At the Movies: X3 and Over the Hedge

Got the chance to get to the movies twice over the holiday weekend (hooray!).

Was very apprehensive about "X-Men 3: The Last Stand" and had lowered expectations based on the lack of Bryan Singer and early negative reports. It was action packed and the visuals were generally well done. But I thought it was for the most part missing the heart and substance of the first two, Singer-directed X-Men movies. There were plot holes a plenty (SPOILER ALERT: I thought Jean and Storm were best buds, but she doesn't seem too sad about Jean's return as The Phoenix.) And there was not near enough Mystique (at left). :)

Part 3 was entertaining and had all the trappings of a last chapter (major characters dying right and left). It was OK, just suffered in comparison to the first two - which I re-watched this week to get in gear, so they were fresh in mind.

Now we took the kids to see "Over the Hedge," a fast-paced and enjoyable diversion. A fairly simple story of a wily racoon talking some fellow woodland creatures into snatching food from the suburbs. Did I detect an subtle anti-consumerist message and was big time Republican Bruce Willis voicing his character in a line dissing massive SUVs only containing one human?!?! Nice cast with Steve Carell's squirrel stealing the show. As far as Dreamworks computer animated work, I thought it better than Madagascar but not quite up to Shrek.

Seven for Sunday plus 2 days

Memorial Day threw me off my list schedule - among other things. But here's what I listened to the last week. Now as for what I watched, I've spent a lot of the month and more than a little of this past holiday weekend watching met-ul videos and shows on VH1 Classic. The channel dubbed May the Metal Month and I have been banging my head for weeks. Long live 'eavy met-ul.

I imagine my playlist for next week will better reflect some met-ul. But the past week, it was still mostly the new Chili Peppers album that kept my attention.

1. Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers (last week: 7)
2. Tell Me Baby - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1)
3. Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers (-)
4. Warlocks - Red Hot Chili Peppers (-)
5. Made You Feel Better - Red Hot Chili Peppers (4)
6. No Way Out - Foo Fighters (-)
7. The Fallen - Franz Ferdinand (-)

Thanks to a favorite daily read, the Media Notes column by Washington Post writer Howard Kurtz, for pointing me to an interesting post by conservative blogger John Hinderaker of Powerline concerning the Republican strategy for the November election.

“The administration's strategy, as outlined by the Post, is to run mostly on three issues: tax cuts, immigration and national security. The administration is urging Republicans not to run away from Iraq, but rather to emphasize the conflict as a key national security issue…

“The public's negative view of Iraq is driven mostly by biased press coverage, not the realities on the ground.”

As Nazi (and don't even think it - I'm not suggesting anyone is a Nazi...just using a relevant quote by one) propoganda guy Joseph Goebbels once said:

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

What are the realities on the ground? Sure, Iraq has somewhat of a government but there – and I gleen this from as many media outlets and sources as I can – there is not a lot of security in many parts of the country and there is simmering sectarian conflict bubbling just below the surface. I don’t buy that there is some vast left wing media conspiracy to lie about how things are going in Iraq, fueled by blind fury against Bush. That’s ridiculous. But hey, when you don't like the message, keep claiming the messenger is biased (and eventually some will come to believe it).

Heck, Condi Rice said “thousands of tactical errors" were made in Iraq. Bremer said we weren’t prepared for the post-war insurgency. Cheney said we’d be greeted as liberators. And where is all that Iraqi oil that we were told would be flowing in a post-Saddam Iraq???

Seven for Sunday, 5/21 + Chili Peppers review

I've been listening to and mulling over the Red Hot Chili Peppers' new double album, Stadium Arcadium, since its release a couple weeks ago. It has exceeded my expectations and I think it's every bit on par with my favorite Chili Peppers album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

Double albums are tricky beasts to begin with. In my experience as a listener, they are either a landmark statement of talent and skill. They are designed - whether there's an explicit concept or not - to be listened to in their entireity from start to finish.

Or they are bloated "too much of a good thing" indulgences by bands who needed an editor to cut it down to manageble size (Foos: You hear that? I love ya. You're still one of my favorites but In Your Honor just had "too many notes".)

