Wednesday Movie Night: Sixteen Candles (1984)

Sam Baker is bummed out when she finds that her whole family forgets her birthday because they are too preoccupied with her sister's upcoming wedding. When Sam finds that her budding crush on Jake Ryan has caught wind of someone else's attention  the same day she becomes more focused on his attention. 

Lately, I've been a tad obsessed with the 80s, and Sixteen Candles seems like one of the essentials of that decade, so I wanted to check it out. When it says in the description that this is teen angst it isn't lying though. Sam is full of it, and it spews throughout the whole film. There are other characters to keep it lively though.

For some reason all the lead males in these movies are pretty bland, and Jake Ryan isn't an exception. He basically is just there to look good, and eventually give Sam someone to have a happy ending with.  Sam is interesting, but she is very filled with the angst. I understand someone forgetting your birthday is very depressing, but the expression on her face was the exact same one you see on the cover throughout the movie. She was just like "ugh".

Probably the most memorable group were the geeky guys? I'm not sure what their exact category was, but that is my guess. Seeing John Cusack in this movie was one of the more enjoyable parts, just because he looked insanely young.  I was more interested in the developing romance between the lead blonde geek, and the preppy, popular girl. I looked forward to seeing them all on screen.

If you like teen 80s flick this might be one to check out. Personally, I preferred Pretty In Pink, and even Say Anything.  It goes with the flow of the usual, and sticks with the feel good feelings of 80s romance. You can check out the movie at Amazon.

Rating 4 of 5.

145 of 1001 Albums: Frank Zappa's Hot Rats

History

This is Frank Zappa's second solo album. We've known him from a couple of other bands if you've been following the blog. He has many performers make an appearance on this album including, Captain Beefheart, and it's so obvious when he does. Hot Rats was notably one of the first albums to use a 16-track equipment to make the album, and you'll also hear that Zappa begins exploring more experimental jazz in this album. Around this time, Zappa just had a son, which he dedicated this album to.

My Thoughts

I know I openly haven't been Frank Zappa's fan in the past, and I can't this album changed me, but I do think it showcased his musical talent a lot more.  His talent is being instrumental, and you can hear a lot more of his passion for the music with the time he took to make this one. I'm not a fan of Captain Beefheart though, so I thought his voice just took away from the overall listening experience for me. Zappa's talent does shine with this one though. Anyways, I think this is a better way to be introduced to Zappa than I had been, but the I still wouldn't find myself listening to this again.

Rating 2 of 5.

144 of 1001 Albums: Fairport Convention's Unhalfbricking

History

This album brought the first chart success for Fairport Convention when it reached the U.K. charts at #12.  There were many changes in the lineup of the band, but as with the last album Sandy Denny was still leading the reigns.  Tragically, the band lost a couple of it's members in a traffic accident stirring up their band.  Interestingly, the people featured on the album cover is one of the band member's parents in representation of their song "Ghost". 

My Thoughts

Though it's the same band this album sounds quite different. It's both still folk, but I don't think it's the British folk you here on Liege and Lief.  "Cajun Woman" was one of the few that reminded me of that song. I did still like the style though, and just as much as I did on the album I heard from them yesterday.  I didn't find it to be as unique as the Celtic folk sound they established though. One of my other favorites though was Si Tu Doir Partir".

Rating 4 of 5. 

143 of 1001 Albums: Fairport Convention's Liege and Lief

History

Fairport Convention was led by Sandy Denny for this album, and I believe the previous one released the same year, Unhalfbricking. Denny left the band before this album was even released though.  The music on Liege and Lief mainly consist of Celtic folk music music, and it is acclaimed as the first British folk album of it's kind.  The album didn't find high success, but did make some chart movement. It reached #17 on the British charts. 

My Thoughts

This is a really fun album for the most part! There hasn't been any Celtic sounds so far in the prior albums, and I've always enjoyed the sound of Celtic music. We have had a lot of folk music though, so I was into the blend of the two.  I'm not a huge fan of Denny's voice though, and I was much more into the rhythm of the music. One of my favorites was "Farewell, Farewell". It is one of the slower songs, but I really enjoyed it. I also liked "Medley: The Lark in the Morning". It was only instrumental, and probably by far one of the most enjoyable songs to listen to for me. 

Rating 4 of 5.

3 of 1001 Movies: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Summary
Stanley Kubrick directs this film that is set in space, and takes an interesting look at human life while at it. After astronauts are sent on a mission to look into the mysterious appearance of monoliths appearing in the universe, they find themselves also battling their ship's computer, HAL-9000. David and Frank are in a fight to save their mission to Jupiter.

My Thoughts
To go ahead an put it out there, I'm not much of a space fan of any sort. Whether it is books, or movies the plots just tend to depress me, and this one doesn't fail at that.  Considering the fact it won 4 Academy Awards, and was recognized for it's special effects it's difficult not to be intrigued by it though.

