explore more music around the world, I find his songs’ production to be really fascinating. He kind of floats over the top of a giant cumulus cloud of orchestral music and telling stories. In this case, he’s relating the story of Seble and Bezabih, the heroes of a famous Ethiopian story called “Love Until the Grave” that I gather doesn’t end well.

14. Salah Ragab - “Black Butterfly”

Josh Weinstein told us about Salah Ragab, and this song makes me feel like I’m living in a cartoon. 

15. Giant Sand - “Temptation of Egg”

In Seattle I went to see Grandaddy at the Crocodile, opening for a band I’d heard of but never seen so figured I’d check out. Giant Sand was touring on this album, “Chore of Enchantment,” and I’d never seen anyone play both keys and maracas AND guitar while singing and somehow seem like he was barely doing anything at all. I got the CD but it didn’t seem like the same thing… until the day after I met Paige, when we found ourselves at my place and I pulled out this album. It unfurled like a genie from a bottle.

16. Blonde Redhead - “En Particuleur”

Blonde Redhead was for a long time my absolute favorite band to see live. I think the first time was at Under the Rail, and literally the second she first screamed I burst into surprised tears. The twins looked like one angel and one devil. John Goodmanson worked with them before he worked with Harvey Danger and I was honestly in awe of them. They were also my path into Serge Gainsbourg, for which I will always be thankful.

17. Michel Polnareff - “La Tribù (Hippy Jeeeh!)”

It’s amazing how many layers of reverb this recording is soaking in, which helps keep it super spaced out, along with that synth sound firing straight up out of the atmosphere.

18. Fabio - “Lindo Sonho Delirante”

Another find via Now/Again Records. The original cover for the single featured a photo of Fabio with his arms outstretched, enwrapped in text. The breathless, almost torn quality of the backing vocals is trés classique. Also, another great example of mouth drumming.

19. Os Bongos - “Lena”

*A great find own my quest to find Muxima! I love the guitar tone on this.

20. Avolonto Honore et l’Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - “Avi Yaman Houé”

Avolonto Honore belongs to that first group of four — plus of course T.P. Orchestre — from the original “Legends of Benin” that basically makes him a saint in our book. He’s definitely one of the most amazing-looking players among them. This track they’re working is a super deep groove… and then when the horns come in, they sound surprisingly like Adriano Celentano’s “Prisencolinensinainciusol.” I believe that is Papillon on the guitar as well, another top favorite musician ever.

21. Yuri Morozov - “Neizyasnimoe”

Johnny Fantastic is probably the person we know who knows the most about Russian history and culture. Also American presidents. He is who I want to talk Russian psych and underground music with. So far, I’ve mainly found cool stuff from Estonia, which is plenty exciting, but I feel like there must be a whole Muscovite weird-rock scene that we just haven’t met yet. What do you think, Johnny?

22. Flavien Berger - “La Fête Noire”

Via roundabout paths, this one gets totted up in Julian’s column. Thanks, Julian. This was one of the first batches of songs that Paige heard of French music made after the ’70s, and it clearly stuck. Sometimes she sings along with the ending, which is my favorite. One translated lyric that sticks out is “I leave the comings and goings of the souls / On the other side of the diving board”

Hailu Mergia - “Embuwa Bey Lamitu”

We have been so glad to have “Wede Harer Guzo” in our collection. Every track is a pleasure. Great for working creatively alongside.

23. Ram Jong Vak - “Twist (Dance Twist)”

More Cambodian pop wizardry.

24. Rocky Horror International - “Alltid Lys Hos Frankenstein”

I tried to convince Paige, when we were leaving our art castle on Cherokee, that we couldn’t have Halloween that year, because we were going to be way too busy. She agreed — and then got us tickets for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” the weekend before, which isn’t technically Halloween… and thank god! It was my first live Rocky, and I may not’ve ever done it if I didn’t do it then. Truly a singular experience, there’s nothing like it no matter how hard people try.

Paige adds: The church of Rocky! 

25.  Arsenal - “Bolero”

Still just reading about this track. One guy wrote in on a track, asking, “Is there any place in Russia where I can still buy this music? I have been searching all over the western planets, but no success so far.” Which made my whole existence feel different. The western planets? How far do you have to go to find a copy of this record?!

[mattbrothersscriptwriter]

My Top 20 Films of 2017 - Part Two

Ok, so about ten minutes ago I finished watching my last 2017 film of the year. For my FULL list - all 127 films watched in order of preference - jump on over to my Letterboxd page: https://letterboxd.com/matt_bro/list/films-of-the-year-2017/

Alright, top 10:

10. Logan

In a time when a lot of people still bemoan the existence of so many comic book movies (occasionally, with a point) this has been a stellar year for them. Marvel’s triple whammy of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Spiderman Homecoming and Thor Ragnarok were all excellent, heartfelt, fun knockouts and Wonder Woman was a terrific showcase for both Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins (not to mention hugely important in its own right). Only Justice League really fell back on old tired habits and resulted in a bizarre mashup of tone and purpose and featured the single most damning piece of CGI buffoonery ever conceived in Henry Cavill’s ‘we’ll fix it in post’ deleted moustache. That really is one for the ages.

But I could never have foreseen the power and beauty of something like Logan, a near-perfect capper to a spinoff trilogy that began with the God-awful Wolverine Origins. It’s strengths come from it’s convictions – this isn’t an episodic story servicing a franchise, this is a true stand alone character piece, focusing on the rarest of things – an actual ending to a beloved, previously untouchable, immortal superhero. Played out as a tragic western with claws, the film beautifully champions the importance of family and love, seen (at last) through the eyes of those that never dreamed they would experience it, let alone fight for it. With some fantastic action set pieces to boot too, this one really has its cake and its eat and is also a real sight to behold – I saw it for a second time in it’s gorgeous black and white ‘Logan Noir’ cut and every frame is a revelation. Huge props to Patrick Stewart too, delivering a devastating performance of a character is has also lived with for the past SEVENTEEN years.

9. Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool

This film is a heartbreaker. My God. Definitely the most surprising cinema-going experience I had this year. I went with a friend of mine and by the time the credits were rolling, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house – best encapsulated by a burly scouser sat behind us who was openly saying “Fuck me, didn’t expect that for a Sunday afternoon. Jesus! How bloody brilliant was that!? Got any tissues?’.

