Django
One of the best & most violent "spaghetti westerns" ever made was director
Sergio Corbucci's "Django" (1966). A mysterious stranger (Franco Nero) enters a
practically dead town dragging a small casket along with him. Bracketing the
town is mutual hatred between a gang of bandits and a group of red-hooded
racists. Which side does the stranger pick? Check out our DVD, which offers both
the English and Italian (with optional subtitles) soundtracks and see how this
film influenced the likes of Quentin Tarantino (who's "borrowed" quite a few
scenes from this film to use in his own) and Robert Rodriquez.
-Ed
April 2007 Archives
Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny
Even if you only like Metal a little bit, you'll love Tenacious D in: The Pick
of Destiny. Funnyman Jack Black and guitarist/sidekick Kyle Gass strap on their
over-sized six stringers and rock out in this thoroughly hilarious re-telling of
the origins of Tenacious D. Complete with cameos by Dave Grohl, Meatloaf, Ronnie
James Dio, and Sasquatch, this movie was so chock full of metal that you might
want to make sure your DVD Player has had its most recent tetanus shot before
watching it. With killer riffs, epic battles between Wizards and Demons, and a
drum solo by Satan himself, the only thing missing from this movie were a couple
of songs off of the excellent
soundtrack album that didn't make it into
the film, including my personal favorite: "The Government Totally Sucks".
-Rick
The Twilight Samurai
Seibei Iguchi is a low-ranking Samurai forced to perform piecework to supplement
his paltry clan wage in order to support himself, his two daughters and his
senile old mother after his wife succumbs to tuberculosis. As if life wasn't hard
enough, Seibei takes it upon himself to defend a friend in a forbidden duel of
honor versus the cruel ex-husband of his friend's sister, Tomoe, a woman whom
Seibei himself would marry if only it didn't mean inflicting his own unfortunate
circumstances upon her as well. News of Seibei's hither-unknown battle prowess
gets out, and he soon finds himself faced with the task of dispatching a
renegade--and extremely deadly--samurai of his own clan. Seibei is forced to
choose between following his heart and performing his duty, a choice that comes
with unexpected results.
Set during the last days of shogunate Japan,
The Twilight Samurai is a moving tale of honor, love, class struggle and
hardship during a time of great social upheaval.
-Will
Memories of T,
by Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet
If you have ever fallen prey to the angular charms of Thelonious Monk's
supremely idiosyncratic body of work, I suspect you will enjoy this CD for
similar reasons. For one thing, the disc comprises many of the more familiar
tunes from the Monk canon; such as Rhythm-a-ning, Pannonica, Straight-No
Chaser, Epistrophy and Bemsha Swing. But many contemporary jazz releases
feature Monk cuts, which don't capture any of the Klee-like appeal of the
originals. Where this release excels is in the arrangements, by trumpeter
Dan Sickler, which mimic Monk's comping and soloing, even though there is no
piano present. Individual lines, often recognizable quotes from the great
man's own recordings, will be divided up between, say, saxophone, guitar and
trumpet, with each instrument playing in sequence. The fact that this
difficult feat is accomplished with such complete rhythmic assurance by the
players reinforces the sense that Monk's spirit is being channeled. Finally,
drummer, Ben Riley, a Monk cohort from four decades back, imparts his
particularly kinetic time-keeping, so that the proceedings swing as hard as
1965's Live at the It Club (COMP DISC 781.65 MONK); which is saying
something.
-David
The Phantom of the Opera,
by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Did you ever get so mad that you wanted to drop a chandelier on someone's
head? Then Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera is the musical
for you. Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman lend their outstanding voices
to the main characters in this darkly haunting, yet strangely beautiful
original cast recording. The Phantom, a horribly disfigured musical genius
who lives beneath a Paris Opera House, terrorizes all of its above ground
inhabitants when he falls in love with Christine, a beautiful chorus girl
with hidden potential.
-Rick
The Studio Albums 1967-1968,
by The Bee Gees
Long before the Bee Gees became Lords of Disco in the late '70's they made
delightful psychedelic pop albums. The smart folks at Reprise Records have
collected their first three records and packaged them, along with a
fact-filled book, into this fine box set.
This six-CD set of the Gibbs' first three international albums in stereo and
mono mixes, non-LP singles, alternate versions and copious outtakes may seem
like overkill for a band remembered for its AM-radio anthems, but Bee Gees
1st, Horizontal and Idea are startlingly filler-free. The excellence of
these songs match their inspired titles; on the first record alone they give
us such gems as "Cucumber Castle" and "Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of
Arts" One of the standouts of "Horizontal, the bands second record is
"Lemons Never Forge."
The first reaction of the uninitiated is to comment on how much these songs
sound like the Beatles. This is only partially true. While there is plenty
of classic '60's pop on these records they also (and this is especially true
for disc 3, which contains the "Idea" LP) mined a territory that was much
more orchestral and baroque than their predecessors.
-Stephen
Street Noise,
by Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & the Trinity
This album, originally released as a double-LP in 1969, brought about my
abiding love for the Hammond organ. It also introduced me to one of the most
thrilling vocalists of the 60's: Julie ("Jools", or "The Face") Driscoll.
Stylistically, Street Noise is an amalgam of rock, jazz, folk blues and
gospel, which maintains continuity from track to track, despite its
eclecticism. Comprising equal parts original songs and cover versions, the
album is that rarest, for me, of commodities--a record where I like every
song. And it's a double album, no less. Furthermore, I had disdained some of
the original versions of the covers chosen as either un-hip ("Flesh
Failures: Let the Sunshine in" and "I've Got Life" from Hair), or just plain
annoying ("Light My Fire"). But not so on Street Noise. In fact, here you'll
find the only version of the oft recorded LMF that doesn't make me cringe,
thanks to Jools's goose bump-inducing vocal and Brian Auger's subtle and
atmospheric organ embellishments. Elsewhere, the band absolutely burns on
original instrumentals such as "Ellis Island" and "Tropic of Capricorn",
prominently featuring their co-leader's keyboard virtuosity. On Richie
Haven's "Indian Rope Man", Jools and Brian vie for the spotlight; each
outdoing the other on this incendiary track. Throughout the album, wherever
Driscoll sings, she will compel your attention; whether on up tempo numbers
or the gentle "Vauxhall to Lambeth Bridge" or her dramatic rendition of the
traditional song, "When I was a Young Girl". My only caveat concerning the
album is an occasional shrillness on her part, but this shouldn't deter you
from checking out this remarkable but relatively unknown release.
-David
Tropicalia: e' proibida proibir,
(Soul Jazz Records)
Tropicalia was a musical and cultural movement in Brazil that lasted a
little more than a year (1968), and ended primarily due to the imprisonment
and subsequent deportation to England two its main protaganists, Caetano
Veloso and Gilberto Gil.
Tropicalia mixed American and British psychedelic rock and pop with
Brazilian roots and European avant-garde and experimental music to create a
new sound that was both distinctly Brazilian and truly international.
Ideologically they mixed high art with mass culture and mocked the military
dictatorship under which they were living at the time.
This disc is a great introduction to the movement's music. Every track is a
winner and my guess this will leave you wanting to hear more from the
artists featured here, which include the fantastic Os Mutantes and Tom Ze.
-Stephen
People Gonna Talk,
by James Hunter
When I first heard "No Smoke Without Fire", from People Gonna Talk, I was turning up the volume trying to figure out who I was listening to...was it Sam Cooke? The sax and guitar sound said classic 50's/ 60's soul to me. By the time I got to "Talking 'Bout My Love" ---I was a fan. This is the 2006 release from British R&B soul artist James Hunter. People Gonna Talk earned a 2006 Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year. But I know I'm not the only one loving this sound.
Van Morrison says "James is one of the best voices...in British R'n'B and Soul. Check him out."
-Deirdre
Beside You In Time,
by Nine Inch Nails
Filmed during the winter 2005/2006 tour in support of their 2005 album With Teeth, Beside You In Time
features a 19-song set-list shot in high definition video with Dolby 5.1 & DTS
surround-sound and plenty of extras. The performances are tight and energetic,
suitably representative of the tour (and the band's modus operandi) as a whole,
and the main set-list offers a satisfactory balance between old favorites and
new material. In addition to the main performance, extras include 5 additional
songs shot during the 2006 summer amphitheater leg of the tour, rehearsal
footage, music videos for "The Hand That Feeds" and "Only", a tour image
gallery, and a discography of the band's entire catalog.