Yes, the plot isn't the most chirpy of stories, but it is interesting. The huge downside is that it takes an hour to actually get to the point of the plot.  I thought the monoliths could have been very easily summed up in a quicker time span.  I'm not even sure what the point of seeing twenty minutes of monkeys hanging out was before the appearance of the first monolith.  I'm sure it looked very cool to see the monkeys hanging out in the 60s when these things were just beginning to appear on screen, but it's essentially useless to the plot.  After about an hour though we finally arrive to David and Frank who are aboard a ship ran by HAL-9000. The thing is we first go into an intermission before the movie gets off the ground. So take your bathroom break, and get a snack because you might not want to leave the screen after the movie gets back from break.

During the second half of the movie we finally get some ground. The computer goes crazy, as you would expect, but for a good reason.  From here on out we get a very odd progression of things. The movie goes from a film heavily about space to one oddly about a human's journey in life. Actually, I'll just go ahead and say the last few minutes made no sense to me.  It's also very difficult for me to gauge the acting. It wasn't bad at all, but this movie remains in silence most the time, and we don't get much interaction with the characters I thought. David is the only one we really grow with, but he doesn't spend much time on screen for me to really feel anything about him or his fate.  It has a very memorable soundtrack though that feels in about 10 minutes of space time a piece.

I assume this movie had to be one of the first of it's kind. Space exploration was taking a whole new turn in the 60s, and I can only imagine the curiosity that was being fed to the viewers with a film like this. The special effects are not cheesy at all like most modern viewers seem to assume about older movies. I thin the director gauged the limit of the technology he had very well, so he never tried to do what he knew would look outdated one day in the future, except for expectedly the computers, but you can't fault someone for that. I thought what was absolutely brilliant was the webcam usage in this movie before webcams were really even used!

Not shockingly this film received mixed reactions when it was released. I personally have mixed feelings myself about it still. I can definitely see the significance of the film, but there are so many ways you could see a tighter plot put together. This didn't hurt it though as it became the highest grossing film of 1968.

Rating 3 of 5.

Lost Rewind: White Rabbit

That is actually what Jack's face looks like the entire episode, that or he's about to cry. No kidding, watch it and you will see. If you hadn't guessed though we get our first Jack-centric episode meaning we find out why Jack was on the plane! Besides Jack we see an interesting development in Locke's personality, and the survivors begin to turn on each other.

The whole theme with daddy issues seems to begin with this episode. I have to say the way the creators built suspense with the Jack continually seeing this odd figure on the island was really good. I got a tad scared while watching this episode before because it is very eerie, especially the last few moments of it when Jack finds the water.  The flashbacks are decent, but for some reason Jack's character always annoys me. He looks like he is always going to cry, and usually he does.

Another bit is that we see Locke step up as an advise giver, or someone who becomes a guide to others, which is very different than what were being led to believe about him prior to this episode, which was that he was seriously creepy. While Lock and Jack are running through the jungle though, the survivors are turning on each other. This has been building up with the past few episodes. Everything from the survivors assigning assumptions about each other, to their hatred toward Sawyer, they've been looking to become violent with one another.  This whole episode is propelled by the fact their bottled water is running out, leaving them no source of fresh water on the beach, so when someone steals the last few bottles chaos breaks out.

Despite the fact I'm not a huge fan of Jack, this episode gets back to the things away from what Walkabout was about, which was faith, and the mystery of the island. This episode features a good bit still about the mysteries of the island, with the mysterious guy that pops up, but it also gets back to many of the normal concerns that are beginning to happen on the island, like how they are actually going to survive in that environment. The small group on the beach is headed toward quite a significant divide one that goes deeper even than how to survive, but even on their beliefs.

Questions Presented
How is Jack's dad running around on the island?
Will the survivors move for water?
What did Locke see that was so beautiful?
How did Jack's dad die?
What was Jack's dad doing in Australia in the first place?

142 of 1001 Albums: Elvis Presley's From Elvis in Memphis

History 

This is amazingly Elvis's 35th album. I can't recall anyone I have listened to so far who has released that many albums. Perhaps there is someone, but he is the first I read about. It was probably his most critically acclaimed release since his 1956 debut. The only single released from it was "In The Ghetto".  The album reached #13 on the Billboard charts, and #1 in the U.K. Along with all these notable numbers, it was #190 on Rolling's Stones list of Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My Thoughts

I don't know how you could actually dislike Elvis. His voice is unique no matter how many people try to imitate him. Unlike the previous albums I had listened to though this one is a bit less rock n' roll, and more country.  There were some enjoyable songs, but for the most part I did enjoy his fast paced songs fro the past a tad better. I grew up listening to his song "Mama Love the Roses" quite often, and in a way this album seems to be very reflective of his family, particularly his mother. Also, unlike Dusty Springfield's Dusty in Memphis, this whole album was recorded in Memphis. It was nice to see Elvis make a return on the list though, since I have missed some of the sounds of the 50s.  

Rating 4 of 5. 

141 of 1001 Albums: Dusty Springfield's Dusty In Memphis

History 

In this album Dusty Springfield tries to reclaim her credibility as a soul artist by recording an album that consisted mainly of R&B songs. It was said that Springfield was an absolute perfectionist during the record of this album, and would only approve of two songs, "Son of  a Preacher Man", and "Just a Little Lovin". Another side bit of information, Dusty actually contributed to Led Zeppelin getting signed since she knew the bass player. 