On one hand, I enjoy the challenge of a band trying to make a statement. On the other hand, as a double album, there are so many songs, it's easy for many to be overlooked.

This album is so consistently strong but lacking a unifying musical statement. It's just a collection of 28 solid songs, each existing on their own. Mix em and match em and set up your own playlist. There isn't a bad song I've heard yet on a handful of full listens.

There are several standouts. From the first single, "Dani California" to the dance/pop/funk/rap/pseudo disco "Tell Me Baby" its a fun affair. The musicianship is strong from bass master Flea's dive bomb runs during the break of "Desecration Smile" to the driving riff of "Torture Me." Guitarist John Frusciante never ceases to amaze me alternately riffing ("Readymade"), then throwing out the most delicate melody ("Harder to Concentrate" and "Snow (Hey Oh)"). I love the 90s alt-rock sound of "Make You Feel Better," which seems like it should've been on the "Reality Bites" soundtrack.

Much has been made over the years about Anthony Keidis' voice. C'mon, he started as a rapper/shouter of a funk party band that has morphed into one of the greatest funk rock bands of all time. He's come a long way. He works hard and while his voice may not be perfect, it's perfect for the Peppers.

In this second week of release, I've been concentrating more on the second disc as evidenced by my top 7 (based on my iPod playcount):

1. Tell Me Baby - Red Hot Chili Peppers - After Dani California, the most infectious melody on the album.
2. Hard To Concentrate - Red Hot Chili Peppers - A plainive state of love.
3. 21st Century - Red Hot Chili Peppers - But we still do the funk rock. Driven by a liquid-like bass line.
4. Made You Feel Better - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suddenly I was back in the early to mid 90s - and it was good. Would've been right at home on a Social Distortion album.
5. Desecration Smile - Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. Readymade - Red Hot Chili Peppers
7. Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Clean Slate

My aforementioned Net and work problems prevented me from posting these articles in a more timely manner. But one of my favorite online destinations, Slate, had a good run of articles last week on music criticism, a favorite topic of mine.

Check em out in your spare time and we'll discuss.

The Perils of Poptism: Does Hating Rock Make You A Music Critic [Slate]
If You Don't Like Rap, Are You a Racist? [Slate]

Seven for Sunday (5/14) plus two days

Sorry Internet connection problems - I'm told I need a new modem - and work have conspired to keep us apart. But never fear, here's what I've been listening to the past week...and there's a definite theme: I got the new Chili Peppers album. I like it but I'm still trying to get my head wrapped around 28 new songs.

So here are the songs I've listened to most the past week, based on my iPod playcount:

1. Danni California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers
3. Desecration Smile - Red Hot Chili Peppers - I guess it probably shouldn't surprise that the top 4 songs are the first two on each disc of the new double album.
4. Tell Me Baby - Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. The Fallen - Franz Ferdinand
6. Worldwide Suicide - Pearl Jam
7. Torture Me - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Flea is just amazing on this new album.

Operation: Mindcrime Strikes Back

This shouldn't surprise you but I'm overdue with my take on the new album by Queensryche, a longtime favorite band of mine. They went and did a sequel to their landmark 1988 concept album about politics, corruption and a doomed love, Operation: Mindcrime.

Now the first album is an all-time favorite of mine. I was concerned that a sequel wasn't only not necessary but would harm the legacy of the original (kind of like the Star Wars prequels). For my review, I turn in part to a recent email exchange with buddy Scott - who was the singer for the band I was in while in college, Mad Hatter. We both agreed on the classic status of the original.

The thing about Operation: Mindcrime, was that not only was the concept story interesting and timely social commentary, the music was compelling and not too prog. But even more importantly the songs were very strong, many of them ("Eyes of a Stranger," "I Don't Believe in Love," for example) could stand alone, even without the storyline.

Overall, I really wanted to like Operation: Mindcrime II. I hoped it would live up to its name. After continued listens, I must conclude it does not. The music and songs aren't that strong. The storyline is muddled.