Having had the
privilege of attending five shows from this tour, I can say with confidence that
this DVD captures the essence of a Nine Inch Nails live performance very well;
it may not be quite as good as actually being there, but if you were
unable to get tickets (or you are a new fan) then this really is the next best
thing.
-Will
Exile on Main Street: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones,
by by Robert Greenfield
Chronicles the recording
of the eponymous album at the Villa Nellcote in the South of France during
the summer following the death of Rolling Stones' founding member Brian
Jones. This very social scene is all sex, drugs and even some rock n roll.
Foremost are the fascinating relationships between Keith Richards, Mick
Jagger and Anita Pallenberg. The author writes with the assumption that
readers are intimate with the Stones' history and discography so much of the
information may be arcane for most as it was for me. However, I was hooked
into finding out more and gossiping with fans. If you like fast cars and
steep cliffs, you will enjoy this ride.
-Michele
The Year of Magical Thinking,
by Joan Didion
Her husband's death while their daughter was in the hospital
in a coma started a year of disorientation for the author, who shares it with
us in this enlightening and moving story. As a person accustomed to being able
to manage all crises/problems, she found herself in a situation where "I had
no answers. I had no prognosis. I did not know how this had happened." She
gave away her husband's clothes, but saved a pair of shoes because he would
need them when he came home. Later she realized that it took four months for
her to move from grieving to mourning. "Grief turns out to be a place none of
us know until we reach it." "Nor can we know ahead of the fact...the unending
absence that follows, the void, the very opposite of meaning, the relentless
succession of moments during which we will confront the experience of
meaninglessness itself."
-Nancy
The Bookseller of Kabul,
by Asne Seierstad
This highly recommended book gives the reader great insight into the culture
of Afghanistan both during and after the Taliban's rule. The central character
is indeed a bookseller and is based on a real person who Seierstad, a Norwegian
journalist, met while in Kabul in 2002. Given the name Sultan Khan by the
author, the bookseller is not only a voracious reader, but dedicated to making
books available for purchase in his country. His stubborn determination to
survive as a bookseller under the stifling censorship of the Taliban fascinated
Seierstad. Eventually Khan allowed Seierstad to live with his family and that
experience becomes the subject of the book.
Participating in the daily life of Khan's family allowed Seierstad, and thus the
reader, to experience Afghan life firsthand. Particular attention is given to
the plight of women, both in Khan's family and in Afghan society. One example is
when Seierstad dons a burka, stumbles around Kabul and vividly writes about the
difficulties of navigating the streets under that covering.
The view of Afghan society presented in the books is multifaceted - the
dictatorship of Khan, much like many other male heads of Afghani families, over
his wife and children, the eventual introduction of Khan's second wife into his
growing family structure and the emotional toll of having multi-wives in a
family, and the increasingly growing pressures on the family as Afghanistan
moves away from the controlling rule of the Taliban.
Seierstad's writing is clear, engrossing and compelling. Those readers who loved
The Kite Runner will perhaps want to read this book. While that book had men as
its main characters, women become central to The Bookseller of Kabul. By reading
both books, one can get a more balanced view of Afghan society. Seierstad has
written a great book, which is very readable, interesting and rewarding.
-Roy
The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice,
by Philip Jenkins
The author, an Episcopalian, is worried about the unfairness and injustice
of the anti-Catholicism that is rampant in America now; "it is virtually the
only major institution with which such liberties are permitted." He clearly
shows how "Catholics and Catholicism are at the receiving end of a great
deal of startling vituperation in contemporary America, although generally,
those responsible never think of themselves as bigots.." "Almost as
troubling as the sheer abundance of anti-Catholic rhetoric is the failure to
acknowledge it as a serious social problem. In the media, Catholicism is
regarded as a perfectly legitimate target". He describes the history of
anti-Catholicism in America and the forms it takes today, dealing with the
current major and popular myths about Catholicism, and says "Demon figures
are simply useful, if not essential." And he concludes "Anti-Catholic
sentiment may simply be too deeply entrenched to eliminate in a decade or a
lifetime, but this does not mean that it should simply be ignored. The
greatest single achievement might be to acknowledge its existence and to
treat is as a form of prejudice quite as pernicious as any other." An
absorbing and disturbing book.
