122

In which an irrelevant blogger reviews an obscure and sold-out cassette.

Thesis

If I've had an "off" day this summer, today was it. At work, I fumbled over words and generally misrepresented myself as myself five years younger. Once home, I watched the end of Home Alone and the beginning of Wayne's World. I ate a Tibetan rice dish, birthday cake, and Ben & Jerry's ice cream for dinner. While watching The Holy Mountain in my bedroom, my peripheral vision kept confusing the oscillating fan with ghosts or cats or something else. I've decided to take the next two days off work, to work on me and read X-Men comics. I also plan on having fun with my best friends.

Until then, I'll chill out with a new record I've happily stumbled across (read: found on the forum).

Summer Music Review (01)

Days Of Heaven [2011]

by Remote Islands

(Stunned Records)

Certainly a tape worth blogging about, and quickly becoming one of my favorites of the year. Background: a bunch of smart Philly-area musicians gathered around and made a smart pop record. This manifests itself in tight, memorable melodies and lush (strings), confident instrumentals.

All of this is vague (for specifics, check out above link), and there are several reference points I could and should use, if I weren't so sleepy. The label itself lists "everything that's been effective, uncompromised, and lasting about pop & rock music" as a reference. So that's good. Maybe Olivia Tremor Control, with less Beatles/psychedelia-mentality? I name OTC because it's hard not to hear the work of many minds (and instruments) at work on this record, and because of Remote Islands' "classic" sound. I dislike that descriptor, but what else am I to do with the bluesy-rock of "There's A Cost Associated"? They definitely listened to The Rolling Stones. Or maybe the singer just sounds like Jagger on that song. A little bit of Nurses, too. Um.

Why this record is special: stellar songwriting, warm production, and well-balanced sequencing. Really, it has all the makings of a typical Great Record. The opener sounds like an exciting and catchy single, the closer sounds like an emotional big finish. But there's a weirdness and a restraint that makes this record something special, that elevates it. What could be overbearing (strings, again) are well-placed, and what could be cloying ("classic" sound), sounds tasteful when recontextualized. Like Ford & Lopatin before them (but unlike Ford & Lopatin in every other way), Remote Islands' innovative, fun, and irony-free reclamation of vintage structures and sounds sets Days Of Heaven apart from the multitudes of indie experimental pop-rock. They're making it all sound new again!

Did I mention how talented everyone is in this band? I probably did. Or how immediate and brazen so many of these songs sound? For all y'all hating on my other jams, Remote Islands is accessible and hella cool. This is a band and a recording to remember. Say it with me: REMOTE ISLANDS.

Conclusions

I should stop blogging after midnight, with low battery. On the other hand, my blog count for June may hit the double digits. If all goes according to plan, each will be titled a number. Guess what the number will be on my birthday! By the way, it's Bro's birthday today! Happy Birthday Bro! Did I mention that I was able to use "fam" as a direct address several times at his graduation party? Anyway:

Goodnight, fam.

Also Now Playing (TURN IT UP LOUD)

47

Somehow, Inland Empire makes above scene scary.

Thesis

A few nights ago was the perfect night to watch Inland Empire. Zech can attest to the utter terror it struck within my heart of hearts, but also to the emotional stirrings therein. This is definitely an Important movie, though I'm not sure it's a good one to review.

Summer Movie Review (01)

Inland Empire [2006]

Written & Directed by

David Lynch

So this is probably his masterpiece, right? It's his longest and most impenetrable, and probably his most enjoyable and affecting by the time it's over.

Laura Dern masterfully portrays an actress (and several other personalities, all described by the film's tagline: "Women In Trouble"). If I weren't so sleepy, I'd be interested in discussing the film through a feminist lens, perhaps examining her various performances of gender and femininity with each role in the film. For now, I'm content to say that she really knocked it out of the park. Lynch too. I almost never understood exactly what the plot or characters were supposed to signify, but I was never disengaged from its emotional underpinnings.

This seems to be Inland Empire's greatest achievement, and the key to its success. Every scene, every shot was striking and evocative. With only hints and suggestions of plotlines and themes (many of which felt similar to Mulholland Dr), the movie continuously and thoroughly engaged with me on an emotional level. Much of this is thanks to Dern's stellar performance, which ranges from darling to snarling, but also to Lynch's montages and Angelo Badalamenti's stirring score. There's a weird heart, a special heart to this film.

I could write more about rabbit horror-sitcoms and Polish prostitutes, but I'm not sure how useful it would be in understanding or advertising the movie. This is Lynch at his most Lynchian, but also at his best. The various conflicts and intersections he has

explored throughout his career are realized and find some sort of resolution at the end of this three-hour-long meditation on identity, time, and filmmaking.

Honestly, this is a poor way to start my Summer Movie Reviews. You don't want to watch this unless you already do. It's a hard sell. Also, Summer Movie Reviews were copped from Ros.

Conclusions

I only had 30 minutes of battery life to write this. Also, I'm tired. Congrats to my bro for graduating. Now I'll probably just listen to more Beyonce and then go to bed. I saw Cave Of Forgotten Dreams last night. I'll probably review that. So sleepy. Love y'all, fam.

Ps It should be noted that Blogger is terrible with image formatting. WordPress soon?

I was going to post the trailer for the movie, but I got too scared. Maybe I'll post it in the morning. For now:

666

U nerd? [666]

Thesis

Experimental post:

(will be nothing but experimenting, or "Did you put little plastic thingies under your chair?")

Return to form coming soon, but no timing for blog antework. X-Men remains one of my favorite creations.

STRUCTURE//

> Go to the library

> Buy some food

> Read in the sun

> But cloudy day

Excerpt From My Abandoned Novel:::

"Because when it came down to it, they knew that all they needed was the summer sun. Or the change of the sun, so that the sunsets went faster and came sooner, and the trees on the horizon wouldn’t glow golden with their backs to the world, but rather stand black and cold against the horizon. Their leaves on the ground, their eyes turned skyward. The speckled clouds from winter sneaking into autumn’s earlier days – this is what they could play beneath."

MINUTES TIL WORK

Will I complete this blog before my work shift begins at 6 o'clock? Not sore from working out last night. NP | Earth (A goodie from earlier this year)

Conclusions

An hour ago, I planned to begin a Summer Series (with its own header image and format and everything). That may happen in the coming days, with lists of favorite books and films and records, but for now: Experimental Post.

POST NEGATIVE FEEDBACK BELOW

This is a DISAPPOINTING and SUB-PAR effort from Jason Derulo: