SpartanEdge

In case you haven't heard, I started my masters of journalism program at MSU in January. In an effort to choose an extracurricular activity that is enjoyable, and educational, I've gotten involved with SpartanEdge.com, a student-run publication that is hoping to end "pussy journalism." Sadly enough, most of my free time and energy will be put into my new blog over there, even though I've come to love posting here at Blogger.com. Chances are, when the semester is over, I'll be posting here again. But for now, please bookmark my new blog and check it out regularly...if that sort of thing interests you.

I'll also be the editor of the new MusicEdge section. There's a link on the front page of SpartanEdge, where you can read our first article - a review and video of the Sights playing at Mac's Bar on 1/20.

I hope the new year is treating you well. Until next time...

Favorite Movies of 2006

There were three movies that really grabbed my attention this year, and since I usually only talk about music, I thought I would stir things up a bit. The first one I'll discuss is Children of Men. Keep an eye out for the other two.


How do I cover this one without spoiling the movie? The very idea of this film was more thought provoking than most movies I've seen or heard of in recent years. In a vision of our world twenty years ahead, humans have lost the ability to reproduce. When Theo (Clive Owen's character) is introduced to Kee, the first pregnant woman in 18 years, he volunteers to deliver her to the Human Project, a group dedicated to solving the infertility problem. Let me say first that this movie did not meet most of my expectations. I was hoping for much more philosophical content on the nature of human life and our role on this planet. The first act is a tale of modern civilization turned into a dystopia, where England appears to be the only country still operational (although they have taken to imprisoning and exporting "Fugees," or anyone not of native blood). The second act resembles many zombie movies, where a main protagonist battles against all odds for his life (and those of friends and family) as everything around him falls to madness. The third and final act is basically a war story, but it's some of the most gripping and disturbing war footage I've ever seen.

There are three things that ring in my mind after seeing Children of Men. First, Jasper (Michael Caine's character) says something about life being a combination of FAITH and CHANCE. He's not referring necessarily to religion, but more so what people are passionate about. Our passions and goals bring us into a situation with many possible outcomes, and then chance determines the rest. He was speaking specifically about Julian (Julianne Moore's character) and Theo, who had met decades ago through common activist endeavors. I thought this was a really interesting statement, because it stands apart from many similar statements that involve divine intervention. The second thing that I came to love about the movie was Theo's character. Our world is dominated by greed and violence. In the movie, those two things have completely overruled any other aspects of society. However, he selflessly devotes himself to ensuring the safety of Kee, while constantly avoiding both greed and violence (except self protection). He doesn't know if the Human Project really exists, he doesn't know if Kee's baby will save the world, and he certainly doesn't know if he will survive to see any of it. But he makes a choice and becomes a savior. The final thing, the one that had me fighting off tears, was the idea of a single baby having the power to end human war. I don't know how much more I can say about that without spoiling the story.

Ultimately, I am left with an idea I had in mind before ever seeing the film. A few years ago in a senior seminar at MSU, my professor asked the class, "What is the meaning of life?" I had just taken a class on Darwin and natural selection, so I said, "From a Darwinist's perspective, the meaning of life is to reproduce." So tell me, am I wrong? If we lost the ability to reproduce, would a single person feel any hope? Would there be any point to live any more (euthanasia is another prominent topic in the movie)? Take those thoughts with you in your every day life, and I'm sure you'll have a brighter day knowing that our world hasn't come to the terrible state proposed in Children of Men.
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Year End Special, Vol 7: Favorite Locals

Here are the bands I liked from Michigan or Illinois (mainly Chicago or suburbs). Check them out. Do it. Do it.

Best out of Michigan

1. Anathallo – Floating World : This almost made my real top ten list, but I felt that it fit better here. Much of the inspiration came from a Japanese folk tale - like the Decemberists new album - but for some reason these guys got picked on for being pretentious, while Colin Meloy and Co. were praised. Anathallo's beautiful, complicated pop music rests in a world of its own, and I'm very excited to see where this group goes.
2. NOMO – New Tones : NOMO is supposedly an Afro-jazz group comprised mostly of U of M masters of music students. Ironic humor aside, their music is sometimes stunning in the same way as many classic jazz artists. Now they just need to made some memorable hooks, and emphasize individual musicianship.
   
3. Thunderbirds Are Now! – Make History : I think Justamustache might have hit the nail more squarely on the head, but I'm proud of this group. No one has ever catapulted out of Ferndale, MI and made a sizeable dent in the indie rock community before. Rock on, and bring that exclamation point.
   
4. Those Transatlantics – Knocked Out : This seems to be a summer project of five Central Michigan University students, which is surprising, given how good the music actually is. I saw them at Abbey Pub over the summer and was impressed off record as well. Hopefully they'll put a full-time push into their music sometime soon.

Best Out of Chicago

1. Bound Stems – Appreciation Night : These guys just might be onto something new. It's not quite the disjointed indie rock of Modest Mouse, and it's not quite the buzzing-with-life collective rock of Broken Social Scene. It's something very....Chicago. But it's also something very intriguing.
   