Focusing on the later years of Hollywood starlet Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening on Oscar sweeping form), it finds her semi-washed up and treading the boards in London where she meets and falls for Peter Gallagher (Jamie Bell – never better than this) another actor, half her age. The tenderness and straight forwardness of their pairing is so refreshing, never making an issue or point about the older woman/younger man dynamic unless directly challenged by other characters (including Gloria’s bratty sister Joy) or themselves. The most effective emotional beats of this film aren’t signposted and drawn out for Oscar clip schmaltzyness but instead hit you in a sudden burst of passionate regret; hurtful words said in anger or defence – truly proving that the most harmful things you can say to someone you love are all too easy to let slip out before you’ve had a chance to think about what you’re saying. But the damage is done.

The film-making here is exceptional too. What could have been a rather dry biopic is given such momentum through brilliantly executed scene transitions and a flashback-enhanced narrative that keeps us embroiled in the present day scenes of Gloria succumbing to cancer whilst we watch their initial courtships and brutal arguments from the months and years leading up to it. The supporting cast that includes Julie Walters, back as Bell’s mother and Stephen Graham as his brother are brilliant but this is Bening/Bell’s movie and they knock it out of the park.

8. Baby Driver

My big birthday blowout screening of the year, following last year’s Aliens 30th anniversary showing, Baby Driver did not let me down. All the usual energy, narrative foreshadowing and tightly controlled construction you’ve come to expect from an Edgar Wright flick blown out onto a much bigger and more confident scale. The genius pairing of getaway driver crime heist flick and vehicular musical allows for some hugely inventive set pieces, from the opening police chase set to Bellbottoms by the John Spencer Blues Explosion to the car-on-car parking lot duel with Queen’s Brighton Rock echoing through the tunnels.

Ansel Elgort delivers a breakout turn and everyone from Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx and Kevin somebody-or-other are having a ball playing bad. The romance with waitress Lily James initially feels a little under cooked but it all plays into the escapist fairytale of the action and seeing them dance together in a laundromat whilst sharing headphones is one of this year’s purest joys.

7. Get Out

Where It soaked up much of the straight spooky horror acclaim this year, Get Out walked a much more tantalising and complex line between thriller, social drama, satire, comedy and horror – and pulled it all off effortlessly. Jordan Peele has long had grand cinematic aspirations as evidenced in some of the larger scale sketches in his fantastic show Key and Peele but this clearly represents everything he wanted to say and do in a debut feature. I think the odds of so perfectly nailing your voice and intentions in your very first film is astronomical but damn, he must be proud, not only of the film itself but the cultural reach, impact and resonance it has had with audiences.

Daniel Kaluuya is excellent as the everyman battling his own (rational) fears and paranoia before his instincts slowly become the domineering voice in the back of his head. Trust in oneself is the saving grace here and it’s great to see an array of other ‘traditional’ characters for this genre twist the knife and reveal their true colours. The “Rose, where are my keys” turning point is perhaps the tightest I’ve gripped the arm of my chair all year. And the eventual climax is one of the best examples of subverting expected genre tropes. Brilliant.

6. Raw

Speaking of confident debuts, Julia Ducournau’s is equally astounding. Not for the faint hearted, this queasy, cannibalistic coming of age tale is a near perfect slice of fucked up fever dream. It follows a young vegetarian attending veterinary college who is forced to eat rabbit meat in a sick hazing ritual – one that her fellow student and older sister has clearly already experienced. Slowly but surely, a triggering of her animalistic appetite grows, coinciding both with her own first steps into a sexual awakening as well as a growing sense of unease that something isn’t right in her family to begin with. 

The plot takes some nutty turns, not least in the last few minutes, but everything works; from the gorgeous imagery to the tonal juggling to the assured performances. This would make an excellent entry in an ‘arthouse does horror subgenre’ triple bill, doing for cannibals what A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night does for vampires and The Witch does for... witches.

5. Jackie

This is a breathtaking biopic - interested less in the broad strokes of history and what we think we know about the aftermath of one of the most infamous events of the 20th century and more in the nuanced, private, personal moments of grief in the public eye. Natalie Portman is astounding as Jackie Kennedy, nailing everything from the look to the voice to the affectations, and its the dreamlike, woozy way that the film unfolds that really draws you in and positions you in the eye of a hurricane. The JFK assassination was a monumental cultural milestone but this story asks you to put yourself in the shoes of a woman who was unavoidably trapped at ground zero - and largely all alone with her memories and emotions, despite the surrounding pressures of aides, the press and the American people.

This is supremely confident filmmaking, incredibly affecting and features another stand out score from Mica Under the Skin Levi.

4. 20th Century Women

The second film on my list for both Annette Bening and Greta Gerwig, this is a wonderful story about the strengths and flaws found in both the family we’re given and the family we choose. With an anecdotal, episodic structure, it is less focused on plot and more on the individual moments that the characters in our lives provide us with; how they affect our own life story and evoke memories of a certain time and place. 

It’s highly emotional, with touching asides and rambling voiceovers telling us numerous stories whilst keeping a sense of an anchor through the relationship between Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) and his mother Dorothea (Bening). The supporting cast is uniformly great, from Elle Fanning as the girl next door to Billy Crudup as a lonely tenant/handyman, this one really hit me hard. The late 70s period details, along with the soundtrack, and the sun bleached cinematography recalls the joy of discovering yourself through questionable music, bad decisions and rebellious behaviour. Check it out.

3. A Ghost Story

I doubt any other film this year left quite a long lasting impression as this one did. I couldn’t stop thinking about it afterwards and became rather obsessed with pretty much everything it accomplishes. It’s a fairly straight forward tale of a couple (Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara) whose relationship begins to feel the strain as they quietly realise they might want different things in life. We’re not privy to many more details, positioned as a voyeur which will continue as things unfold but before long, Affleck is killed in a simple car accident outside his home and seemingly rises from death to haunt his old home, dressed entirely in the hospital bed sheet his corpse was covered in. It’s a genius depiction of the traditional ghost - simultaneously off-putting, amusing, whimsical and ridiculous - and it’s also rooted in logic too. As the ghost continues to watch his Mara grieve for him (mesmerisingly encapsulated in an unbroken take of a depressed Mara eating an entire pie that her neighbour brought round), he (and us) slowly begin to notice time... breaking.

The way the passing of time is visualised here is beautifully simple - rather than the long slow fades that normally indicate transitions, here it is as sudden as the ghost turning around to look over his shoulder, through a series of hard cuts or sometimes, no cuts at all. That feeling of time literally slipping away is brutal and the ghost can do nothing but wander about, seemingly helpless to how fast things change. One moment, Mara packs up and leaves, the next a new family of three have apparently been living there for months. Ultimately, the film becomes a meditation on the importance we embue in places, not so much people. The house is the anchor - the core - of what the ghost latches on to and if you’ve ever had the feeling of wondering who lived in your home before you and who will be there after you’ve gone, this film will dig deep into your mind.

