Pop Culture Buzz

GRADE: A+

“GRONLANDIC EDIT”

Of Montreal came out of nowhere in my pop culture world over a year and a half ago. I was sitting in a movie theater when “Wraith Pinned Against The Mist and Other Games” started playing over the loud speaker. Right away I was hooked on Of Montreal’s silly, odd lyrical styling. Their brand of music as it turns out is as experimental and bizarre as anything I have ever heard, and I love every last drop of their wacky sounds. After I listened to “Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?” I couldn’t put into words how creative and trippy this slice of pop music is. I automatically put it into massive circulation in my iPod.

This album has so many angles and tricks up its sleeve, you are treated to something new and fun with each additional listen. Sometimes the mish-mash elements of experimental rock are just plain weird. But I like the un-familiar aspects of this bands arrangements. They are scattershot, and operatic in tone and length. The comparisons are all over the map: Yoko Ono, Bjork, The Scissor Sisters, Elton John, Queen, The Beatles, Franz Ferdinand can all be heard in snippets on “Hissing Fauna”.

My favorite song on this c.d. is “Gronlandic Edit” (above). The catchy, falsetto chorus is the hottest thing in music right now. I am not sure how to explain the building and layering on this collection of songs. The playlist weaves in and out of futuristic beats and stoner guitar solos. But for all of its bravery “Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer” may not appeal to the masses…which is good. Songs like “Bunny Aint Got No Kind of Rider” and “She’s A Rejector” are a rare find and people just wouldn’t understand it’s odd complexity. Check out Of Montreal if you are looking to be blown away by innovative pop music with a fun edge.

“THE PAST IS A GROTESQUE ANIMAL”

This song is cute enough but I am suspicious of the title and melody of this song, isn’t it curiously similar to Ashlee Simpson’s better “Boyfriend” from 2 years ago? I wonder how long Avril will be able to use her youth as a marketing tool. I hope to hear some great gay remixes of this song, if not it won’t be worth all the hype and air play. I was never a huge fan of Mrs. Lavigne, her ballads are good but her “punk” inspired stuff is contrived. Supposedly her next album will have more of a pop feel to it, this approach worked for Jewel, let’s see if Avril has any luck at it.

GRADE: A

As I first watched HBO’s series “Big Love” last year I started to feel something familiar, something that had been missing since “Six Feet Under” went off the air. It was that incredible sense of empathy and compassion felt when you watch a t.v. show with excellent adult writing. I am aware that this is just a t.v. series, but some how HBO has once again crafted a series that touches it’s viewers to their core. The Henrickson’s in “Big Love” are just as flawed and strong as the “Fisher’s” were in “Six Feet Under”. I think this show is the perfect successor to that show. It is a mature program that is gorgeous to look at.

I am not Mormon, I don’t understand the devout faith these people have, but somehow I am sucked into their world and feel as if I am a part of their spiritual journey with each episode. When “Big Love” first aired I felt I needed to watch a few shows back to back to get a real feel for where the story was going. I also wanted to see how the actors would flesh out their characters. But now I am in love with this show in the same way I loved “Six Feet Under”. Which is great, the void was huge when that show left the air two years ago. “Six Feet Under’s” finale is still the best ending of a t.v. show EVER.

I have to say I fell in love with this new clan of odd balls right off the bat. The show has a wealth of material provided by it’s controversial subject matter. Plural marriage (polygamy) is one thing, but to show a side of this practice/theory in such a real and human way has a great pay off. This show depicts the different topics of the Mormon and polygamy debate, it actually shows how it could possibly work for some people and how it does not for most. Now, no religion or moral code of life is easy to follow or maintain and live by example completely….but this family really strives for the healthy ideal of polygamous love and unity. Of course it is in the most male driven, faith inspired fashion. But I believe what this family is trying to do is revolutionary in terms of what they try to accomplish. It is antiquated but it is also a practical option for how they envision their life being. In real life it doesn’t effect me if a guy wants 4 wives and the wives are happy, I just want one husband, but oh well.