My Thoughts

Dusty has an undeniably good voice, and I can't think of anyone who isn't familiar with "Son of a Preacher Man".  The album is consistent in sound, but the songs don't get much more moving than "Son of a Preacher Man". The others showcase her great voice, but they are slower in tone, and sometimes more dramatic.  I wish there had been more like that song, and "Just One Smile" since those had been so enjoyable to listen to. Also, what baffles me is that not all of this album was actually recorded in Memphis despite the title. 

Rating 4 of 5. 

140 of 1001 Albums: Dr. John's Gris Gris

History

This debut album from Dr. John mixes the styles of New Orleans blues, and psychedelic rock for a blend you probably haven't heard before. This album actually failed to make any chart hits when it was released in either the U.S, or the U.K. It didn't receive any attention till it was rereleased years later, and Rolling Stone placed it at #143 on their Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My Thoughts

When I heard the first song on this album I was worried I was about to get a rehash of the Captain Beefheart disaster the other day, but thankfully the second song took this album in a better direction. It is very unique in sound, and I haven't heard anything like it. I think what saves this album for me is the backup vocals. They add almost a mysterious, soundtrack vibe to the music. The lead guy singing isn't all that catchy, but the music, and other vocals are what make this soar for me.

Rating 3 of 5. 

139 of 1001 Albums: Crosby, Stills, and Nash's Self Titled

History

This first album from Crosby, Stills, and Nash made two top 40 hits, "Marrakesh Express", and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes".  The album reached #6 on the Billboard charts. Along with The Byrds, and The Band, these guys were moving music away from what had been traditionally popular music in the 90s. They were known for building a new foundation for music rooted in blues, folk, and jazz. Crosby, Stills, and Nash were influential with their varying personalities that brought together music. 

My Thoughts

When I first started listening to this there were some elements that reminded me a lot of Simon and Garfunkel, but after a while the music began to shift into what the band was commonly known for, which was combining different genres of music. I personally enjoyed more of the folk driven songs. My two favorites were "Lady of the Island", and "Helplessly Hoping".  While I didn't enjoy every song, I found this to be a strong debut for band that was just getting started. 

Rating 4 of 5.

2 of 1001 Movies: 1900 (1976)

Summary 
This film by Bernardo Bertolucci follows the live of two men who are born on the same day during the political backdrop of Italy in the first half of the 20th century. These two men deal with their rocky friendship, and betrayal as they also deal with the uprise of Fascism, which places them both on opposing sides. 1900 stars Robert De Niro, Gerard Depardieu, Dominque Sanda, Donald Sutherland, and Alida Villai.

My Thoughts 
When I first added this movie to watch I had no idea I would be in for a 5 hour movie. I didn't even know movies that long existed until I found this one. Starting off the movie looks innocent enough. It almost even appears to be a story that might be appealing to children. That just speaks volumes about how naive I am. I think anything with Fascism as the backdrop would never make a good story for anyone under the age of 17 to watch. Actually, there were a lot of useless scenes in this movie too, which would make it difficult for me to recommend to anyone.

The story is epic, but it is way too long. There are so many scenes that are disturbing, and they are completely useless to the plot. For example, the child nudity was unnecessary. There was so much room for implying things that he didn't need to show. A child cannot make a fully conclusive, mature, decision to be depicted in the way the ones on here were. On top of that, there is tons of pointless animal violence. I am not a animal rights activist, but I do not need to see a live animal slaughtered. Though, the adult nudity isn't disturbing there are moments you're wandering why?

1900 is informative though. I had no idea going into this anything about the struggles that Italy faced, so if you enjoy history you will get a slight history lesson.  I think it's interesting to see Robert De Niro in an earlier role, and honestly I think he captured his character, Alfredo, quite well. His wife was highly interesting. It was difficult not to be entranced by her when she was on screen. I'm very certain if I was Donald Sutherland though, that I would tell no one about my role in this movie. He had to become insane to capture Attila, and even I was terrified of what he was capable of.

If you enjoy period pieces, have a love for history, and can maintain a strong stomach then you might be able to make it through this movie.  The good story that this movie is capable of though is lost in the shock factor it seems the director kept attempting to push though. This film was actually classified with an NC-17 rating by the MPAA rating system, which I was unaware of, but Paramount chose to release the DVD version as unrated.

Wednesday Movie Night: The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

  Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) carries his crew on a new adventure when he becomes determined to find the "jaguar shark" that killed his partner.  All the while he is turning this expedition into his next documentary. Unexpectedly, Zissou, also meets a guy, Ned (Owen Wilson), who claims to be his son.  The cast also includes Cate Blanchett, Angelica Huston, Willem Dafoe, and Jeff Goldblum. 


  This is almost a two movie that consists of anything you would expect from Wes Anderson, which probably makes it enjoyable by some, and hated by others. When you were watching The Royal Tenenbaums you had an appreciation for the quirky editing, but by the time you're watching The Life With Steve Zissou you might feel differently depending on your love of Wes Anderson.