I found this to be a brilliantly low-fi way to tell a huge thematic story and the use of music throughout - including one central track in particular - only adds to it. If you can get past the pie-eating without thinking ‘da hell is this’, you’re in for a treat.

2. Dunkirk

I’m almost scared to put this so high. I’ve no doubt in my mind that it’s a five star film and it’s certainly the most visceral, immediate cinema going experience I’ve perhaps ever had (I caught it at the BFI IMAX, opening night, at a late showing and it truly does fill your entire periphery vision) but a part of me wonders if it will hold up on second viewing - i.e. if seeing it anywhere other than the IMAX will diminish it. Well, I’m sure it won’t be the same but I’m also convinced it won’t matter either because this is clockwork precision film making of the highest order; an exercise in narrative structure as well as simply being the most accurate representation of the event in question as there possibly could be.

Some people have complained that this film does a disservice to its characters but I disagree. The power of this story is that it’s the tale of the everyman - how all of these people, no matter the extent of their involvement or the merits of their bravery, became heroes. I don’t need to see the ‘movie’ version of this - where characters chat about their backstories or show photos of loved ones or do every other cliche around. I KNOW all that is going on within the frame but I don’t need to see it. What we’re seeing is the immediacy of these events, which heightens the terror and the hopelessness felt by everyone on that beach or in those boats or in those planes. The land/sea/sky split is impeccably done and the devotion to practical battle scenes is stunning. The aerial dogfights - in full IMAX - practically made me feel like I was strapped to a wing. But even looking past the spectacle, the performances DO bring out the heart of the characters we’re presented with. From Cillian Murphy’s PTSD riddled soldier to the steely determination of Mark Rylance to the rather genius casting of Harry Styles - the exact kind of kid who would have been swept up in this war - everyone is all in and they all blew me away. Especially Tom Hardy, in perhaps his most restricted role yet (it’s like Bane meets Locke), who garners the biggest cheers.

And Hans Zimmer’s epic score can make me sweat just thinking about it. A perfect compliment to the tightening framework and increasing stakes of the action.

1. La La Land

Where do I even begin with this? Full spoilers ahead, I couldn’t help myself.

Clearly, this isn’t a film for everyone. And I get that. Some people think it’s fine but kinda hate musicals. Others get frustrated with the character’s choices. Others would have preferred it to actually remain a musical throughout. I understand all of these criticisms but for me, it does perfectly what it sets out to do. 

First of all, I personally love the musical numbers - from the jaw dropping opening of Another Day of Sun to the kinetic, glamourous rush of Someone in the Crowd to the heartfelt yearning of City of Stars. I think they’re great tunes, wonderfully performed and exceptionally shot. I think of the long one-shot takes of the first, the swimming pool splashdown of the second and the little smack on the shoulder of the third. They’re rooted in feeling, in character and in the tradition of Hollywood. They wear their influences on their sleeve but never feel like a parody. And to me, the sudden shift away from being a flat out musical at the end of the first act is not a misstep but entirely organic - this is the rare love story that has its head in the clouds (romantic dating montages, dreamlike dancing through the stars) as well as being brutally honest about what we want, how we get them and the sacrifices these things cost. 

The movie starts out as this fantastical anti-meet-cute before morphing into a romantic fable full of wonderment but the moment the characters get together, it switches gears and becomes more grounded in reality. The music largely stops and the real world catches up. Arguments are had, compromises are made, promises are broken. This is the harsh truth of getting what you want at the cost of losing what you’ve perhaps always wanted. The tension between Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) becomes uncomfortable - he’s lying to himself about doing what he must to achieve his real dream, even despite Mia’s support and she is battling her own demons in chasing hers. It’s only when the film brings them to their lowest points does it slowly turn back into being something more magical. Sebastian returns to Mia with the news of a new audition, which results in the most raw song/anecdote of the film ‘Audition (The Fools Who Dream), and just as we’re swept into the happy ending we were promised from decades of these movies, the pair realise they have to do their own thing. “We’ll just have to wait and see”...

The film’s extended epilogue is where it really doubles down on this idea. As we’re treated to a return of the ‘full blown musical’, we see the true Hollywood version of this entire story, played out in dreamlike fast forward. Sebastian leaping off his piano to kiss Mia the second he meets her, the villainous J.K. Simmons snapping his fingers and stepping aside, Sebastian giving a standing ovation at Mia’s one woman show that he missed entirely before, the two of them travelling to Paris and crafting a life together that Mia actually did alone. On the surface, it’s a joyous, colourful, happy finale but the final curtain reminds you that it’s all been... a daydream. The road not travelled. So while the film ends with them both achieving their own desires, they’ve lost one another. This is the all-too-often-true cost of creative pursuit and fulfilment and it’s so rare to see it held aloft in the final reel of an Oscar winning movie that appears to be the exact opposite on the surface. 

It’s daring, brave and imaginative and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe I’m too soppy and maybe I’ve just ruined the entire plot for you (I definitely have) but I just couldn’t see anything topping this the moment I saw it. And I guess I was right. Damien Chazelle is a wizard and I can’t wait to see what comes next. 

[johnatthemovies]

John’s Top 10 Movies of 2017

So here we are, another year in the books.  Let’s take a moment to put out another list among thousands and thousands of lists.  If you don’t agree, you can start your own blog.  Maybe you’ll be better at providing content on a regular basis than I am.

HONORABLE MENTION: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (December 15)

I can’t rank a Star Wars film in good conscience, especially one as polarizing as this one.  It was a great film (The Star Wars Nothing But Star Wars Retrospective will continue soon, trust me), but I still believe that the Star Wars saga is its own thing altogether that has managed to transcend its medium, yadda yadda yadda, pretentiousness.  So it takes the honorable mention in this list.

HONORABLE MENTION II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: The Disaster Artist (December 9)

I’ve put this as an honorable mention because, being the die-hard fan of The Room that I am, it’s the one movie I desperately wanted to see this year, but as of press time, I have not yet made it to see it.  First, it took forever for any of my local theaters to show it.  Then, there was a one-two punch of Christmas and a death in the family when it finally graced the tri-state area with its presence.  Then this weekend, my car broke down and no one would drive me.  Seriously, someone up there does not want me to see this fucking movie.  

10. Power Rangers (March 22)

This film was a very welcome surprise.  With such a beloved franchise, a reboot could only end in disaster.  And yet, it was a fun, refreshing, character-driven film that even non-fans, like myself, can enjoy.  I just wish that it could somehow get a sequel.

9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 5)

I’ll admit, this one wasn’t as good as the first one.  It had its moments, like the Mr. Blue Sky opening (because I just can’t quit ELO), Ego’s big reveal, and the heartbreaking finale, but some of the jokes outstayed their welcome and weren’t as funny as the jokes from the original.  However, my opinion changed after I watched Lindsay Ellis’ wonderful essay on the film.  Give it a watch.

8. Kong: Skull Island (March 10)

So many studios have tried to replicate the lightning of a bottle that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Universal had its Dark Universe, which has had three different starting points, and none of them stuck.  Warner Bros.’ DC universe is barely a success in box office numbers alone.  And then there’s Legendary Entertainment’s MonsterVerse, which hit the ground running with 2014’s Godzilla, and followed that up with a damn good King Kong movie.  Kong’s first scene is terrifying, as is Samuel L. Jackson’s Captain Ahab-esque character who will not stop until Kong is dead.  2019’s Godzilla: King of The Monsters cannot come soon enough.

7. Thor: Ragnarok (November 3)

This film was an absolute delight.  It’s deliciously funny, there are some scenes that appear to come straight from the pen of Marvel legend Jack Kirby, and other scenes that are just begging to be painted on the side of a ‘70s panel van.  This one has to be the best Marvel film of 2017 hands down, with maybe Spider-Man Homecoming coming close.  That scene in the car with Peter and Vulture/Batman/Birdman, though.

6. IT (September 8)

IT was probably the first horror movie I’ve actually watched in theaters, and to be honest, it’s probably the best one I’ve seen that didn’t come out in the ‘80s.  Bill Skarsgård is ridiculous and terrifying in equal measure as Pennywise, even though I still hope that should I ever come across a clown hiding in the sewer, it’s Tim Curry.

5. Logan (March 3)

This is the solo Wolverine movie that fans wanted to see.  It’s gory, it’s brutal, it’s thrilling, it’s heartbreaking to watch, and of course, the perfect swan song for two iconic performances: Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.  Third time’s the charm, eh?

4. Dunkirk (July 21)

I made a mistake this year in not seeing Dunkirk on the big screen.  It demands to be seen in IMAX with the best sound system money can buy, especially when it comes to the dogfight scenes.  Being a World War II airplane nerd, seeing those Spitfires and hearing those Rolls Royce Merlin engines (“The sweetest sound you could hear out there,” a character remarks) in those well-shot and choreographed fight scenes make it worth the astronomical price of admission.  Or at least, I’d think so.

3. Logan Lucky (August 18)

This was another welcome surprise for me.  It’s probably one of the funniest movies of the year, with show-stopping moments like the warden arguing with the prison inmates over the perpetually-delayed final books of the A Song of Ice And Fire series or Daniel Craig’s character stopping the heist in its tracks to give a chemistry lesson on how gummy bears, a bleach pen and imitation salt can make an improvised explosive device.  However, I cannot suggest that you try this at home. Also, this year must’ve been really good for John Denver’s estate.  How many movies can you possibly shove “Take Me Home, Country Roads” into?

2. Blade Runner 2049 (October 7)

This film should not work.  A sequel to one of the most beloved sci-fi movies of all time made 35 years after the fact shouldn’t be the masterpiece that it is.  And yet, Denis Villeneuve and his cast and crew managed to pull it off.  It’s as beautiful to look at, as enigmatic, and sadly, as much of a financial heartbreaker as the original.  Seriously, I haven’t been as personally hurt by a film’s underperformance at the box office since Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World.

And our Number One: Baby Driver (June 28)

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, If It’s Edgar Wright, You Can’t Go Wrong.  Spacey be damned, this film is another masterpiece by a director that has long been my favorite living director and my second all-time favorite, next to Kubrick, of course.  The soundtrack, the editing, the stunts, all top-notch.  On a more personal note, outside of a wonderful trip to Chicago, my summer had been a depressing trainwreck.  I bashed my eye against an endtable moving out of my college dorm, my grandmother died, I couldn’t find a job, it was a mess.  Then I went and saw Baby Driver.  When I saw the Bellbottoms Chase for the first time, it made me happier than I’d been in a while.  So thanks, Edgar.  Whatever you’ve got planned next, I’ll be in line day one.

[attract-mode-collective]

This alt-J Music Video May Or May Not Have Been Directed By The Creator Of LSD: Dream Emulator

First, a heads up to those who might need to know: the above contains a considerable amount of flashing imagery.

It was also posted by one of the Japanese Tower Records Twitter accounts. Google Translate spat out: “One of Britain's leading bands, Alto J (Alt-J) released the latest work on June 9. Mr. Sato, a multimedia artist in Japan, who worked on artwork.”

I want to believe they’re talking about is the one and only Osamu Sato, creator of Eastern Mind, Chu-Teng, and LSD. Am not 100%, but it certainly looks like his handiwork! At the very least, the album art looks straight of of the aforementioned PSone classic…

Alright, may as well highlight a few other things I stumbled across on Twitter. Starting with…

Recently became familiar with Norio Nakagata’s account. He’s a vet in the industry, having worked on NES classics like Burai Fighter, Low G Man, and Zombie Nation. He’s still active today, as evidenced by this snapshot of his “development environment”…

He’s also pals with actor Hiroshi Fujioka, best known for the role of Segata Sanshiro, whom he had drinks with at a video game bar that happened to have this lying around…

miki800.com recently highlighted a person’s journey into the bootleg backstreets of Shanghai, which was originally shared on Twitter, and the source thankfully had a closer look at the one game that interested me the most. That being a Super Mario USA cart with Astro Boy’s face superimposed on top, which is also a Street Fighter 2 rom hack…

There’s also this cart, which I know nothing about, other than it looks really nice…

@oleivarrudi not too long ago shared a really nice looking mock up of a Metal Gear Rising demake…

@Ryotaiku’s comic is for all the My Horse Prince fans out there…

Via the Tiny Cart Twitter are some l i f e g o a l s indeed…

Been playing Breath of the Wild for quite some time but I have yet to encounter myself, like Matt Gerardi did several weeks ago…

… Oh and here’s an animated gif that really nails the new Zelda, plus another that brilliantly mixes shmups and that image that went (and still is) super viral, both of which I can’t post since they’re too big Tumblr don’t like that. Oh well,

Though I can’t hate on Tumblr too much, since it did provide this rather eye-opening bit of intel, courtesy of superman--thanksforasking…

“Fun fact: Mortal Kombat and Sabrina The Teenage Witch take place in the same universe. In 1997, to promote the upcoming sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa reprised his role as Shang Tsung from the first film in an episode of Sabrina The Teenage Witch entitled “Get Over… YOURSELF.” It is revealed that Shang Tsung is actually Sabrina’s uncle by marriage, and while in town on business, he pays the Spellmans a brief visit. Sabrina’s aunts are not thrilled when Shang Tsung fixes dinner–raw boar–or when he takes Salem’s soul after the cat insults him. To get it back, Sabrina agrees to help promote that year’s Mortal Kombat tournament; shenanigans ensue.”

Ready to have your goddamn mind blown yet again? Credit goes to dnopls for connecting the goddamn dots…

My new fave Tumblr belongs to pixel8or, who manages to take footage shot from a moving vehicle and make it to look like footage from inside Rez…

It’s because of posthumanwanderings I discovered the existence of a series of maxipad commercials that are clearly inspired by Space Channel 5…

Sticking with Sega, though more so the subject of sound, here we have the menu music from the Sega Channel. All 40 minutes’ worth…

Everyone knows that the original Japanese soundtrack to Castlevania 3 is superior to the US version. But did you know that there’s a way to improve upon perfect? Yes there is… by adding the aforementioned much maligned NES version directly on top (thanks for the heads up Slonie)…

As meldowiseau reminds us all, Ken from Street Fighter drives barefoot. Not a huge shocker, maybe, yet it’s again an important reminder…

There’s also a Mortal Kombat clone that stars Butt-Head from Beavis and Butt-Head fame that vaguely feels like a porno, hence why I refuse to investigate further…

Via obscurevideogames is a lovely not quite still life from an arcade game called Quester, which you’d think is a shmup but is actually just an Arkanoid clone…

This week’s random piece of super kawaii art from a Tumblr artist whose work I just became aquatinted with is via dreamsntangles…

For those who have paid attention, I know folks involved in the world of Garbage Pail Kids, which also means I know folks involved in the world of Wacky Packages. And here’s a game related piece, by Joe Simko…

According to Video Game Densetsu, this is what a proposed Star Fox & company overhaul could been. Which makes what we’ve been seeing all the more boring…

Just a semi-regular reminder of how cute the PSP can be, in the right setting, one that I originally spotted over at sixteen-bit…

Speaking of hardware, and call me late to the party, but anyone out there familiar this device, which allows you to play actual SNES and Genesis games on your computer? I suppose the idea of using emulators as the means to ultimately drive legit software isn’t the craziest thing in the world, given how stuff like the Retron uses them as well…

A blast from the past that Kotaku pulled up the other the day, which many may have missed, of a Canadian Christian fundamentalist warning parents of the evil that is Final Fantasy…

I wonder how long this Pikmin cosplayer was sitting there, before anyone noticed?

My buddy Steve recently reminded me of this oldie but goodie...

One more old pic, I was reorganizing files and came across this iPhone screenshot several years and phones ago. I legit have no idea what I was thinking…

Anyone know where I can get a copy of Virtua Fighter Vol.1: Donkey Kong? Asking for a friend (guess I could just pester mightynonine)…

Does anyone also know if Zapperfilms will ever be updated again? Asking for me…

Thankfully, after laying low for a tad bit, Games Are Art recently posted an update! And on that note, that’s it for this one…

[therappundit]

August/Labor Day 2018 -*PlayLi$t of the Month*

A summer that began with fireworks is now a wrap...

Folks, the last month of the summer for me has been busy. Between work, family, and a beautiful vacation to Ireland, I have not had a lot of time to write, or even truly absorb so much of the new music that has dropped in the last two months. That being said, there were more than enough potent releases in late July/August to warrant a summer close-out list with plenty of fire power!

It is ironic that a summer that kicked off with a Drake vs. Pusha T beef dominating the headlines, has drawn to a close with some of the pettiest of mainstream squabbles in recent memory. So here’s some straight talk from The Pundit: I couldn’t care less about any “feud” between Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott, and I wasn’t really moved by either of their albums. Nor do I care about Eminem trying to turn back the clock to be regain former glory at this point in his career, because I find Kamikaze to be a boring album of rants and forced threats over forgettable production, and it fails to capture even a glimpse of the greatness he showcased on his early work. 

But I digress.. :-) While the mainstream may have been mostly “meh”, the underground realm was boiling over with a wealth of talent in August. I invite you to enjoy my SUMMER SLAM 2018 EDITION, LABOR DAY PLAYLIST...

1. “Cognac Colada” - Termanology feat. Willie the Kid & Crimeapple

http://www.dotgotit.com/archives/60381

(Term’s new album is stacked with plenty of bangers, but this one takes the cake. The underground veterans contribute stand-out verses, but it’s Crimeapple closes the track out with one of the summer’s strongest verses. Keep an eye out for Crimeapple, he has already accumulated an impressive set of spotlight stealing appearances this year.)

2. “Golden Fleece” - Ka & Animoss a.k.a. Hermit and the Recluse

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/hermit-and-the-recluse-golden-fleece/

(Only a gifted writer like Ka could pull off multiple dope thematic rap albums without sounding preachy, or sacrificing musicality, so the high quality of Orpheus vs. the Sirens should come as no surprise. The whole project is fantastic, and the lyrics are a feast for the ears throughout, but Animoss delivered one of his finest instrumentals with “Golden Fleece”.)

3. “Wet Ear Yungin” - Tuamie & Koncept Jack$on feat. Nickelus F

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh0UPcjUP8c

(Mutant Academy had a HUGE month. Tuamie’s steady hand helped insure that Emergency Raps Vol. 3 was one of the Virginia-based collective’s strongest efforts. A verse from Richmond’s own Nickelus F is more than enough to secure a placement near the top of my list, but it also doesn’t hurt that Koncept is rapidly becoming one of the best MCs in the underground scene right now.)

4. “Rosemary” - ElCamino

https://elcamino1.bandcamp.com/track/rosemary

(Camino remains one of Griselda’s secret weapons, and he more than proved his ability to stand on his own two with this new Walking On Water project. “Rosemary” is an emotional dedication to Camino’s late grandmother, and a great example of how even on a low budget, raw honesty over a simple, soulful loop can make for impactful music.)

5. “Sirens” - Ka & Animoss a.k.a. Hermit and the Recluse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPzyQXR1XG8

(Such a gorgeous intro to a terrific new album.)

6. “Mood Ring” -  Reese LaFlare feat. Pusha T

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/reese-laflare-mood-ring-ft-pusha-t/

(I wish Astroworld had more joints that sounded like this one...experimental, but focused production that doesn’t come at the expense of rap skills. Atlanta’s Reese LaFlare doesn’t bring a new set of skills to the trap table, but he’s strong enough as a rapper with an ear for beats to grab anyone’s attention with songs like “Mood Ring”. And a new verse from Push certainly helps!)

7. “Talk In Code” - Fly Anakin & Big Kahuna OG

https://mutantacademyrva.bandcamp.com/track/talk-in-code-prod-ohbliv

(Still so much to digest from the Mutant Academy this month - fans know that they unleashed more than one dope tape in August - but two of the crew’s frontmen, Fly Anakin and Big Kahuna OG, were so potent on this joint I could not allow just one Mutant Academy track on this month’s top ten.)

8. “The Soul” - REASON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtzbvUu3pEc

(TDE’s newest signing has a very bright future ahead. After making an impression on the Black Panther Soundtrack earlier this year, Reason proved he can easily carry a solo track with “The Soul”.)

9. “Brooklynn Love” - PR Dean feat. Marz Money, Rome Streetz & Estee Nack

https://soundcloud.com/hardtimesrecords/pr-dean-feat-marz-money-rome-streetz-estee-nack-brooklynn-love

(What’s more timeless than a straight up underground posse cut? Rome Streetz and Estee Nack remain two of the dopest MC’s in the biz today.)

10. “Black Balloons” - Denzel Curry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSnkPxDjQSY

(For anyone that still believes today’s mainstream rappers are all mumble with no substance, you really need to give Denzel Curry’s TA13OO a chance. The Carol City rising star knows how to balance his work to appease both the lyrical substance mavens, as well as the kids that just want something to bounce to, and this joint is a quintessential example of Curry’s increasingly high ceiling.)

*Bonus - Honorable Mention (extended SUMMER BLOW-OUT EDITION)*

“Mob Days” - Willie The Kid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF9IwCnkyHY

“Black Snow Beach” - DJ Muggs feat. Raekwon & Meyhem Lauren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-oO2HeVPrg

“Roots of a Thug” - Knowledge The Pirate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ON9YPF8Ou8

“Sicko Mode” - Travis Scott feat. Big Hawk, Swae Lee & Drake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-JBBNg8YKs

“Car Confessions” - Young M.A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiodueMmk6s

“666” - YG feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQcaMBzgYWY

“Sundown” - Jack Harlow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2-dqe8qweY

“Fatigue Coat” - zoomo feat. Benny The Butcher

https://zoomoguy.com/track/fatigue-coat-feat-benny-the-butcher

“Germ” - DrxQuinnx feat. Denmark Vessey

https://soundcloud.com/drxquinnx/germ-ft-denmark-vessey

“No Documents” - zoomo feat. Estee Nack & Sadhu Gold

https://zoomoguy.com/track/no-documents-feat-estee-nack-sadhu-gold

“Myself” - Bun B feat. Run The Jewels

https://pitchfork.com/news/bun-b-taps-run-the-jewels-for-new-song-myself-listen/

“Mr. Lathe Cut” - $auce Heist https://soundcloud.com/user-426145243/mr-lathe-cut

Happy Labor Day everyone, and BRING ON THE FALL 🙌

[ICYMI: Last month’s list below]

https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/175697038546/july-2018-playli-t-of-the-month

[neo-losangeles]

The Oceanic Feeling

Tavia Nyong'

Nineteen-year-old Christopher Breaux fell hard for another straight-acting boy who wouldn’t love him back, confessing his love in a car parked in front of the girlfriend’s house. Like many a millennial, he took to Tumblr to share his feelings about a love he described, with portentous adolescent drama, as “malignant.” But the queerest song released so far by the artist now known at Frank Ocean hasn’t been an ode to boy-on-boy love and lust but a corrosive satire of “traditional” American marriage in the era of Kim Kardashian and Newt Gingrich. If hip-hop is the CNN of the ghetto, then “American Wedding” aims to be its TMZ as well, replete with celebrities and courtroom hijinks, muscle motors, and divorce settlements, with Ocean ruefully rubbernecking at all the car crashes en route to the good life.subscribe to TNI for $2 and get Vol. 9 today

“American Wedding” has attracted the proprietary attentions of paleo-rockers the Eagles, whose radio staple “Hotel California” the track is based on. But the real story here isn’t about the sampling wars. It’s about a scapegoat generation struggling to find a path through the crumbling infrastructure of the American dream.

It has been said that while liberals won the culture wars of recent decades, the right won the political and economic ones. The absurdly elevated status of “marriage equality” as the ne plus ultra of gay rights is a symptom of this unhappy dispensation. Who wants equality, after all, on such threadbare terms? Sensing a bait and switch, Ocean takes down love, American style, in merciless couplets like:

She said, ‘I’ve had a hell of a summer, so baby, don’t take this hard But maybe we should get an annulment, before this goes way too far.’

Like Pretty Woman in reverse, “American Wedding” descends from true love to crass commercial exchange, reminding us on the outro that “we been some hustlers since it  began.”

But this deconstruction of romantic comedy is done in the name of a different, murkier ideal of love, a redemptive love that won’t quite fit into the comforting melodic or narrative resolution of pop culture. We heard strains of such a love on Ocean’s performance at the 2012 VMA awards, where he delivered an assonant, astringent version of “Thinkin Bout You,” the opening track on Channel Orange. He wonders if his beloved is willing to “think so far ahead, cuz I’ve been thinkin’ bout forever.” But such a horizon can clearly no longer find expression in the shelf-worn sentiments of “till death do us part.” The ass-backwardness of the Eagles’ litigious response to Ocean’s meditation on love and commitment is best captured by NCWYS in the SoundCloud comments to “American Wedding”:

If you older people think that the younger generation is out of control and doing everything incorrectly then you should absolutely love this song, but you don’t.

Ocean is a practiced journeyman of popsoul songcraft, as the early demos on the fan-compiled Lonny Breaux Collection prove, but his writing on Channel Orange makes his preceding material for other artists seem like throat clearing. On “Sweet Life,” a sharply observed reverie of black-picket-fence California dreaming, Ocean sardonically queries his pampered date: “So why see the world, when you got the beach?” He elongates “world” to contrast with the punched out “beach” in a way that tells us everything we need to know about his mournful acceptance of life’s cruel optimism. “Sweet Life” makes the extended parable of parental neglect on “Super Rich Kids” almost superfluous, except for the self-conscious scene setting it adds—mixing substance abuse and class snobbery into a potent cocktail of something called “upward mobility”:

We’ll both be high The help don’t stare They just walk by They must don’t care.

This is the way Ocean inherits the past: not by respecting tradition, or Don Henley, but by staring down the foreshortened horizons and complacent inequality that the frantic pursuit of wealth or happiness brings.

