I loved this film. It owned me from start to finish. At the moment, most of my favorite actors are brought together and great performances are brought out from them by Mr. Apatow in this film. What we have here is a different sort of film. Sure it is still a comedy but there is also this testament to lost love and friendship going on. I was brought to tears a few times here. Yes, in laughter some, but also in the accurate depiction in some very tough scenes. This film is a next step for the director and take it smoothly he does. This a heartfelt dramatic film with a heavy dose of comedy sprinkled in. I love it when an artist tries something new. Here, we have Apatow exploring serious subject matter. He has te comedy thing down. I look forward to where he goes next.
Some will talk about the length. I was into the film so it didn’t bother me. It takes time to tell a good story.
I have been looking forward to this film ever since I heard it was being made. I managed to avoid all reviews and trailers. I went in a virgin if you will. I knew the actors and director and that was it. I was sucked in. After the preview, I came home and watched the trailer. I couldn’t believe what they gave away. Jesus! I am glad I missed it, and if at all possible try not to see it before you go. And go you must. Hands down, this is the best film I have seen this summer.
Quiet Company—Everyone You Love Will Be Happy Soon: With Taylor Muse on vocals and piano, guitars, organs, synthesizers, glockenspiel, harmonica, banjo, and percussion,Tommy Blank on guitars, electric piano, organs, synthesizers, glockenspiel, vocals and melodica, Matt Parmenter on bass, vocals, piano, and Jeff Weathers on drums Quiet Company is complete. Read the rest of this entry »
14. LeeFields and the Expressions—My World: Dust off your soul shoes because you’re about to get slapped in the face with some. Four years in the making and My World finally surfaces. Lee Fields is 100% pasteurized, cold on ice, but easy to drink heated up soul. And he sings it. The funk and soul community gave Fields the honorary “legendary” status due to his solid series of soul, rare 7’ singles (and one LP) recorded and released on his own labels in the 1970s. Truth & Soul, a New York label/production group decided to showcase his talents with a brand new album of deep beating soul ballads that will show those that believe in soul what soul really is. Truth & Soul rose from South Fire’s ashes in 2004 and the label wanted to record a soul record modeled after the perfect funk and soul of bands like The Moments, The Delfonics, and the Stylistics had created, but with a more modern twist. Lee Fields and the Expressions have created a unique and personal sound that holds a candle to the bands that they set out to emulate, however, they’ve created in the process, a sound that goes way beyond carbon copying music from the 70s. Although the formula may have remained the same, the style has been adapted a bit for younger ears whose debut to soul began with one Ms. Winehouse instead of Otis. With the original “James Brown” sound, and thirty years of retrospection that has colored this cross-generational melding of the odds, it comes out classic to produce an album of damn straight soul music with one of the legends who made it all possible. www.myspace.com/leefields Read the rest of this entry »
It was still hot as hell at 9:30 when Tortoise started at Mohawk and it was close to capacity so it took a second to find a good place to stand. A couple songs in and I found a place
and was able to get into the hypnotic grooves. Indie, jazz, dub , prog, synthetic, organic – there isn’t a word for Tortoise because they have created such a unique sound and stuck to it for over 15 years. It’s a sound that sucks you in and puts you in a trance, the tight arrangements and jagged turns keep you engaged. Minimalist videos projected behind the band add so much flavor, are so integral to the show, there is a sense that the creator is member of the band, his projector an instrument.
Their unique stage set up was a bit small for the Mohawk stage. They have two drum sets facing each other in the very front and two vibes facing inward on the sides, these were pretty much
blocked from view by the huge speakers and guitar bass and keys in the back.
It’s great watching them switch around to different instruments somehow they manage to do it without it seeming like a schtick.
Occasionally they flirt with the cheese but always jump out just in time and hit you over the head with some dissonance. The crowd was enthralled – obviously all hard core fans. I left during the second encore to go catch the tale end of Roky Erickson at Antone’s.
McRiprock’s 20 Albums You Don’t Want to Miss II (albums eight through thirteen)
This is a Top Twenty list of my (and Dud’s) favorite albums of late 2008-2009 that shouldn’t be missed—Austinites and beyond. You don’t like them? I don’t give a shit. I’m just giving you some suggestions. Why the change in format? Well, CD submissions have been slow, so send your music in, put a stamp on it, address it to us and watch your review get posted on AD, bitches. Simple, really. So to fill the time, here’s some albums that were and were not reviewed that should definitely be on your “to buy” or at least “to listen” or maybe even if you’re lucky “to go see” list. They are all badass and in no particular order. This is the second installment list. Two down, one to go. Look for last week’s post for the first seven on the Top Twenty list. Sound good? Fuck yeah it does. Read the rest of this entry »
The question that I have is: How the hell did they get away with most of that stuff?
I guess the mpaa was taking a summer snooze. This is a film that you know what your in for before you go. Funny, outrageous and uncomfortable . Sacha Baron Cohen is a comic genius who thrives and seems to get power out of creating uncomfortable situations. Of his top characters, Ali G is my favorite. Though this film is much more scripted than BORAT, the laughs are still there. I laughed close to every 5 minutes. This has been the summer of film let downs so far. BRUNO breaks that cast and gives us exactly what we go to see and maybe a little more.
You have to wonder how long the Bruno character would survive in our homophobic community.
McRiprock’s Twenty Albums You Don’t Want to Miss I (albums one-seven)
Don’t worry, I’m not doing a Michael Jackson tribute here, as much as his shit rocked, he didn’t make the Top Twenty. This is a Top Twenty list of my (and Dud’s) favorite albums of late 2008-2009 that shouldn’t be missed—Austinites and beyond. You don’t like them? I don’t give a shit. I’m just giving you some suggestions. Why the change in format? Well, CD submissions have been slow– so send your music in, put a stamp on it, address it to us and watch your review get posted on AD, bitches. Simple, really. So to fill the time, here’s some albums that were and were not reviewed that should definitely be on your “to buy” or at least “to listen” or maybe even if you’re lucky “to go see” list.
They are all badass and in no particular order. We’ll start with the first seven on the Top Twenty list and next week post another group. Sound good? You bet. Read the rest of this entry »
I loved this film. It owned me from start to finish. At the moment, most of my favorite actors are brought together and great performances are brought out from them by Mr. Apatow in this film. What we have here is a different sort of film. Sure it is still a comedy but there is also this testament to lost love and friendship going on. I was brought to tears a few times here. Yes, in laughter some, but also in the accurate depiction in some very tough scenes. This film is a next step for the director and take it smoothly he does. This a heartfelt dramatic film with a heavy dose of comedy sprinkled in. I love it when an artist tries something new. Here, we have Apatow exploring serious subject matter. He has te comedy thing down. I look forward to where he goes next.
The question that I have is: How the hell did they get away with most of that stuff?