  I would say that the last thirty minutes were brilliant. If there is anything that Anderson is good at it's the way he pairs the music with the scenes in the film. It brings together all the feelings you need to have toward the scenes. Bill Murray also does a really good job at being Steve Zissou. The only thing is Murray doesn't seem very different from other two characters he portrayed in The Royal Tenenbaums, and Rushmore. This isn't terrible since I still do feel for Zissou, but it still felt the same.

  Also, at times it feels like the actors feel they should be acting a certain way just because they are in a Wes Anderson film, most notably Owen Wilson.  Though his character was one of the more interesting ones I couldn't helpt but feel that way at times.

  If you like good music, and you can enjoy the last hour as much I did then you'll find it to be a good movie.  I wish the whole movie would have made me like it as much as the last hour of it did though. I think it could have been a tad shorter since my personal opinion thinks a movie that is edited in this short of way just doesn't carry two hours as well as it would something shorter. The very great news is that this movie is only like $7 at Amazon.

138 of 1001 Albums: Creedence Clearwater Revival's Green River

History 

This album was released the same year as Bayou Country, and it ranked 95 on Rolling Stones' Great Albums of All Time list. "Bad Moon Rising", and "Green River" were two singles released from the album that reached #2 on the charts. Songs like "Broken Spoke Shuffle", and "Glory Be" were actually test songs, and feature no lyrics. 

My Thoughts 

I think it is still interesting that Creedence Clearwater Revival released three albums all in one year, so it was inevitable would one would be right behind the one I listened to yesterday. What is great is how they were diverse enough, and talented enough to make this much music all in one year, and have two identifiable sounds  accompany each.  I liked Bayou Country a tad better than Green River, but you still get their distinctive sound without a repeat of music. I would say it's great music to move to. 

Rating 4 of 5.

Book Review: Kim Cash Tate's Hope Springs

   Hope Springs follows the lives of different women who are all discovering something new after some major changes in their lives. Including Becca, whose husband Todd has been offered a position of pastor at a church, and Janelle, who finds her old crush Kory, is about to be single again after his divorce. There are also other characters throughout who don't seem quite as prominent like Libby, and Stephanie, but still have stories of their own to add. 
  This book has many stories that all intertwine, so keep focused to keep up. Of course, you'll notice right off that Janelle, and Becca seems to be the two main ones. While their stories seem a tad cheesy at time they do keep you reading. Janelle more so than Becca though.
  This book is entertaining, but there is a way over usage of Twitter, and Facebook in this novel. I'm not even sure Facebook is okay with their name being used in these novels, because I never ever see it in mainstream novels. I feel like the use of trends in books should be avoided if possible anyways. If think your novel is going to stand the test of time then you want it to be as accessible as possible to people in the future. Of course there are some things that can't be avoided like the use of cell phones, or laptops, or whatever is our means of accessing things that will always be around. There is always the likelihood these things could disappear from the face of the internet any day. The internet will always be around, the things on the internet are debatable.
  Besides these things I think most will enjoy this story if you already read the genre. Of course, there is the perfectness that accompanies too many of these novels. The character is only divorcing because his wife cheated, and she is the one who filed the papers, and the other woman who is interested in him is a widow.  The other woman's biggest flaws seem to be that she wants earrings that glitter in the light, which is a sign of her impending stardom that is building her ego. This novel also continues on the trend of dealing with interesting topics still avoided in many churches like race, since it is quite noticeable that most churches still don't blend different people even today.
  So this book is a mix, but overall it keeps you reading, which counts for something. You'll probably find something relatable about the characters while I still think they could use more of a touch of human to them. You can check out the novel at Amazon.

This book was provided by Booksneeze in exchange for a review. 

137 of 1001 Albums: Creedence Clearwater Revival's Bayou Country

History

This is the first of three Creedence Clearwater Revival albums that were released all in the same year of 1969. They were working overtime! I didn't find a whole lot of information about this album, but Allmusic spoke highly of it giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. They also stated that it established John Fogerty. 

My Thoughts

This album was more fun than I thought it would be. I've heard their music before in passing, but I could have never identified if someone asked me who they were. The cover of Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly" was so good! Though I enjoy the original I thought it sounded great in the more bluesy sound that Creedence Clearwater Revival plays. There are also some more common tunes like "Proud Mary". The album has a consistent sound throughout, but the songs are different enough to recognize them what they are. 

Rating 4 of 5 stars. 

136 of 1001 Albums: Chicago's Chicago Transit Authority

History 

At the time this album was released in 1969 they were known as Chicago Transit Authority, but later changed their name to what they are commonly known as, Chicago. This album was an instant hit with listeners. It ranked at #17 on the US charts, and was #9 in the UK. The album also heavily relied upon jazz. The Chicago Transit Authority actually threatened to sue over the name of the band though, which is what led to the shortening. 

My Thoughts
After listening to Captain Beefheard and His Magic Band, almost anything was a relief after that.  Chicago is thankfully quite good, though probably something I wouldn't normally take up listening to. The guitar is heavily catchy though, and I do like how they utilize the brass.  I think after listening to several minutes of just music I was shocked when someone started to sing, but also pleased. My only complaint would be the length of the songs.

Rating 3 of 5.

Lost Rewind: Walkabout

  Finally we are seeing what this weird guy is about who smiles at people with oranges in his mouth. It turns out this episode doesn't make him look any more sane. This has always been one of my favorite episodes though. It's pivotal to all following seasons, and it sets up what this show is all about overall. I don't think it's any coincidence that the question of faith begins to be presented in this episode along with Locke's surprise ending. 

  Besides Locke's story line there isn't anything that really stands out about this episode, which is probably the complete intention. We have the issue of people's faith on the island brought up at the beginning when we can see some obvious upset emotions from Sayid about how the dead are being treated, and then we quickly get into learning about Locke from there. We see a flashback that helps parallel a lot with how Locke is on the island. 

  The monster also appears again in this episode, and Locke certainly gets a look at him that we aren't able to see. While Kate, and Michael huddle in fear in a tree, Locke instead seems to stand in awe of whatever this creature is, which raises some questions for the viewer.  Also, we have the appearance of the warthogs, which for now probably don't speak much, but it will in the future! They do attack Michael though, and cause Locke an upset. 

  The flashbacks seem pretty pointless until right up to the end, which is how I think the creators of the show were able to bring the biggest shock that we've seen in four episodes, that Locke couldn't walk prior to crashing on the island. When I discovered this I felt like I had found the greatest twist ever because I wouldn't have ever guessed it. Even though when you go back and watch the show over it is so obvious in the flashbacks. So this is by far one of the most significant episodes ever in the history of Lost. It sets up so much that will last through all the seasons. 

Questions

Why can Locke walk now that he is on the island? 

Why was Locke paralyzed in the first place?

Who is Jack seeing at the end of the episode? 

What did Locke see when he found the monster?

135 of 1001 Albums: Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band's Trout Mask Replica

History
This is the third album from Captain Beefheart and His Magic band, and it was produced by Frank Zappa.  It's notable for it's exploration in experimental rock, and it's influence on genre like alternative rock, and post punk. Rolling Stone even included the album on their list of the best albums of all time in 2003, placing it at #58. This album sort of had a scary ruler while recording. Van Vliet dominated his vision happening by recording for 14 hours a day with the band, and allowing no one to leave. When someone dropped by the house they described the band members as looking in very poor health.

My Thoughts
For someone who dominated the making of his album so fearfully I have to say it was almost unbearable for me to listen to. The voice doesn't sound good, the music sounds like a blob of things falling into one another.  I've just decided that anything with Frank Zappa's name on it I probably won't like. I know this album probably has a huge following though, and probably a passionate one at that. If I had to guess this is either a love it or hate it album.

Rating 1 of 5.

Book Review: Shannon Dittemore's Angel Eyes

  Brielle returns home to live with her dad after the loss of her best friend, Allie. After returning home Brielle discovers a mess of things including her father's lack of faith after the losses he has suffered, and she also finds what she believes is an enemy in Marco, Allie's old boyfriend. Along with these things there is also a mysterious new boy who has moved into the neighborhood named, Jake. Brielle is drawn to the mystery of him, and the world he has brought with him.

So before reading this book I heard a thousand comparisons to Twilight, and I have to say it is a lot like Twilight! It's like the author took the story, and involved different supernatural elements, and added some other narrative perspectives, but for the most part you're getting the same story.

 This girl lives in almost the exact same location of Bella in Twilight, giving it that same vibe. Also, the Brielle's dad reminds me a lot of Bella's dad. I don't think the use of the word "kiddo" is just exclusive to the northwest of the U.S. is it?  We also have the very obvious shortening of her name from Gabrielle to Brielle. Just as we have Isabella to Bella.

  Besides these things the book is at least interesting. We have the suspense surrounding Marco, that was by far the most intriguing part of the story. I also was interested in what is was that made Jake so mysterious, but as I said earlier I thought even the author alluded to the obvious Twilight similarities. She would say things that the character, Brielle, would observe like how he wasn't a werewolf, or didn't have fangs, and you wanted to ask the author why the character would even be considering these things in a world where they didn't exist? Bella never did until she found out that Edward was a vampire.

  I think the novel could have used a bit more individuality. If you're into the supernatural, or you're such a huge fan of Twilight you wouldn't mind reading something similar like this novel. The only problem is that it loses a lot of the magic that Stephanie Meyer was able to create, whether you agree or not. You can check the novel out at Amazon.

Rating 4 of 5.

This book was provided by Booksneeze in exchange for a review. 

134 of 1001 Albums: Blood, Sweat and Tears' Self Titled

History

This second album from Blood, Sweat, and Tears was a big success. It stayed on the charts for seven weeks, and had five singles top the charts. It was actually certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. After a few band members including the singer left the band after the first album they had to find replacements. When they found all the replacements needed it brought the band members up to a total of nine. 

My Thoughts

I hate that I have to say this, but this is probably one of the most unenjoyable albums I've had to listen to in a while. I can definitely see the trend of music that is starting to happen, but for some reason I couldn't get into their music at all.  There was something missing from it that I couldn't quite point out.  The singer had a good voice, but it gave no more power to the backing music. I kept thinking I would finally hit that song I would remember but it never happened. Not completely awful since the singer had a good voice, but I rarely felt intrigued. 

