Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something beautiful in a flashbulb moment once, and perhaps mistaking it for prophecy have been seeking its fulfillment ever since.
- Lester Bangs
I love those moments when you are out and about, ipod in ear, and the song that starts up just happens to sync perfectly with whatever sort of scene you find yourself in at that particular time...had a great one Friday night.
I was driving down the main drag of Ohio State's campus, a place where I spend a good part of my formative years,scholastically and other ways, noticing how completely different the place looked from when I went to school. None of the same bars, hardly any of the same hang out spots...all way too new, and way too shiny...and this song came on. Perfect.
I am not a film critic. That's why I write in blurbs. I don't have the attention span or the vocabulary to wax poetic on films. But since I see so few movies these days it seems, I feel obligated to cover the big event.
If I had to describe 'The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button' in algebraic terms, it would look something like this:
Cocoon + Forest Gump/Magnolia = TCCOBB
David Fincher wants you to know that growing old is no fun, and yes, you are going to grow old. But at least he tells you via a beautifully shot movie that - even at just under 3 hours - never feels slow. I really wanted to dislike this movie. I just had a feeling that it was going to be too over the top with feel-goodness, which I don't do to well with. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. It does tend to hammer its themes home, but never to the point of feeling preachy. And any movie with Cate Blanchett in it is almost always going to be worth the price of the ticket. Verdict? Well worth your time...now go and seize the day while you are young.
I meat you at the city limits you and your friend ask me to come over to your table I talk to you I am troy would like tgo get to know you.you left be for I coud give you my number.
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How does somebody this stupid have access to a computer? Or even know how to turn it on? Yes, the American educational system - your tax dollars at work.
Sorry to anyone who check this blog semi-regularly, I know there has been a sad lack of new content. Having some internet issues at the new place, and my internet web connection is sporadic at best. But I did want to take a second and post my thoughts on 'I'm Not There' the Dylan biopic that has been out for awhile and I JUST got around to seeing. I will preface these words by saying that while I didn't like the movie, it has most definitely kept me thinking and has rekindled my appreciation for what an incredible songwriter Dylan is.
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I wish I hadn't been there. Positively trainwreck street. And I wanted to like this movie SO bad. I love Bob Dylan, and I was even buying in on the gimmick of having 6 different actors playing the 6 different 'versions' of the singer/songwriter, but the execution of the idea was painful to watch at times.
This movie just couldn't get out of it's own way. Every time it started to pick up steam, it would cut to Richard Gere as the 'cowboy/rancher Dylan' and totally screech to a halt. The entire movie, but the Gere scenes especially were filled with overly dramatic, self-gratifying symbolism that was over my head and at times hard to watch.
All of the Dylan's were lacking too I thought. They ranged from laughably bad(Christian Bale as the early folkie) to so-so impressions(Cate Blanchette as the androgynous Dlyan, who just finished every sentence with 'man')...honestly, I thought the most interesting scenes were the ones about the movie star, iconic Dylan played by Heath Ledger and those were far too few and far too short.
I think a total of 4 people actually walked out before it was over, and there was a dog in the theater...yes, a dog. Not sure why, the guy wasn't blind, but whatever...and even the dog started howling at about the half way point. Not one person got up and complained, we all just laughed...it was the first time we had been entertained for about an hour.
Thanks Todd Haynes, for taking the career of the greatest songwriter ever and turning it into your failed film school thesis...i want my $6 back.
PS The only reason it gets the second star is because of the incredible performance of 'Going To Alcupocco' by Jim James of My Morning Jacket...by far the highlight of the film.
...or my email is anyway! Hey, it's me Blair...the Certain Songs staff of one. I just do this for the love of the music and am in no way trying to rip anybody off, so if you are an artist or a record label and you are not happy that I am promoting your music, or you want me to take a song down, just shoot me an email and I will most definitely oblige.
And please support the artists I post here in whatever way you can if you do download a song...go to a show, buy some merch, buy an album...these songs are the soundtrack to my life and I just love to share them. But I can only do that if the insanely talented artist responsible for said songs are able to eat.
I also love hearing new stuff...so any submissions can also be sent to my email, I will try my bestest to listen to everything and get back to you all...peace,love,rock n' roll.
csmusicblog@gmail.com
Monthly Mix Tape
Mission Statement
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the east coast. Roughly twenty years old. Got coaxed out by a certain perfect ratio. Of warm beer to the summer smoke. And the meat loaf to the billy joel. Certain songs they get so scratched into our souls.
She goes low on the seats when she gets high in her car. She looks shallow but shes neck deep in the steamy dreams of the guys along the harbor bars. She's pulling out her shirttails and jacking up her socks. Stern and stoned and confident, coming up towards the jukebox. Born into the only songs that everybody finally sings along. B-1 is for the good girls. It's only the good die young. C-9 is for the making eyes. It's paradise by the dashboard light. D4 is for the lovers. B12 is for the speeders. And the hard drugs are for the bartenders and the kitchen workers and the bartender's friends. And they're playing it again. Ellen Foley gives us hope. Certain songs they get scratched into our souls.
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the west coast are taking off their clothes. Screwing in the surf and going out to shows. They get high and ride around in gtos. I guess you're old enough to know. CERTAIN SONGS THEY GET SCRATCHED INTO OUR SOULS. - The Hold Steady