Says Scott, more harshly:

"...Here we have nothing but overwrought, off-tempo synchopation that serves no purpose other than to make the song unhummable; we have frankly embarassing lyrics, and not a memorable chorus among the bunch. ... The story, what there is of it, could be told in 3 songs (I get out, I kill him, I'm CRAY-ZEE!), and is instead stretched out over 17 tracks. The soaring harmonized solos are gone, replaced by that incessant pah-pah-pah of off-tempo synchopation that the drummer and bassist are having a great time with, but that just gives the listener a headache. Geoff is displaying none of his chops here, unless you count the over-reliance on keyboards."

My emailed response:

"For the most part, I agree with you. There's not really anything memorable. I like the first couple of songs enough, but as the album drags on, there's a certain sameness to each track.

"There's not even much social commentary beyond "I'm American" which I think is a pretty decent song and probably the standout of the album. Where's "Speak" and "Spreading the Disease" and "Revolution Calling"?!?!

"They don't even really refer to the music of the first album - that I could discern. That might've been cool, if they had played with some of the original riffs...echoing them, then having them evolve.

"I feel like some of the shortcomings were budget limitations. Maybe they didn't have the budget for anything as dramatic as "Suite Sister Mary." Also, Geoff's voice seemed fried. I think that's why you don't hear him display his chops...because the upper register is gone after all these years.

"I don't think on it's own, it's horrible. But because it's trying to follow up a classic, it definitely pales by comparison."

Since it's my blog, I get a longer take. :) So the bottom line, sadly, is that the best thing you can do with the Mindcrime sequel is use it as an excuse to listen to the original a few times.

Catching Up: Katrina Fatigue and Rockstar

So I'll try to catch up on some stuff I had meant to blog over the last few days. Been trying to get back in the blogging swing but between work and work at home, blogging time is really tight. I'm sure you can relate, right?

Liked Wash Post media writer Howard Kurtz's take over the weekend about "Katrina fatigue" by the media and the public. So much of the city is still a wreck eight months after the hurricane, but we all tend to get distracted by other stuff.

"Like many Americans, I've followed the Katrina story closely, but then tuned out for days when other news or the daily strains of life intervened. After eight months you assume they must be making some progress. ... But then you come here and see the devastation up close, and discover that things are far worse than you imagined."

Now I was skeptical about Rockstar INXS, but it turned out to be a fun summer diversion. Now I'm sketical again, because I have been a huge Jason Newsted fan from back when he was kicking out the low end of the jams with Metallica. Now he'll be playing bass for a new "supergroup" being formed for this season's take on Rockstar...and he will join Tommy Lee and Gilby Clarke to find a new singer. I'll tune in to see.

And I know it's been floating around the Internets but a friend just sent me this clip via YouTube...and it's pretty amazing.

Nicely done viral marketing for Lost. And here too.

Seven for Sunday, 5/7

Didn't get much of a chance to blog this week, but I did listen to music. Took a weekend trip to Dallas, and the iPod provided the soundtrack.

Here is what I listened to most the past week, based on the iPod playcount (last week):

1. Danni California - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Looking forward to getting the full album this week. (1)
2. The Fallen - Franz Ferdinand (2)
3. No Way Back - Foo Fighters (4)
4. I'm American - Queensryche (5)
5. The Beast and the Harlot - Avenged Sevenfold (-)
6. Mr. Brightside - The Killers - Had been a while since I had listened to The Killers, but this one, from a year or so ago, certainly hit the spot. (-)
7. Worldwide Suicide - Pearl Jam (3)

Han Shoots First on DVD!!

Oh happy day. Lucasfilm will get more of my money in September. The original theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars films will be released on DVD.

This September: The Original Unaltered Trilogy on DVD [StarWars.com]

Seven for Sunday, 4/30

Chili Peppers still strong as the chart stays mostly the same this week.

The top 7, based on iPod playcount (last week's chart position):

1. Danni California - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1)
2. The Fallen - Franz Ferdinand (3)
3. World Wide Suicide - Pearl Jam (4)
4. No Way Back - Foo Fighters (2)
5. I'm American - Queensryche (5)
6. Foxy, Foxy - Rob Zombie (6)
7. Lonely Day - System of a Down (7)