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Archive for the ‘Radiohead’ Category

George Saunders–“Al Roosten” (New Yorker, February 2, 2009)

Posted in Coldplay, Doves, Dreams, Elbow, George Saunders, Humiliation, New Yorker, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Short Story on March 14, 2009| 1 Comment »

ny2209SOUNDTRACK: ELBOW-Leaders of the Free World (2005).

elbowSo this is where Peter Gabriel has been!

The opening track of this album starts quietly with a vocal doppelganger of Peter Gabriel crooning in his low voice.  In fact, throughout the album Peter Gabriel’s voice pops up.  It’s certainly not a case of trying to be Gabriel, as their music isn’t at all the same, it’s just that the voice is eerily similar sometimes.

This is my first exposure to Elbow, so I guess everyone has long known about this Peter Gabriel thing.  But I’m new to the party.  I’d read that this was their best disc, so I got this one first.

I’ve now listened to this record a half a dozen times and I’m still not exactly sure how to classify it.  And even though I like it, I don’t think I love it.

They remind me a bit of early Radiohead, and yet that’s not quite right.  And they remind me sort of of Coldplay, but that’s not right either.  They have similarities to Doves, but they’re not quite as mopey.  I guess they’re just a good rocking British band.  This album contains many heavy moments, but there are also some thoughtful, mellow sections. And lyrically it’s quite interesting, especially the title track.

I’m intrigued enough by it to want to check out other records by them, and although I said I didn’t love the record, by the sixth listen I was singing along with most of the tracks.  Weird.  But good weird.

[READ: March 4, 3009] “Al Roosten”

I had mixed reactions to George Saunders’ In Persuasion Nation some time ago, but I started this story and it sounded promising.  And it was.

Al Roosten is a dumpy, middle aged man.  All of his life he has lived in the shadows of thinner, nicer, and, well, better boys and girls.  Now that he is an adult and an owner of an antiques shoppe called Bygone Daze, he has been invited as a Local Celebrity to take part in an anti drug “auction” (the winner has lunch with the “celebrity”).

Al goes on after Larry Donfrey (of Donfrey Realty).  Larry showed up to the auction in just a swimsuit.  His studly physique elicited quite the reaction.  Buy when Al struts on stage, the whoops and hollers are more start as mockery but soon morphs into pity.  And this sets off a story that takes place mostly in Al’s head.  He changes his mind about Larry several times in the story from admiring him to hating him to pitying him to being super pissed about him.

Al exacts a small bit of revenge backstage (and a very satisfying one, I admit).  But on the way home he questions himself and feels bad for what he has done.  After talking with his dead mother, he gathers his strength, and plans to do something about his failing business.  And yet once again, he questions his motives and behaviors.

This was a fun piece about the self-reflection that can lead to impotent behavior in one’s life.  It’s a great examination of blame, frustration and catharsis.  This tips the balance of Saunders’ work to the positive for me.

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McSweeney’s #30 [Rejoice! Forge-Ahead/Throwback Issue]

Posted in Arrested Development, Beck, Bill Cotter, Catherine Bussinger, Drinking, Kevin Moffett, Marriage Trouble, McSweeney's, Michael Cera, Oddities, Pregnancy, Racism, Radiohead, Short Story, Superbad, Supernatural, The Flaming Lips, Threats, Wells Tower on March 4, 2009| 2 Comments »

30SOUNDTRACK: THE FLAMING LIPS-Fight Test EP (2003).

fightThe test begins NOW!

With the success of Yoshimi, the Lips put out a couple of multitrack EPs.  The first one was for “Fight Test.”  In addition to the title track, this EP features three great covers: “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” is a slow acoustic guitar/timpani version of the infectious Kylie Minogue hit.  Despite its slowness, the “La La La” part is still catchy!  Next is a cover of the Beck song “The Golden Age.”  It’s also an acoustic guitar version.  Finally is a cover of Radiohead’s “Knives Out.”  It’s not quite as manic as the Radiohead version but it’s still very good.

The next three tracks include a 9 minute dance remix of “Do You Realize??” which is fun enough, if you like that sort of thing.  “The Strange Design of Conscience” sounds like it could have been an outtake from Yoshimi.  It fits in quite well with the music and themes of the CD.  “Thank You Jack White (For the Fiber Optic Jesus That You Gave Me)” is a 3 and a half minute folk song relating the (presumably true) tale of a plastic Jesus that Jack White gave to Wayne.

It must be fun to be able to write a thank you song that thousands of people will hear.

Lots of times EPs aren’t really worth the time, but this is a very good one.  The covers are a lot of fun, and you’ll be La La Laing right along with Wayne.

[READ: February 24, 2009] McSweeney’s 30

This issue of McSweeney’s hearkens back to their initial three issues: a white paperback with words in a graphic design on the cover. The cover design is an homage to Obama’s presidency, and has some thoughtful as well as funny lines on it (You Can Take That Canadian Flag Sticker Off Your Backpack Now). It was also printed in Iceland once again (in a nice bid to help Iceland’s economy, which is actually worse than ours) by Oddi Printing.

The contents of the issue are also pretty straightforward: eleven short stories and some occasional art by Jason Polan which ties into the stories. (more…)

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Ian McEwan–On Chesil Beach (2007)

Posted in Books about music, Funny (ha ha), Ian McEwan, Jonny Greenwood, Kronos Quartet, Marriage Trouble, Radiohead, Short Books, There Will Be Blood, Virginity (Loss of) on November 17, 2008| Leave a Comment »

chesilSOUNDTRACK: There Will Be Blood Motion Picture Soundtrack (2007).

therewillbeThis soundtrack was composed by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.  I have not yet seen the movie so I can’t speak about its use in the film (which I assume is very good given all the raves I’ve read about it).

Anyone expecting something Radioheadesque will be disappointed in this soundtrack.  There’s nothing electronic or weird (well, not too weird), or anything resembling any of the work he’s done with Radiohead.  Rather, the entire work is “classical”: strings abound!  Now, I like classical music, and I have some favorite composers.  I also like some younger/avant garde composers.  So, the fact that this release is on Nonesuch Records, home of Kronos Quartet (one of my favorite classical artists) among other similarly minded artists should tell you something.

The first two tracks are the most gripping.  I assume that “Open Spaces” is the “theme” of the movie, and the strings are really arresting.  It certainly sets the tone for the movie and the music within.  While “Future Markets” presents a very tense, fast score.  Another interesting track is “Proven Lands” which is primarily percussion with some pizzicato strings thrown in as well.  The rest of the disc consists of very moody, very scene-setting pieces.

By itself the music is rather tense, and you certainly don’t expect a happy ending by the time “Propectors Quartet” finishes up the disc. It sets a dark mood.  As Sarah asked when she walked into the room, “What’s this depressing music?”  That sums it up right there.  I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s used in the movie.

[READ: November 13, 2008] On Chesil Beach

My friend Ailish encouraged me to read an Ian McEwan book several years ago called Enduring Love.  I really enjoyed it.  And they have now made his book Atonement into a film.  But I hadn’t read any other books by him until now.  This book was on our donations shelf at the library, so I grabbed it.

It’s a tiny book…200 pages and the dimensions of a paperback, but it seems even smaller.  I was able to polish it off in a couple of days.

This is the kind of story in which, as they say, nothing happens.  (more…)

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