Rating 2 of 5. 

133 of 1001 Albums: Traffic's Self Titled

History 

This was the second album released by English rock band, Traffic. It was able to reach number 17 on the Billboards. The band was on awkward ground with Dave Mason who returned to help out with the album after their debut one. His poppy vibe didn't mix well with some of the members jazz leanings. The biggest hit he contributed to on this album was "Feelin Alright". 

My Thoughts

I find it odd that all the songs notable for Dave Mason being apart of are better than the ones he didn't contribute to. "Feelin Alright" is one of the best from the album along with "Pearly Queen". For the most part I thought the album advanced as it continued to play, but I'm still debating whether I'll take up listening to this on a regular basis. It has some unique sounds, but I would have never thought they were English for some reason. There are some good strong songs on this album though.

Rating 3 of 5. 

1 of 1001 Movies: 12 Angry Men (1957)

Summary

  Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film is about an 18-year old boy put on trial for stabbing his father to death. His fate is left to 12 jurors to decide whether he is guilty or not.  The jury looks like they will have a quick decision until Juror #8, played by Henry Fonda, casts his vote causing a tale spin of questions.  The cast also features Ed Begley, Joseph Sweeney Jack Klugman, and Jack Warden. 

My Thoughts

  12 Angry Men was a completely unexpected surprise for so many reasons. I think one of the biggest mistakes of this generation is that many probably don't think that the same problems we deal with today were just as relevant in earlier times as they are today. This movie features everything from family to racial issues.  It also proves that maybe we haven't really solved anything. Each juror is from a different background bringing the diversity needed to cause the assumptions that keep this from being a quick decision. 

  I think the setup of how each juror has a motive for why they are voting how they are are was brilliantly done. Henry Fonda does a great job at being the juror who spirals everyone's thinking process into question. It was very enjoyable to watch. We even have the one guy who just doesn't seem to really care, he's just voting to get out of there as quick as possible, and we all know that might be one of us. I think every time Fonda's character stumped one of the juror's reasons for voting guilty you couldn't help but be in awe. 

  This movie is significant because it almost uses only one set the entire film except for a few minutes. Also, no names are ever referred to in the entire movie. Whether it's the witnesses, or the jurors, we have no idea what anyone's name is, but yet this doesn't affect our connection with anyone. This film has also been selected by the United States Nation Film Registry for preservation because of it's cultural, and historical value.  

  To sum it up, this movie should be watched by anyone who is going to serve on a jury, which is potentially most of us. It takes into the account just how major of a decision we are making each time we are chosen for the jury no matter how little, or much we despise it. You'll find yourself probably in one of these characters, and you'll be just as confused as how to decide as some of these characters were at most moments. It's definitely a great watch to get to know a little about the judicial process that Americans are apart of. 

Rating 4 of 5. 

132 of 1001 Albums: Tim Buckley's Happy Sad

History 

When I last heard Buckley I discovered he had an interesting voice, and he sounded a bit folksy. This time around he's experimenting with different elements of music he hasn't before, like jazz. Also, you'll probably notice that Buckley uses his voice in a much more instrumental way on this album than he has before. If you compare the lyrics to his two previous works you'll notice a change also. His previous lyricist, Larry Beckett, parted ways for this album leaving Buckley to write the lyrics himself. 

My Thoughts 

I personally preferred Goodbye and Hello, though Happy Sad does have it's standout moments. I couldn't get into it as much as the prior album, and the fact it wasn't an easy find didn't help. The majority of the songs are quite long, so be prepared for songs ranging from two minutes to ten minutes when you listen. The positive is that Buckley still has his great voice though, which is the main reason I enjoy listening. 

Rating 3 of 5 stars.

Wednesday Movie Night: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

  When a young computer hacker is tasked with investigating a prying journalist, their separate missions become entangled amid a decades-old conspiracy. David Fincher directs this English adaptation of Stieg Larsson's novel.

  Before embarking on watching this movie I was really excited about seeing it. The novel is one of my favorites, and since I hadn't seen the original movie make I didn't have it to compare it too. Overall, this movie is quite the experience though, and it sums it up quicker than the novel for people who like more of a condensed story. 

  First, this is a huge breakthrough role for Rooney Mara.  She went from being someone no one has probably heard of to now having this very prominent, risque role in a movie. You can tell she is absolutely dedicated to the role of Lisbeth. It is difficult not to be entranced with her character while she on screen. Daniel Craig also does well in his role, and I thought he fit the character perfectly. 
  I'm not too fond of movies that extend beyond 2 hours. I think it's debatable whether some parts could have been shortened or not to get to the end quicker. I think the mood, and tone were great though.  It also has a really good soundtrack throughout, so even when there isn't any talking, which seems like the entire movie, you're still entertained.   When I was watching the beginning though I thought it was a bit much. We have about several minutes of introduction, and a song. The song sounds good, but it seemed to much like a music video. 
  Also, depending on how you receive nudity, there is a lot. Either I haven't watched many movies, or this was a first for me besides Blue Valentine. I don't even know why Blue Valentine had to fight to get an R rating instead of NC-17, because I'm certain this movie contained just as many graphic scenes as it did.  The only thing that is awkward for me when there is this much nudity is when I'm watching it with people who aren't so comfortable with it. A completely nude woman is a sight for the eyes for someone who hasn't seen one before
  If it sounds like I disliked the movie after being slightly critical of it, that is not what I intended. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though some minor things would have helped me enjoy it more. The acting is spot on, and after you get past the first few minutes of the movie it seems to all flow consistently well. 