Of course for every positive hero in a Primetime drama you need to have an evil side to things. The “Prophet” in this show “Roman Grant” is the most deplorable bad guy character since Tony Soprano, but without the sensitive qualities that make Tony so easy to relate to. We see a side of polygamous life that is gut wrenching, sick, perverse and down right sad. Chloe Sevigny who plays the Prophets daughter deserved Emmy/Golden Globe recognition this past year. All at once Chloe’s character is repugnant, hypocritical, pathetic and is someone you like with a sense of humor. But there are glimmers of genuinely redeeming qualities in her character. Jeanne Tripplehorn and Bill Paxton give sensitive and moving performances as well.

The best sub-plot or storyline is about the daughter (played by “Mean Girl’s” Amanda Seyfried) who’s confused over her status in life and the Mormon faith. Her struggle will be the true test to see if this family unit will work, she is the only character showing dissension about faith and marriage. All in all, the abundance of material, witty writing and great acting. The controversy of the topic at hand will make this a fun ride and a compelling series! This show is just as addictive as most of HBO’s adult series. I look forward to season two of “Big Love” this summer. Check out the series one DVD on Netflix, on HBO On Demand or for sale at your local retailer to catch up!

* 1/2 STARS

At the end of 2006 Quentin Tarantino was quoted as saying that last years re-make of “The Hills Have Eyes” was a sick and twisted film with balls. Us both being horror movie fans, we agree that it was one of the best films of the year. So when a sequel was announced early this past summer I was instantly anxious. But even then I had my reservations, 2007’s “Hills” was a fluke of nasty proportions. “The Hills Have Eyes 2″ has some familiar horror movie plot devices (”Aliens” marine squad) and set ups (”The Descent”) but it lacked the ugly, mean edge last years “The Hills Have Eyes” had.

When I call a modern horror classic like “The Hills Have Eyes” ugly what I mean is the tone. Last years “Eyes” was gross and sick, but in a good way. “The Hills Have Eyes” was relentless and had no compassion for it’s tortured subjects. This year the characters are more cookie cutter and stereotypically generic. The 2007 version was miles ahead of the version that came out in the late 70’s. The whole “macho marine” routine in this film is tired, and the actors in this wreck are not convincing as enlisted soldiers. None of the normal tricks work in this film, the set up, chase and ultimate demise offer no pay off in the end. Last year I rooted for the unlucky family, this year I rooted for the blood thirsty mutants.

It is obvious by the weak reception of this movie last weekend that we won’t be seeing a “Hills Have Eyes 3″. I have high hopes for a few horror movie sequels coming out some time this year; “Hostel 2″, “28 Weeks Later” and “Day of the Dead”. My hope is that they do not follow in the foot steps of recent crappy slasher films; “Dead Silence”, “Saw 3″ and “The Hills Have Eyes 2″. The odds are against the horror movie genre to put out decent, entertaining and believable films. This movie is just another example of a wasted franchise that has gone too “Hollywood”.

Here it is folks, the new bok cover for “Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows”. I stopped reading the books because the movies just get better and better. I am glad the series got darker as it evolved. There are rumors that some of the cast won’t be back to reprise their roles for the movie version of “Hallows”. It is hard to believe the phenomenon is almost over.

Mika hasn’t hit it big over here in the states yet, and I don’t even know if he eventually will. Europeans have always had thier hand on the pulse of pop music for generations now. They know a good pop star when they hear one. Mika is no exception. Much like Lilly Allen he has a fun, light sense of pop music that is reminiscent of Freddie Mercury with a pinch of Rufus Wainwright. I cannot wait for his full length c.d. to come out.

