Tops of 2008
Once again this year I’m not going to rank anything but just list it out — you can see a big correlation between the artists I saw live and the records they put out. Enjoy!
Top Albums:
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont
Flying Lotus - Los Angeles
Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig
Santogold - s/t
Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
Vivian Girls - s/t
Top Shows Attended:
Boredoms, 9:30 Club
Deerhunter/Times New Viking, Election Night, Black Cat
Keren Ann/Dean & Britta, Black Cat
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, 9:30 Club
No Age/Abe Vigoda, Rock and Roll Hotel
Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago IL
Quintron at Black Cat & Civilian Arts Center
Silver Jews, Black Cat
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, 9:30 Club
The Homosexuals, Velvet Lounge
Top Films:
American Teen
Burn After Reading
Cloverfield
Gonzo: Life and Work of Hunter s Thompson
In Bruges
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Pineapple Express
Son of Rambow
The Dark Knight
WALL-E
Munchausen by Proxy (feat. Zooey Deschanel and Von Iva) - Sweet Ballad
embedded by Embedded Video
MySpace Direkt
This is taken from the new Jim Carrey movie “The Yes Man,” and I have a feeling its all I really need to see from this thing — they sort of bury Zooey in the ads, she would be the only reason to see it anyway.
Some quick words on films
‘ve now got both Blockbuster and Netflix scripts delivered to my door, in order to make sure I get exactly what I want. Here’s a bit on what I’ve seen recently:
King of California
Got this mostly for Evan Rachel Wood, because I’ll basically watch anything she’s in. She’s pretty excellent in it (not just because she’s beautiful), and Michael Douglas puts on a wacky performance as her hippie father.
Rocket Science
Much like a Wes Anderson flick, all about a geeky kid trying to “fit in” at school, and in life overall. Probably really would have taken off if released after Juno.
Across the Universe
All Beatles songs musical flick — again mostly rented for ERW. The selection of tunes they chose is questionable; I wonder what they could and couldn’t get the rights to.
Everything’s Gone Green
Based in Vancouver, an all Canadian style flick with an all Canadian indie rock soundtrack. Sort of about weed, but no one really actually smokes it. Make me want to visit that town it really captures how interesting it is.
Gone Baby Gone
I was pretty disappointed by this one overall, I think it was mostly since I watched it severely hungover. Seems like a big Affleck wank-off, with Ben directing and Casey starring. Its mostly depressing.
Eagle vs. Shark
Made in New Zealand and stars a bunch of comedians including people involved with Flight of the Conchords. I enjoyed it, but its nothing new to the whole awkward indie Miranda July set.
2 Days in Paris
Written and directed by Julie Delpy, all about a couple hanging in France. Definitely hits the mark on a lot of good relationship issues, which makes you sort of cringe.
Smiley Face
This is a total piece of garbage starring Anna Faris and directed by Greg Araki who did The Doom Generation. Its so horrible its not even worth writing anything additional about.
Are you ready to get wasted?
My most anticipated film of ‘08:
“Trippin’ out in cinemas now”
*Click here for the trailer
*Click here for Official Website
The Strangest Simpsons Products
Anyone who even remotely befriends me usually knows I collect way too much Simpsons merchandise, and the Onion AV Club has a great article this week on the Strangest Simpsons stuff out there.
I can’t wait to catch the movie tonight at Midnight — a review may very well be forthcoming.
Simpsons Movie Posters
Several Simpsons Movie Posters have leaked onto the net by way of this (I think) Russian website. I’m a sucker for anything Simpsons, especially anything related to the upcoming film, so I had to give this a mention.
To make this post even more all inclusive, here are a few additional Simpsons stories I’m excited about:
100th Entry: Silver Jews Documentary
I received the news a tad late, but nonetheless I’m pretty excited by the news that director Michael Tully will be premiering his new documentary of the Silver Jews tour at the upcoming SXSW festival.
Click here [Quicktime] to check out the trailer …
Also I’d like to add that this is post #100 on this here blog Trigger Cut, and I thank everyone for reading so far.
Sasha Baron Cohen on Fresh Air
I caught a bit of this excellent interview with Sasha Baron Cohen on NPR’s Fresh Air a week or two ago and I thought I’d post an MP3 of the entire show. I’m rooting for Mr. Cohen tonight at the Golden Globes, where the BORAT film is up for several awards, and in my opinion is more than deserves to win.
Click here to grab it and enjoy.
My Tops of 2006
Top Albums:
Dosh - The Lost Take (Anticon)
Excepter - Alternation (5RC)
First Nation - S/T (Paw Tracks)
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Sony)
Liars - Drums Not Dead (Mute)
Pajo - 1968 (Drag City)
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo (Big Dada)
Thom Yorke - The Eraser (XL)
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And Will Beat Your Ass (Matador)
Top Films:
A Scanner Darkly (Linklater)
Art School Confidential (Zwigoff)
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Charles)
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (Lynch)
Thank You For Smoking (Reitman)
United 93 (Greengrass)
Top Shows Attended:
Animal Collective, Black Cat, WDC
Arab Strap, IOTA, Arlington, VA
Brightblack Morning Light & Espers, DC9, WDC
Jack Rose, Velvet Lounge, WDC
Jamie Lidell, Black Cat, WDC
Lorelei, DC9, WDC
Silver Jews, Satellite Ballroom, Charlottesville VA
Sonic Youth, 9:30 Club (Two shows), WDC
Spank Rock, Black Cat, WDC
Whitehouse, Pig Destroyer, Wolf Eyes, DC9, WDC