Reading List:
Armageddon in Retrospect by Kurt Vonnegut: This is a collection of short fiction and non-fiction on the subjects of war and peace, compiled by Vonnegut's son, Mark after the legendary satirist passed away in April of 2007. What I loved about this book was how surprisingly simple and small-scale many of the stories were, especially by Vonnegut's standards. Of course, there's more-than-passing suggestions of sci-fi fantasy here and there, but for the most part, this set of stories is very concerned with the human cost of war. An essential read for any Vonnegut fan.
The White Guy by Stephen Hunt: This was a ridiculously enjoyable read. It's kind of an ethnographic look at...the white guy. Surprised? Anyways, it's written wonderfully with an engaging balance of humour and insight. Maybe not so great at actually demystifying its subject, but definitely great fun, The White Guy was a solid summer read.
The Rebel Sell by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter: I talked about this book pretty extensively in the entry called "Help Wanted," so I'm not going to go into detail about the book itself. It is, however, an excellent piece of work that is incredibly readable and entertaining for a book with such an academic, philosophical foundation. Heath and Potter do an excellent job examining and systematically debunking the myths of countercultural theory and create what seems to be a viable, moderate course of action for overhauling the shortcomings of mass society. Required reading for anyone interested in cultural studies.
American Nerd: The Story of my People by Benjamin Nugent: As a word of warning, this book is probably not what you expect it to be. Author comments on the back cover by people like Chuck Klosterman belie the deeply academic and tirelessly researched study of the development of the "nerd" stereotype in American culture. This book was challenging to begin with- not technically, per se, but it is incredibly dense in literary reference, academic study and philosophical theory which, admittedly, is not what I was expecting. Once you manage to adjust to Nugent's writing style, though, the greatness of this little book unfolds. It's actually amazingly insightful without erring into the ethnographic or anthropologic, and Nugent's reserved, academic style make his bits of personal anecdote and potty humour that much more enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Playlist:
Third by Portishead: A high concept, and highly successful return to the studio for the originators of the trip-hop genre. It's easy to get lost in this album and not realize how time is flying by, so if you want to give it a serious listen, book some time out. Recommended songs: Machine Gun, Silence
The Hold Up by Donovan Woods: A really, really satisfying folk/rock album from this Toronto-based singer/songwriter. Sort of a really pleasant mix between Iron and Wine and Ryan Adams. Great, memorable, re-listenable songs with strong musical values. One of my favorites in a long while. Recommended songs: Car Won't Start, My Cousin has a Grey Cup Ring, Once a Week
Postcards and Daydreaming by Dan Mangan: As an album, not so awesome, but some REALLY strong songs held together by Mangan's absolutely awesome, husky voice that wraps around you like steam off a hot cup of coffee. As mentioned, there are some low points on the album due to songs that don't quite hang together so well, but overall, worth a listen. Recommended Songs: Journal of a Narcoleptic, So Much for Everyone.
Oh Heart EP and For All Time by Jill Barber: Excellent albums, fantastic songwriting, a stunning voice that immediately makes me think of Emmylou Harris in her prime. Also, the best live show I've ever seen. Recommended songs: Pretty much anything, but my favorites are Starting to Show, Measures and Scales, When I'm Making Love to You
Tasseomancy by Ghost Bees: Not for everyone. I don't think I can stress that quite enough. Not for everyone. Ghost Bees, a sister-sister duo from the Maritimes, specialize in spinning musical fantasies about falling in love with vampires, and monsters that live in the woods and eat children. Also, the occasional reference to Terisias is not out of the ordinary. Beautiful harmonies and clever writing make this album an exciting and rewarding listen, but the caution still stands- the voices may not be to everyone's tastes. Comparisons to Joanna Newsom have been made. Just FYI.
Oh, My Darling by Basia Bulat: So great! This album made the shortlist for the Polaris Music Prize this year and deserves it. An impossibly warm, adorable mix of things like autoharp, ukulele and clapping loops make this album go down a treat on every single listen. It's a perfect summer CD that will no doubt put a smile on your face. Recommended songs: In the Night, I Was a Daughter, The Pilgriming Vine
Love is Where the Smoke is by Jane Vain & The Dark Matter: A moody, smokey, ambient ride through sad dreams and vengeful hearts. It's swirly, it's rich, it's thick and it's really awesome. Take a listen, you won't be disappointed. Recommended songs: Ships Bound to Sink, C'Mon Baby Say 'Bang Bang'
Box Office:
The Dark Night: I don't think there's a person reading this who hasn't seen this movie. And rightly so. An amazing movie: action that is truly breathtaking and blockbuster-worthy, a moody, beautifully-constructed mise-en-scene and pretty excellent acting on all accounts (with the possible exception of Maggie Gyllenhaal). I'd be amiss (and probably crucified) if I didn't make mention of Heath Leger's performance as the Joker. Basically, it was astounding- intensely creepy and volatile, but funny as all hell when given the chance. It was a wonderfully freaky, bipolar performance- a childish silliness balanced with absolute Iago-like blood-lust. Spectacular.
Wall-E: Like The Dark Night, this film proves that the summer blockbuster hasn't given up on artistry just yet. This is one of the most beautifully rendered filmic universes I've ever seen. The animation was absolutely astonishing and the dystopian world which the directors and animators created was beautifully eerie. Not to mention, the story was impossibly sweet, and for the first 20 minutes, I felt like I was watching Charlie Chaplin.
The Lives of Others: Winner of the 2006 oscar for Best Foreign Language film, so not necessarily new, but definitely worth watching. Excellent acting and absolutely incredible writing make this story of intrigue, obsession, betrayal and loneliness in Communist East Germany a very intense ride.
Cache: This one also isn't new, having come out back in 2005, but I recently rewatched it (for about the fourth time) and it finally opened up. It's a technically challenging film that deeply questions and destabilizes the traditional relationship between film and spectator. Watching this movie is mentally taxing, there's no question. But if you work your way through it and pay very close attention, the twists and turns make for an excellent thriller.
Persepolis: Surprisingly, not so awesome. I've not read the graphic novel on which the movie is based, but I've been guaranteed that it's excellent. Something tells me that the film adaptation fails to measure up. It was enjoyable, definitely, but lacking some pulse or energy that this story of discovery and exploration demands. Take a look for the design and animation, but I was left a bit cold by it.
Recommendations, comments, additions welcome!
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