-Nancy
Shutting out the Sun: How Japan has created its own lost generation,
by Michael Zielenziger
It seems like only a few years ago Japan was on
the cusp of becoming the new global superpower. The nation today is in
disarray. Journalist Zielenziger, who lived for ten years in the country
working as a Tokyo bureau chief for Knight Ridder newspapers, went inside this
largely closed culture and wrote
Shutting out the Sun: How Japan has created its own lost generation.
His troubling book examines the clash between the older, entrenched, and
younger, floundering generations. Japan's rigid education and work systems and
the the unhealthy interlocking alliance between government and industry,
helped to give rise over the past several decades to a class of young people
known as hikikomori, who literally shut themselves up in their rooms. Through
interviews with several of these "lost generation" figures, Zielenziger
reveals how the pressures on Japanese youths have caused many to give up and
totally retreat from society. Young women, too, are rejecting traditional
roles in large numbers, choosing careers with foreign companies over having
families. Shutting out the Sun is a piercing, and yes, depressing look at how
a society's refusal to embrace change has been so detrimental to its younger
generation and a nation's health.
-Susan
The Lost: A Search of Six of the Six Million,
by Daniel Mendelsohn
What a terrifically moving and enthralling book
Daniel Mendelsohn has written! Mendelsohn, age 47, grew up in a Jewish
family of Polish descent, most of whom had successfully fled Poland before
the German invasion. However, his grandfather's brother Shmiel and his
family were lost in the Holocaust. Shmiel's ghost hovers over the family, in
part because no one ever knew exactly what happened to him. As a child,
Mendelsohn became entranced with the mystery of Shmiel and this fascination
grew as he aged. As he writes, "if you're a person who grew up listening to
elaborately detailed stories, it won't satisfy your hunger for the
particulars of what happened to your relatives."
Mendelsohn sets off to find out what did happen to this family members and
takes the reader on an incredible journey to, among other places, Australia,
Israel, Denmark and the now-Ukrainian hometown of his family all in a search
to learn what did indeed happen to his relatives. His writing is so
descriptive and fascinating. Chance encounters with older Holocaust
survivors lead, quite surprisingly, to valuable information about the fate
of his relatives. Gristly details of the Holocaust document once again the
horrors of that event. Yet, the overwhelming spirit of this book remains
that of a loving and determined descendent of Shmiel's effort to learn
decisively the fate of his grandfather's brother. It is a profoundly
intensive experience to read The Lost and be at Mendolsohn's side as he does
indeed discover the truth of what did happen to his family members. Needless
to say, this remains a highly, and enthusiastically, recommended book.
-Roy
It's Okay To Miss The Bed On The First Jump,
by John O'Hurley
John O'Hurley, best known for his appearances on Seinfeld
and Dancing With the Stars, has written a very insightful book on dog behavior
and its relation to human nature titled "It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the
First Jump". He explains how we can learn from dogs, who seem to enjoy simple
things and have a very simple philosophy of life. O'Hurley also believes they
have distinct personalities, and he goes to great lengths to describe the dogs
in his life. Whether you are a dog lover or not, you will enjoy this
entertaining book. This is a quick and easy read, which deserves your
attention.
-Carl
Darkly Dreaming Dexter & Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Dexter Morgan is probably the most over-qualified blood-spatter analyst working at the Miami-Dade police department, or anywhere for that matter, though none of his co-workers know his expertise stems from being a killer himself. But Dexter is different from other homicidal maniacs--aside from being "the best-dressed monster in Dade County" with boy-next-door good looks, disarming charm and a scalpel-sharp wit, Dexter has been imbued with a set of rules to guide his more lethal proclivities for the benefit of society while ensuring that he himself remains anonymously safe from the authorities. His foster father Harry Morgan, a homicide cop, recognized Dexter's urge to kill at a young age, and rather than commit him to a fate of institutionalized psychiatric probing and fumbling, he taught Dexter the finer points of criminal investigative technique, social interaction and impulse control, aka "Harry's Rules". The result? One well-kempt, well-behaved sociopath who only preys on other killers. Compared to many living in Miami, Dexter is a model citizen.
Written with deliciously dark humor amid dastardly dismemberments and vivid vivisections, Lindsay has created a character who fascinates and amuses us, giving new life to a genre that before now had been literally "done to death". When you're finished with Lindsay's first two novels in the Dexter series, there is a third to look forward to, due out later this summer, but if you need to assuage your fix for butchered "Barbie dolls" and "yodeling potatoes" in the meantime, you can also catch the hit television series on Showtime. Your own "Dark Passenger" is bound to be satisfied!
-Will
With No One As Witness, by Elizabeth George
With No One As Witness is lucky number 13 in the series of books written by Elizabeth George as she has written yet another readable and entertaining murder mystery. An American living in England, George has mastered the art of writing a mystery set in London as if she was native born. The regular Scotland Yard detectives Geroge has written about in previous books, Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, are joined by the newly-promoted detective Winston Nkata as they try to find a brutal serial killer who is preying on young boys. While the first clues lead to Colossus, an organization dedicated to helping "at-risk" youths, Lynley, Havers, Nkata and other team members comb various London neighborhoods for the killer. Extra pressure is put on Havers to do well as part of her attempt to rehabilitate her professional reputation. George creates a great plot with many twists and turns while her characters come vividly alive during the chase to solve these murders. A twist is thrown in at the end which made this reviewer want to read George's next book featuring these characters. In all, a highly recommended book!
-Roy
The Road,
by Cormac McCarthy
I had never really bought in to that adage about how great literature can transform lives...until I read The Road. I mean, many re-readings of Martin Amis's novels have served to reinforce my cynical worldview but, that's different. "The Road", in its quiet beauty has changed the way I look at (and live in) the world. Maybe it is only temporary but no other book has quite had the impact on me that this one has.
A man and his son make their way through a post-apocalyptic United States. They are hungry, scared and tired but also very determined to survive. There are not many folks left and the ones who are will kill you for your shoes. McCarthy is sketchy with the details on what has exactly transpired but, it's not really important. What's important is the man's love for his son and what he will do in order to protect him and keep him safe.
In lesser hands a story like this would be nothing more than a corny Mad Max-ish adventure story but, McCarthy suffuses the story with so much underlying humanity and love that it is nearly impossible to stop reading. Believe me, there were times when I could barely get myself to pick this book back up, there are some very difficult moments, The hardship these two endure are almost too much to take. But...I always went back and, I couldn't stop reading once I came upon the final 50 pages. What happens in the end is both too sad and too happy for my words to do justice.
Mr. McCarthy has written his masterpiece.
-Stephen
The Possibility of an Island,
by Michel Houellebecq
The Possibility of an Island, by enfant terrible of
contemporary French literature, Michel Houellebecq, revisits themes of
religious cults, love, lust and genetic engineering with the same
challenging insights as his previous books. Set in both the present and
future, the narrative is a recounting of present and subsequent lives of
Daniels. The original Daniel, a comedian who achieves fame and fortune
through his misanthropic exploitation of social ills, falls in with a cult
that promises immortality through cloning. Human suffering is eventually
eradicated resulting in an angst free existence not worth living and
nostalgia for the heartache experienced by Daniel 1.
-Michele
Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book, by Deirdre Dolan
Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book, (2006) by Deirdre Dolan is a must read for anyone who likes irreverent humor and would like to get "caught up" on the HBO series about the trials and tribulations of Larry David. (Larry David was the co-creator of Seinfeld). David is neurotic and believes everyone is out to get him. He gets himself caught in awkward situations which he only makes worse! The book recaps the entire 5 year series on HBO with episode summaries, some dialogue, cast lists, and interesting tidbits from fellow cast members. There are several interviews with Larry David, as well as family and friends. Dolan includes an interesting feature called "What they were thinking" to explain what the writers were trying to do with a certain scene. This book is unique and interesting - much like the series. I recommend it highly.
-Carl
Heart-Shaped Box,
by Joe Hill
Another star has joined the horror genre. He walked into the arena under
his own writing power, but he is the son of Stephen King. "Heart-Shaped Box"
by Joe Hill is vaguely reminiscent of early Stephen King novels and it is
very good. Over the hill rock star Judas Coyne has a fascination with
macabre collectibles and he decides to buy a ghost on an internet auction
site. The ghost arrives attached to a vintage suit wrapped in a black
heart-shaped box. Judas thinks the acquisition is enough but finds the suit
belonged to Craddock McDermott, the step-father of one of his former
groupies who committed suicide after Judas dismissed her from his life.
Judas and his current girlfriend Georgia come face to face with the ghost as
well as their own dark and troubled pasts. Warner Brothers has already
bought the film rights, so read the book first.
-Kathy