#1 REASON:

(See Below) Sanjaya is a trainwreck and a joke, he is the reason why this show is losing it’s charm and believability. If he continues further I will lose interest faster. I do not think his schtick is funny or entertaining. He actually makes me throw up a little each time I hear him sing or whenever I see what kind of drag queen look he is trying to pull off each week (A Diana Ross perm? Really?). He is embarrassing and just plain B-A-D. Does Sanjaya even know that his success so far is based on how bad we really think he is? I love howard Stern, but his campaign to have his fans vote for Sanjaya pisses me off.

#2 REASON:

Contestants like Gina Glocksen are being pushed to the background because of the “Sanjaya” factor. I used to think this show was legitimate and fun, now it is losing credibility and just grates on my nerves. I agree with Simon, if Sanjaya wins I will not watch this show ever again. Gina Glocksen pulled off a terrific performance on last nights show. She was hands down the best singer of them all. Even better than my girls Lakisha and Melinda. So why is America probably going to put her in the bottom 3 tonight? Because they are ruining the best show on t.v. by voting for people like Sanjaya and Haleigh, that’s why. Gina deserves to be in the top 5, if not top 3 because of her great “Pretenders” performance last night, pure and simple!

#3 REASON:

The hottest guy is once again, not the best singer. Ace Young anyone? Chris Richardson started out so strong in this competition. But now each week he is slipping into worse and worse territory. His vocal ability is waining and the judges are noticing it big time. I hate to see cute Chris get voted off before Blake. Chris has a charm and real feel that Blake can’t fake. But alas, he can’t sing good enough to even beat Sanjaya, and that is a travesty!

GRADE: B+

“Tenacious D In: The Pick of Destiny” is a modern stoner rock opera classic. Much like “Half Baked” and “Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle” the new “Tenacious D” movie on DVD is full of pot references and one liners that are sure to create a cult following amongst stoners. Right off the bat we get a THC reference in cartoon form that is hilarious. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the silly set up of “The Pick of Destiny” as much as I did. I had no idea this movie was mostly a musical, and I was mildly surprised at how much Jack Black and Kyle Gass kick ass together in this movie. I laughed too many times to count!

I was never really aware of how cool and talented Jack Black and Kyle Gass’s “fake” band are. I love Jack Black’s movies and roles lately. This movie is pure Jack Black and it is hard to see where the acting starts and the “real guy” ends. After watching this movie I am now a die hard Tenacious D fan, I can’t wait to see this movie with like minded people who enjoy a brainless sweet comedy every now and then. The clever lyrics and powerful guitar sounds “The D” come up with are utter genius. The music in “Pick of Destiny” is actually great for a “spoof” movie and Black has a delivery that is flawless and hilarious. Watching him and Gass create music and lyrics is one of the best pay offs in this film.

What kind of stoner movie would this be without the much needed “tripping” scene? Jack Black shares this moment on film with a hallucinated Sasquatch. This scene alone will make you scream with laughter. The best moments in the film are towards the end when Black breaks into the rock n’ roll hall of fame to steal the guitar pick that will make him and Gass a star. When the duo meet up with Satan (played by Nirvana’s Dave Grohl) we get the best rockin scenes in the film. This movie has a stoner, sloppy feel to it and I didn’t mind it at all. The laughs are non-stop and they will strike a chord with any meat head with a penchant for metal and classic rock. And of course stoners of the world will rejoice in the fantastic images and jokes provided in “Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny”.

1/2 STAR

I love a good cheesy horror film every now and then. “Dead Alive” is the best corny splatter flick out there, and it also happens to be Peter Jackson’s first film (it also goes by “Brain Dead” in some countries). I don’t know what else I was expecting from this demonic doll movie, but man was I let down in a big way by this flick. There were no gratuitous love scenes, but the bad dialog and special effects were abundant. This movie was just a plain mess with no fun elements to it at all. As it stands “Dolls” from the 80’s is the “Citizen Kane” of killer doll movies, sorry Chucky!