Rating 4 of 5. 

131 of 1001 Albums: The Zombies' Odessey and Oracle

History 

You probably wouldn't guess that The Zombies are an English pop rock band by the name.  "Time of the Season" wasn't expected to be a hit, and when the album released it didn't really receive a lot of notice as a whole either. Since that time though people have began to notice it's value. The album went through a lot of mixing, and the guys even had to invest in their own studio mixer to complete the album. Sadly, the band wasn't around very long though. Their demand for appearances began to fade, and the band dismembered not too long after. 

My Thoughts

I had no idea who sung "Time of the Season" before this album, actually I don't even think I knew the name of the song, but I've definitely heard it before. The song is very different from the majority of the songs I found on this album though, so it isn't a good representation in my opinion of their overall sound. This album is actually quite good though, and it catches you from the beginning. I like the poppy feel to it, and isn't too overdone to the point where you think they are were trying to force a sound they knew would get people's attention. Colin Blunstone also has a really great voice. At times they even remind me of The Beach Boys.

Rating  4 of 5. 

130 of 1001 Albums: The Who's Tommy

History

Want to hear a rock opera? Then you'll probably want to start with an album labeled the first of it's kind, Tommy, by The Who.  Also, we have another album that is telling a story, or at least loosely. This time it's about a blind, dumb, and deaf boy, and features an electric cast of characters throughout the album. Notably, this album has been in the Grammy Hall of Fame since 1998. 

My Thoughts
I don't think I'll ever take up listening to The Who. There isn't anything wrong with the way they sound, and it's extremely inventive, but I just don't ever go back and listen to it. This is like the fourth album now, or so it seems, and I still haven't caught on. It wasn't bad to listen to, but I wish it would draw me in a tad more.

Rating 2 of 5.

129 of 1001 Albums: The United States of America's Self Titled

History

This was the only release by The United States of America. I guess they made an album, and then fell apart, which is understandable considering how stressful it seemed to make this.  This album set out do things that would have been considered far after it's time. The only available keyable synthesizers ran at over $20,000, so this provided huge technical limitations to what this band wanted to achieve. The album ultimately received positive reviews from critics, and ranked 181 on the Billboard charts. 

My Thoughts

Though this album isn't something I would enjoy I can see the music value behind it.  This band set out to be inventive, and provided a glimpse into what it was live in the U.S.A.  We have all these interesting cultures, and sounds meshed together in the album that takes it a step beyond what we generally consider music into something that almost seems like a piece of art. Considering the fact of how many electronics were incorporated before they were even channeled for music is also pretty astounding. Sadly, this isn't something I would listen to again though. 

Rating 2 of 5. 

128 of 1001 Albums: The Small Faces' Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake

History
Here we have another concept album. I'm very glad to be introduced to concept albums because I didn't know they existed before this year, and they are very interesting to learn about even if you don't like the music. This album remained on the UK charts for six weeks. If you're curious about the album cover it is a parody Ogden's Nut Brown Flake, which was a brand of tobacco made in Liverpool. The album is ultimately about a boy called Stan, who goes searching for the missing half of the moon.

My Thoughts 
This isn't one of my favorites that I've listened to of recent. I like the idea that it had a story behind the songs, but musically I couldn't find the appeal. I like the British vibe they had, and at moments I found myself enjoying the guitar. I think what happened with this one is that it veered heavily back into the 60s psychedelic rock that I never quite came to fully enjoy.

Rating 2 of 5.

Lost Rewind: Tabula Rasa

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  I have no idea, but in the first season this has always been one of my least favorite episodes to sit through. I think because there is no suspense surrounding Kate in this one, or at least there wasn't for me. We know she has a criminal past, and we know that ultimately the Marshall caught up with her. Though we do find out some new things it isn't enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. 

  There is one major theme I think I got from this episode, and this is the ability to trust. All these people are finally realizing that though they don't want to abandon their hope of rescue they are at least going to have to trust each other as much as they can in the meantime. We have the obvious development of Kate reaching out to Jack, but we also get doses of relationships forming between the other characters. Like Michael, and Sun treading into each other's zones, and Charlie helping out Claire.  Everyone is beginning to become connected in some way. 

  Most of all this is a Kate centric episode though. We view her flashback, which is how she came to be on the plane that left Australia.  There are some very puzzling things given to us about Kate. On one hand we know she is wanted for being dangerous, but yet the way she interacts with the Australian farmer show us this woman who obviously cares for other beings. She never intends to bring him harm. 

  Though this isn't my favorite episode, it it is needed to connect to the other things we'll need in the upcoming episodes. Also, the song at the end of this show is such a lovely ending to it. We completely get the title of this show, which means blank slate.  Everyone here is having to start clean of something, and despite where you're coming reach out to what they are living now. 

