Current fave song

I am infinitely jealous of that falsetto.

Album Review: Gotye "Making Mirrors"

This album was released in August of last year so, obviously, this review will be breaking news. Also, I haven’t reviewed an album since November 2010 so I should be on top of my game. Enjoy!

Gotye came out of literally nowhere (not literally) with a world changing album (just one song) to top the charts (until Carly Rae happened). But seriously, the fact that “Somebody That I Used To Know” was as huge a success as it was really gives me hope for society. Here are some other 2012 #1 songs: “Sexy and I Know It,” “We Found Love,” “Call Me Maybe,” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” While Taylor Swift used to have some songwriting cred this is pure Max Martin pop formula so Gotye’s is the only smart, creative, interesting song of the bunch.

When I heard his next single, “Eyes Wide Open,” it was clear to me he was more than a one-hit wonder. It was another singable, thoughtful song that was a sort of indie/pop hybrid. So I was excited to listen to his whole album (even though it took me awhile to throw on the old headphones and do it). But I came away disappointed.

The first song isn’t a song. The second song feels like it was placed there because they didn’t want “Somebody…” too early on the album. “Eyes Wide Open” is right after it then 4-5 weird, way too poppy for what most people consider “his sound” to be, songs and 3-4 OK ones to wrap it up. Not really a sterling effort.

Normally, I’d say he’s still trying to find himself as an artist because he’s new to me (and most people) but this is actually his third album and he’s been recording/performing since 2003. He should really embrace the “Somebody…” dynamic because that’s what he’s (1) successful at and (2) people recognize him as. But the straight pop stuff does not suit him. Cut that out and this record isn’t half bad.

Untitled (;)

I used to write. Poetry; songs; what I thought were artistic thoughts. Now I refrain. Why have I forsaken myself? To say would be to reveal but not too revealing.

‘Tis different now than ‘twas in the late aughts. Empty space now spilling over with movement; action; direction. Helpful, yes, but hopeful? Pray not.

Do these thoughts still reside though they receive no time? Or is the act gone entirely? The ability to do now static. Frozen in time. In words; in song. A by-gone year but a gone-by talent? Shudder to think.

There! The issue arises! Thinking is the eye of the storm. To live days doing is a gift but to live through thought enriches life. It bears a whole new plane and widens expanses. Suddenly – music; verses – completely surround. ‘Twould be suffocating if not so pleasureful. Pride in a self-made Wonderland.

The key is to remember. The feeling; the blueprint. Keeping that is keeping sanity – is keeping life in all its graces. Keep. Peek. Take the time to look.

Assorted works on a singular topic

Joy Williams “Ill Nature”
There is a little tale about man's fate, and this is the way it is put. A man is being pursued by a raging elephant and takes refuge in a tree at the edge of a fearsome abyss. Two mice, one black and one white, are gnawing at the roots of the tree, and at the bottom of the abyss is a dragon with parted jaws. The man looks above and sees a little honey trickling down the tree, and he begins to lick it up and forgets his perilous situation. But the mice gnaw through the tree and the man falls down and the elephant seizes him and hurls him over to the dragon. Now, that elephant is the image of death, which pursues men, and the tree is this transitory existence, and the mice are the days and the nights, and the honey is the sweetness of the passing world, and the savor of the passing world diverts mankind. So the days and nights are accomplished and death seizes him and the dragon swallows him down into hell and this is the life of man.

William Shakespeare “Macbeth”
Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Pascal “Pensées”
Let us imagine a number of men in chains and all condemned to death, where some are killed each day in the sight of others, and those who remain see their own fate in that of their fellows and wait their turn…. This is the picture of the condition of man.

Allison Barrows “Preteena”
There was an old man who beat his wife;
She stabbed him with a kitchen knife!
He gazed at the red
And woefully said,
“I’m dead! Oh well, that’s life!”


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Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

I promise not to include any spoilers because I was fortunate enough to make it a full month from its release without hearing any specifics about the plot.

This is a fantastic movie. It’s not big, bloated and ridiculous like Spider-Man 3 but it actually sends this franchise out on top. Epic is the first word I used to describe it as we left the theater. We saw it in IMAX and even 4 weeks after release the theater was almost completely full. The action is awesome, the characters are top notch and the plot is believable. That’s a win.

I’ve always looked kindly upon Anne Hathaway but I fell in love with her in this movie; Joseph Gordon-Levitt is still my main man; and Christian Bale even backed off the Dark Knight growl a bit. Speaking of The Dark Knight where does this movie rank in relation? Well, after only 1 viewing I have to say that Rises comes in a close second. Maybe after multiple viewings I will change my stance but The Dark Knight is perfection.

In no way was Rises a letdown and it even exceeded my expectations for it. I wasn’t sure where they could take the story after TDK but Christopher Nolan nailed it. Let’s reward him and everyone else involved in this movie with some Oscar love.