Not that Ocean is lecturing, mind you, although Sierra Leone, sex work, global warming, and the hijab all make appearances in his rapidly expanding oeuvre. He is singing over the soundtrack of history, blunting its force with tried and true teenage tactics of insult, grandiosity, and desperate need. At 24 he isn’t quite old enough to know that he shouldn’t care, which is why he can gloat over “expensive news” on a pricey widescreen one moment, and say “my TV ain’t HD, that’s too real” in another. His is a realism that needs to be able to blur out of focus when it’s too intense or not intense enough, and the drugs come in handy. But so does channel surfing; on Channel Orange television is his angel of history, a flickering window onlooking the mounting wreckage of the past as he is blown into the future.

Despite his Tumblr post comparing the intensity of same sex love to “being thrown from a plane,” the theme of Channel Orange is less sexual orientation than chemical disorientation. Recreational substances surface frequently, often as a metaphor for a relationship gone wrong. Or is it the other way around, and addiction is now the core, common experience a generation is struggling to give sense to, turning to romantic clichés like “unrequited love” in a search for a more familiar, respectable language for it?

Frank’s oceanic feelings on Channel Orange crash in waves that obliterate distinctions between gay, bi, or straight. Some of the ostensibly straight songs, except for their pronouns, feel suspiciously same-sex. And when heterosexuality is foregrounded, it never resolves any confusions, it only produces new ones. The artistic showpiece of the album, the ten-minute long “Pyramids,” is an afrofabulation of ancient Egypt and postmodern Las Vegas, centered on a woman dressing for her job as a stripper, while her man looks on, waiting for her to “hit the strip” and “keep my bills paid.” But the song is a far cry from big pimpin’. “Pyramids” is drenched in delusions of the good life in a “top floor motel suite,” cruising on empty confused for the upward mobility that is now as rare as water in the American desert. Ocean has a heartfelt respect for his Afrocentric queen—“we’ll run to the future shining like diamonds in a rocky world”— but the feeling tone of “Pyramids” is closer to Janelle Monáe’s “Many Moons” than Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time.” That is, where Jackson celebrated an image of a past in which we were kings and queens, Monáe and Ocean take a fish-eye view of a society where a multihued social apex rests atop masses of brown, black, and beige bodies “working at the pyramid,” like the slaves who built the original ones.

Where CNN anchor Anderson Cooper justified his belated coming out in terms of the reporter’s obligation not to get in the way of the news, Ocean knows better. A black boy is always getting in the way of the news. At 18 he fled Hurricane Katrina for Los Angeles. But as Fred Moten put it, “I ran from it, and was still in it” pretty much sums up the black experience in America. Channel Orange starts in a similarly fucked-up atmosphere—“A tornado flew around my room”—and ends with “Forrest Gump” perhaps the most oddball musical portrait of same-sex love since “Johnny Are You Queer?” A three-legged race featuring Tom Hanks’ dimwitted but fleet-footed hero and Christopher Breaux’s beau, “Forrest Gump” boils Hollwood sap down to a lubricious bump and grind:

my fingertips and my lips they burn from the cigarettes forrest gump you run my mind boy running on my mind boy

“Forrest Gump” is rhythm and blues as dark camp, nostalgia repurposed by a generation too young to remember, a generation whose cultural thefts seem premised on the awareness that anything original they create could be stolen.

But don’t confuse Ocean’s approach for pastiche or retromania, despite his affection for old cars and the vocal stylings of Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Donnny Hathaway. Just when you think he is recycling the familiar, he gives you something incredibly raw and real. On his first appearance on broadcast television, Ocean scaled the national-media echo chamber down to a backseat taxicab confessional, sharing a universal angst at a human level rarely captured by the contemporary celebrity coming out, with its strict protocols for explaining the murkiness of desire away:

He said Allah Hu Akbar I told him don’t curse me Bo Bo you need prayer I guess it couldn’t hurt me.

“Bad Religion” leaves it unclear whether it is his taxi driver’s effusive piety or his own devotion to the cult of true love that is more stunning. Confusing spirituality with a therapy designed to sand our sharp edges into shape for this world, Ocean is awestruck in a way that has little to do, in the end, with either Islamophobia or homophobia.

Rather, “Bad Religion” finds a pivot point in the “and” of Freud’s Civilization and Its Discontents, the book where Freud psychoanalyzed the oceanic feeling of cosmic oneness felt by natural mystics and prophesied that our adjustment to society would only ever leave us frustrated and unhappy. “The price we pay for our advance in civilization,” Freud warned, “is a loss of happiness through the heightening of the sense of guilt,” and “Bad Religion” has plenty of guilt to spare. But it also never fails to convey the sense of striving and resilience Freud grudgingly acknowledges when he notes, “We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love, never so helplessly unhappy as when we have lost our loved object or its love. But this does not dispose of the technique of living based on the value of love as a means to happiness.”subscribe to TNI for $2 and get Vol. 9 today

Blown from New Orleans by the unnatural calamity of racist and economic neglect, separated from his beloved by lack of reciprocation, Ocean never stops striving for “the technique of living based on the value of love.” Whatever, wherever that may be. Even a curse, after all, probably couldn’t hurt him.

When Ocean, on his Tumblr, greeted us as “human beings spinning on blackness,” he invited us into that cab alongside him, but also onto the edge of that oceanic feeling of cosmic oneness that Freud could only associate with regression, so convinced was he that satisfaction was something all humans left in the womb.A version of this essay first appeared at Bully Bloggers

But spinning on blackness needn’t be just an image for depression, addiction, burn out, or malignancy. It could also be Ocean sidling up in an undercommons of prayer and malediction, where the singular soul brushes up against the dark night of the universe. Maybe that’s why a conventional coming out, with its endless reiterations of the transparently obvious and anodyne, seems beside the point. Frank Ocean isn’t like you or me; he isn’t even much like Christopher Breaux any longer.

https://thenewinquiry.com/essays/the-oceanic-feeling/

[popofventi]

Ear Buds :: 10 Songs We Love This Week :: 3.3.17

// EAR BUDS // 10 FAVORITE SONGS WEEK OF 3.3.17 //

featuring :: BNQT, Sunset, Simen Mitlid, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, The Districts, The Mountain Goats, Matt Epp & Faouzia, Louie Louie, Maria Taylor & The Crossing feat. Caroline Shaw

HERE ARE THE 10 SONGS IN HEAVIEST ROTATION THIS WEEK AT VENTIPOP:

1

BNQT :: "Restart" :: @bnqtband :: New Album BNQT Volume 1 out 4.28.17

This track is the first taste from BNQT — pronounced Banquet — a collaborative project led by Midlake’s Eric Pulido and including vocal efforts from Ben Bridwell of Band Of Horses, Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, Fran Healy of Travis, and Jason Lytle of Grandaddy. Midlake players McKenzie Smith (drums), Joey McClellan (guitar), and Jesse Chandler (keys) round out the band.