Not even the tag line….”from the makers of “Saw”…could save this piece of crap. I am starting to think the first “Saw” movie was a fluke and every film attached to it from here on out is going to be trash, and not in a good way. The movie starts off with your typical horror movie set up, but even more convoluted than usual. I was hoping to get the urban legend treatment with the story telling but we are subjected to one mind numbing flash back after another. Usually flashbacks help the plot, mind you in an obvious way, but the dream sequences in this movie come off as if they are from a cheap soap opera, “Passions” cheap if you know what I mean.

I won’t give any credibility to the set up or plot summary but the screenwriters had a wealth of material at their disposal but they chose to go the familiar route and be lazy. The only chills are the same tired old tricks we have seen before. Stuff falling out of a closet, a rat walking over a foot in the dark etc. etc. What we don’t get are cool scenes with the dolls killing people. There are no over the top bloody scenes, actually the death scenes are mild. We are forced to watch a slow moving, plot-less mess that never quite delivers the spills or chills.

Lastly, it must suck to be a New Kid on the Block and watch your little brother Marky Mark get all the good jobs. Donnie Wahlberg has become the go to guy for cheap horror films with the label “from the makers of Saw” on it. He never quite gets it right as the intense, and oddly written cop in this movie (and “Saw 1-2″). His presence in this movie is mediocre and silly, his death is the only mildly entertaining part in “Dead Silence”. I can’t even recommend this movie for DVD, which is sad to say about a movie with posessed blood thirsty dolls in it, sigh.

THIS WEEK / TOTAL SO FAR

1.) TMNT $25,450,000 / $25,450,000

2.) 300 $20,510,000 / $162,354,000

3.) Shooter $14,501,000 / $14,501,000

4.) Wild Hogs $14,362,000 / $123,815,000

5.) The Last Mimzy $10,200,000 / $10,200,000

6.) Premonition $10,100,000 / $32,191,000

7.) The Hills Have Eyes 2 $10,000,000 / $10,000,000

8.) Reign Over Me $8,000,000$8,000,000

9.) Pride $4,030,000 / $4,030,000

10.) Dead Silence $3,468,000 / $13,243,000

I purchased James Morrison’s c.d. for the cheap price of $9.99 today based on this video. He looks like a mix between Chris Martin and James Blunt, and I like that. This song is a fresh sweeping love ballad with a great hook. I hope the entire c.d. is just as soothing and light. I played the hell out of James Blunt’s c.d. last year and can’t hear again or I will scream. I hope to play the hell out of this c.d. if it is just as sappy and catchy as Blunt’s.

This band puzzles me. I should hate the Japani-mation, fast, high energy techno sound of this song but it has grown on me (which is obvious by my iPod choices and this post). I am sure this song will annoy many, but for now my inner cheese lover has taken over and this song is in heavy rotation in my house. This video compliments the corny aspects of the song in a fun way. Watch it below and let the debate begin.

ROBIN THICKE - “LOST WITHOUT YOU”

OF MONTREAL - “GRONLANDIC EDIT”

AMY WINEHOUSE - “ME & MR. JONES”

THE ARCADE FIRE - “NO CARS GO”

HELLOGOODBYE - “HERE IN YOUR ARMS”

!!! - “HEART OF HEARTS”

MIKA - “RELAX, TAKE IT EASY”

I’m usually not a sucker for sweet feel good comedies with a gimmick. But this movie looks pretty decent. And who doesn’t love John Cusack? He has put out some great dark comedies and romantic flicks lately. Some not so good. This trailer actually looks like it may make some money in the s demographic area. I like the premise and it doesn’t come off too sappy. Most of all the little kid actor doesn’t annoy me, and that is big.

I like Pink…yeah, I said it. She hasn’t been selling c.d.’s like she used to here in the states but she continues her pop reign over Europe. The original version of this song heard in the video is great pop song. I have always a huge fan of Pink’s gay dance re-mixes and the one that is playing on my local gay dance radio station kicks ass!

Listen to the dance version by Bimbo Jones below!