2. Kyle Mann Combo – Goodbye Kites : I'm a huge Ben Folds Five fan, so the idea of a piano/bass/drum trio immediately grabbed me. Luckily, I wasn't let down. They produce some memorable music with intelligent lyrics and a whole lot of class.
   
3. Chin Up Chin Up – This Harness Can’t Ride Anything : CUCU is a tricky band. Just when you're about to write them off as a Cure copy (or any other kind of copy) they impress your pants off. They are becoming a special band to Chicago, not only because of their intimate connection with venues like Empty Bottle, but just because they make music that belongs in the Windy City.
4. The Diminisher – Imaginary Volcano : This is a hidden treasure that rests somewhere between the eclectic late-'60s work of Pink Floyd and the Beatles, with a dash of medieval flavor. Their MySpace page only has like 300 views, but hopefully I can help in that department.
   
5. Wax on Radio – Exposition : I had the pleasure of seeing this band recently at Beat Kitchen. Mikey Russel has a voice like I've never heard before. They play rock music of different varieties, but they are progressive in that they have the ability to finally eliminate many annoying mainstream trends of the past 15 years. Are they headed for radio? Maybe. Do I care? Hell no. I hope they take over the world.

Year End Special, Vol 6: Live Performances

I don't have much time anymore since I have to move tomorrow, so the rest are gonna come quickly. Maybe I'll return to them later to add more info. These were the bands that wowed me the most this year on stage:

1. Broken Social Scene @ Lollapalooza 2006 - 8/6 : Hands down the best set of the festival, and the moment I finally made peace with Chicago.
   
2. Disco Biscuits @ Lollapalooza 2006 – 8/5 : I'd rather see them play in an open field or a beautiful theatre, but damn were they fun.
   
3. Of Montreal @ Metro – 3/10 : Kevin Barnes is insane, but it makes for good stage presence.
   
4. Bloc Party @ Intonation Festival – 6/25 : Overall, the Intonation Festival was a joke. But this band brought every ounce of power from their album to the live setting.
   
5. Mice Parade @ Empty Bottle – 2/13 : My first experience with the Empty Bottle's free Mondays turned out to be an extremely pleasant surprise. This band is under-rated.
   
6. Aloha @ Schubas – 8/20 : Yay for xylophones. I'll never tire of them. Their intricate instrumentation and various moods come across the best on stage
   
7. The Little Ones @ Schubas – 11/16 : These guys bring southern California with them in the tour van. Bring your board shorts and sunscreen if you ever get a chance to see them!
   
8. Anathallo @ Lollapalooza 2006 – 8/4 : The Michiganian mini-marching band played at 1 pm on Friday (one of the first sets of the festival), but set the bar high for the rest of the weekend.
   
9. Evangelicals @ Schubas – 10/1 : What a wild trio. Schubas music room almost couldn't handle it. They have the potential to become a special band with a dedicated cult following.
10. Yo La Tengo @ The Vic – 10/5 : Their set at Pitchfork was unsettling, but this controlled environment allowed them to cultivate all their quiet and loud noises with perfection.
    

Year End Special, Vol 5: Bands I Hate the Most

Once again I don't want to dwell on these overhyped, undeserving, wastes of space. I just need to vent quickly, and then we'll return to more pleasant issues. These are the bands I hated the most in 2006:

1. The Walkmen – A Hundred Miles Off : I hold them at least indirectly responsible for delaying the recognition that French Kicks (former label mates) have deserved for years now. And then, when the Kicks get the push they need, their music lacks the same sparkle that drew me to them. The Walkmen are copycats and overall terrible musicians. Avoid them at all costs.
   
2. Joanna Newsom – Ys : Newsom sings like an epileptic, demented elf. I don't care about Van Dyke Parks' arrangements, I don't give a crap about Jim O'Rourke's production, and Newsom's harp skillz don't do shit for me. If only one guitarist existed in the world of independent music, he would not deserve praise for being the best guitarist. I think my next Anti-Hipster feature will cover this one, so I'll stop for now.
   
3. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain : I've already written an extensive feature about this filthy rubbish (see the July section of this blog). They'll fade away...just wait.
   
4. Bonnie “Prince” Billie – The Letting Go : He claims that music writers spend too much time categorizing and not enough time sharing. Well, Mr. Billie, if it makes you feel better, I'll share your music with my trash can. That's where it belongs.
   
5. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah : It's the voice on this one. I can't stand the voice. I'd rather listen to CDs chock full of nail-down-the-chalkboard recordings. Does that idea alone make you cringe? That's what this band does to me.
   
6. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not : It doesn't matter what records they set or how much they got yapped about on the internet. This is lousy, derivative rock music with no future.
   
7. The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers : Damn you, Jack White. Damn you to hell. Whatever artistic credibility you held with the White Stripes (a band I never even enjoyed) is now gone. Go rot in your world of classic rock radio giants.