BNQT’s debut album, the 10-track Vol. 1is out April 28 via Bella Union/Dualtone.

2

Sunset :: "Maybe We've Got It" :: @snstmusic :: New Album Turn Out The Lights due 4.7.17 (preorder here)

Braid guitarist and vocalist Chris Broach and the Firebird Band's Steve Znavor have teamed up to form Sunset. "Maybe We've Got It" is the premiere track from their upcoming debut album Turn Out The Lights. Broach formed the Firebird Band in the '90s following one of Braid's breakups, and after some focus on the band Life at Sea, he and Znavor are embarking to their latest project: Sunset. The newest track, "Maybe We've Got It," features what Broach describes as "cool animations" and a mix of people - including Braid vocalist Bob Nanna - to fulfill the song's purpose of pursuing what you love.

3

Simen Mitlid :: "I Don't Care" :: @Simitlid :: Official Site

Straight outta Oslo, Norway comes Simen Mitlid's latest single "I Don't Care". Debut album due later this year.

4

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill :: "Keep Your Eyes On Me" :: @TheTimMcGraw :: @FaithHill ::

Music from The Shack Motion Picture Soundtrack.

5

The Districts :: "Ordinary Day" :: @TheDistrictsPa :: New Album Accidents and Pretty Girls out now

In September 2012, a high-school rock band from Lititz, Pennsylvania, called The Districts took to the stage at World Cafe Live in Wilmington, Delaware, as part of a local battle of the bands competition. The band took first place in the competition, and John Vettese, editor of WXPN's local music website The Key, described their set...Click here to read full story about the band on NPR.

6

The Mountain Goats :: "Andrew Eldritch is Moving Back To Leeds" :: @mountain_goats :: New Album Goths out 5.19.17

Goths, The Mountain Goats' 16th studio album, will be released in May, but they've released the first single early, "Andrew Eldritch is Moving Back To Leeds". Here's band member, John Darnielle commenting on the track:

"This song began its life on a 1973 Guild while I was at the beach a couple of summers back; I wrote the first verse and the chorus and then I put it away. In the darkness of my desk-drawer it gathered strength and plotted its return to the surface. I revisited it after I’d decided to not have any guitars on the next album, and finished writing it on the piano, which accounts for the mild McCartneyisms of the changes in the bridge, which are things I can’t really do on a guitar. In the lyric, I imagine one of my teenage heroes, Andrew Eldritch, returning to the town where the band worked and played when they were young. His friends give him a hard time about ending up back where he started, but not because they’re mad: it’s good to see an old friend wearing the marks of time on his hands and face like well-loved tattoos. So shall it be in these times: your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions, and Andrew Eldritch, whose music has reached spirits in every corner of the globe, will move back to Leeds."

7

Matt Epp & Faouzia :: "The Sound" :: @matteppmusic :: @faouziaofficial 

Mentor Matt Epp and Young Performer Faouzia collaborated on a new song “The Sound”.

Every year the Winnipeg Folk Festival presents the Stingray Young Performers Program during the weekend of the festival. Budding musicians from across Canada and the U.S. spend the first day with mentors, chosen from the festival line up, writing and working on their songs and on the second day the participants perform for the festival audience at the Shady Grove stage.

During the 2016 festival, Winnipeg-based musician Matt Epp accepted the offer to be a mentor. “I've always had a special interest in discovering new artists and seeing the advancement of the next line of songwriters and performers,” said Epp.

Epp didn’t know he’d find a new collaboration when he met 16-year-old singer/songwriter, Faouzia who was taking part in the program looking to hone her skills. Faouzia was born in Morocco and raised in the rural town of Carman, Manitoba.

“I got to sit down and hear everyone share their stories and hear them play their songs which only made me realize how rich and diverse the musical world is,” said Faouzia. “I also learned a lot more about the business side of the music industry and I got to hear agents speak about how to contact those that will get you further in your career and strategies to do so as well.”

8

Louie Louie :: "I Wanna Dance With You" :: Facebook Page :: New Album Friend of a Stranger out now

Mod-wop quartet Louie Louie released their Friend of a Stranger LP last month, their debut effort. This Philly based band blasts listeners with classic Phil Spector-era guitar riffs juxtaposed to Emily Robb’s staccato vocals. It’s that play between “cute” arrangements and accents and punk-influenced delivery that makes Louie Louie songs so catchy. I swear this is a new song.

9

Maria Taylor :: "Home" :: @maria_taylor :: New Album In The Next Life out now

Maria Taylor is probably still best known as one-half of Azure Ray, but as a solo artist, she has released a string of reliably great solo albums. Like much of the rest of her discography, “In The Next Life” is a compact, endearing set of songs that gain more depth with repetition. It may often be on the quiet side, but this album resonates.

10

The Crossing feat. Caroline Shaw :: "To the Hands: No. 6. I Will Hold You" :: @caroshawmusic :: New Album Seven Responses out now

The concept of The Crossing’s latest offering, Seven Responses, sounds creepy to many modern people. In 1680, the great Baroque composer Dietrich Buxtehude composed seven cantatas addressed to the parts of Christ’s body that were centers of pain during the crucifixion. The Crossing’s conductor, Donald Nally, commissioned seven responses to Buxtehude’s cantatas, by seven different composers. Each composer took a different body part, starting with the feet and moving through the knees and side to the face.

Caroline Shaw, the Pulitzer-winning composer, singer and violinist, closes the suite with "i will hold you," a movement of beauty and solace, stillness and swells of interlocking choral parts, all propelled by softly plucked strings.

Near the end, she quotes Buxtehude's tender refrain, "In media manuum tuarum" (In your hands). With the words "I will hold you" repeating, the song acts as musical balm for suffering. If we're in pain, no matter whom we are or what our religious convictions might be, we all need to be held tightly.

"They could be the words of Christ," Shaw writes in the booklet notes, "or of a parent or friend or lover, or even a nation."

Thanks for listening. If you like this playlist and want to support it, please follow us on Twitter or Spotify or tell a friend about Ventipop.

3.3.17 MUSIC RELEASES

Bleached, Grandaddy, Jenn Grant, Tim Kasher, Ed Sheeran, Minus the Bear, Rationale, Nadia Reid, Sleaford Mods, Temples, Collin Hay, Holly Macve, Methyl Ethyl, Venn, Moonshine Bandits & Why?

EAR BUDS :: 10 SONGS WE LOVE THIS WEEK :: 3.3.17~ FIN.

-xxx-