Questions: 

What secret did Locke tell Walt? 

What did Kate do that made her a criminal? 

127 of 1001 Albums: The Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet.

History

This is The Rolling Stones ninth album. It seems like so many albums since they first started, and how they have evolved!  Beggars Banquet is said to be a return to the R&B roots they first had. This album was also a huge success. It reached #3 in the U.K., and #5 in the U.S. The album is known for kicking off a string of releases giving the band critical success. 

My Thoughts

I actually enjoyed this much more musically than the other Rolling Stones albums I had heard. It's just more unique in sound, and all the songs sound different from the others. I'm not sure what to say about the songs lyrically, since I didn't much care for that, but the riffs are easy to get into if you want to dance to something. 

Rating 3 of 5. 

Book Review: Cindy Woodsmall's The Bridge of Peace

  Lena Kauffman is a young Old Order Amish schoolteacher who has dealt all her life with attention raised by a noticeable birthmark on her cheek. Having learned to move past the stares and whispers, Lena channels her zest for living into her love of teaching. But tensions mount as she is challenged to work with a rebellious young man and deal with several crises at the schoolhouse that threaten her other students. Her lack of submission and use of ideas that don’t line up with the Old Ways strengthen the school board’s case as they begin to believe that Lena is behind all the trouble.
  One member of the school board, Grey Graber, feels trapped by his own stifling circumstances. His wife, Elsie, has shut him out of her life, and he doesn’t know how long he can continue to live as if nothing is wrong. As the two finally come to a place of working toward a better marriage, tragedy befalls their family. 
  Lena and Grey have been life-long friends, but their relationship begins to crumble amidst unsettling deceptions, propelling each of them to finally face their own secrets. Can they both find a way past their losses and discover the strength to build a new bridge?
  I want to say that if Lena looks anything like she does on the cover of this book, even with a birthmark, then she should have no problem finding a guy in the Amish community. Especially if it's where her hand is at on the cover to conceal it. Anyways, I believe this is my fourth time reading a book from Cindy Woodsmall, with some being misses, and hits. This series is one of the few Amish ones I find interesting. It's not over the hill great, but the characters actually are interesting. I might even pick up the first book in the series since I've read the second, and third. 
  We have an interesting villain in this novel, Dwayne, who I never quite understand the motivation for his badness.  Just as Lena, and Grey were concerned that their badly timed romance would cause them to appear in a bad light, I couldn't help but think that too. There just isn't any way to make getting with someone a good thing after you lost your life like a couple of weeks before it even to the reader.
  I do appreciate how Woodsmall seems very knowledgeable about the Amish life though. Unlike, many other Amish novels, she seems like she can include actual details about their beliefs that others haven't. She doesn't hide the fact they aren't welcoming to anyone outside of their faith.   Also, I felt like Woodsmall stepped it up with her ability to analyze how women were treated in the Amish community. I almost felt like Lena, and Cara were being bullied by the male leaders. 
  Anyways, if you enjoy this type of fiction this one actually is a nice break from the usual Amish ones I've read. I'm still not sure why people are so drawn to Amish fiction, since it doesn't seem like great escapism for me. You can check out the book at Amazon. 

126 of 1001 Albums: The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow

History
Perhaps this album has one of the most interesting backstories I've discovered so far. What makes this album significant is that it is one of the first rock concept albums. It tells the story of  Sebastian F. Sorrow, and is based on the short story by Phil Mays. We follow this guys life in a song cycle. The band also heavily worked with the latest technology at the time to create a unique sound with instruments like the Mellotron.

My Thoughts
I'm very excited to see where music is finally heading. I feel like 1968 has spurred a lot of creativity, and The Pretty Things further show that. There are many interesting sounds on this album, and you get the flavor of a story happening while you listen to it. It also is very British. I feel like I haven't strayed too far from The Kinks with this album. After finding out the backstory to the album the cover art also makes a lot more sense.

Rating 4 of 5.

125 of 1001 Albums: The Kinks' The Village Green Preservation Society

History

Forget Bob Dylan, or The Beatles, it's probably The Kinks that have the most albums on this list. Considering from what I've glanced of their discography they were putting albums out for an extremely long time, so I can guarantee this is probably nowhere near the last.  This was the last album where all the original members were involved though. I think what is most shocking for me is that this album was a huge flop when it released. It only sold about 100,000 copies, but it seems the most musically consistent to me. There was no reason to fret in the long run though, because this is now one of their best selling albums over time. 

My Thoughts

First off, these guys love their cartoons. Donald Duck, and Scooby Doo had the honor of hitting the lyrics. Secondly, I enjoyed this album.  My favorite song of theirs so far overall has been "Dandy", and I felt like this album captured more of that sound I enjoyed so much about that song.  I have no idea why this album would be a flop. Also, I couldn't help but thinking I was walking through a Wes Anderson movie the whole time while listening to this album. If you go listen to this album right now you will see what I'm talking about if you have watched one of his movies. Yes, I know Anderson has featured some of their music.

Rating 5 of 5.