Ageless Silver (Concert Review)

Bob Mould @ the Bluebird B+
Tonight

Bob Mould rocks! Hüsker Dü, Sugar, solo stuff- he played it all... he played it loud.  Good rock show! 

About A Boy (Book Review)

Slam - Nick Hornby B+

Slam, Hornby's first YA novel probably doesn't break any new ground; but, like great pop star he always writes an irresistible hook.

Nick Hornby talks about Slam.  Video courtesy of you-tube.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRHBxf7YkTE

On the Road - Movie Review

On the Road (R) 124 minutes C+
The Writing Life

Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Kristen Dunst,  and Viggo Mortensen

Kerouac's On the Road has finally made it to the big screen and it's a hot mess.  Clocking in at over two hours long this film is both annoying and alluring.  Surprisingly, Kristen Stewart is one of the best things about this train wreck which sort of  wins me over at the end.     

Bowie, D-Mode & Bob Mould (Music Reviews)





First Impression Music Reviews

 

The Next Day - David Bowie B+
Delta Machine - Depeche Mode C+
Silver Age - Bob Mould B+

The Next Day has been touted as the best Bowie album in a long time.  Several critics have even suggested that it's his best album in 33 years. I almost take offense to that because it dismisses my favorite Bowie album, 1995's Outside.  Frankly, I was only mildly interested in Bowie prior to 1995. Outside was a trippy concept album that resonated with me and motivated me to explore Bowie's back catalog more explicitly.

The Next Day, Bowie's 24th studio album, is a grower. Some songs took awhile to connect, while others ("Heat," "You Feel So Lonely You Could Die," and "Where Are We Now") stood-out right away. Additionally, this album is intriguing because of the mysterious nature of its birth and the speculation that the "Thin White Duke" is at the end of his rope. Many thought that Bowie had all but retired, others feared he was near death. But suddenly, out of the blue, a single and video for the song, "Where Are They Now." A couple months later the album dropped.

This album has a fresh, yet vintage feel. Bowie sounds like a man with a lot to say, and he should. It has been 10 years since his last release. The Next Day is nothing like Outside, but what I love about the album is the introspection and the serious emotional impact the slower tracks deliver each and every time I hear them. Eventually, the more rockin and poppy tracks clicked as well. This one is recommended for all Bowie fans, regardless of which decade you loved him most.
Favorite tracks - Heat, Love is Lost, You Feel So Lonely You Could Die, Where Are We Now, and The Stars (Are Out Tonight).

Prior to the release of Delta Machine, Martin Gore said something about the album sounding/feeling like vintage Depeche Mode... well, he wasn't kidding. This album sounds like Depeche Mode's Greatest Hits - The B-Sides. I've listened to this album about 4 times. I like it a little better each time, but initially only two songs jumped out at me - "Welcome to My World" and "Soothe my Soul," with the latter sounding more like a guilty pleasure than a great track. But, that being said, D-Mode is one of my favorite acts of all-time.  They've been my father, my son, my holy ghost and priest :-).  So, maybe Delta Machine will eventually soothe my soul after repeated listens.  

Favorite tracks - Welcome to My World, Alone, Soothe my Soul

Bob Mould's Silver Age is 38 minutes of pure power pop that's makes me thrash and dash around my living room with pleasure.  

Favorite tracks - Star Machine, Silver Age, The Descent, and Briefest Moment

  

A Zipless Life (A Book Review)

Fear of Flying - Erica Jong  B-

It has been 40 years since the initial release of Fear of Flying, and unfortunately I don't think it stands the test of time like another novel I recently finished, Sylvia Plath's - The Bell Jar.  That being said, I can understand why this novel was so controversial in 1973.  I can also understand how it brought female sexuality and femininity to the forefront of social consciousness.  However, protagonist Isadora Wing doesn't seem as vital in 2013.

Side Effects - Movie Review

Side Effects (R) 106 minutes B
Pill Thrill

Starring: Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum

This film is a  psychodramatic thriller that will keep you guessimg.  The less you know about this one, the better. Director Steven Soderbergh rarely disappoints.   
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Rental Review
Arbitrage (R) 107 minutes C+
Power, Corruption & Lies

Home Release Date: December 2012
Starring: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling and Tim Roth

This film would have been better had I not expected so much.  Arbitrage is intriguing, but it also feels a little too familiar.  Unfortunately, it's not as good as the trailer would suggest or Roger Ebert's glowing review. 

Sylvia (Book Reviews)

Published in 1971 

Published in 1963

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath A-
A poetic narrative about a talented young woman slowly slipping into the abyss. Largely based on real people and real events from Plath's life, The Bell Jar still holds up 50 years later.    

Winter Trees - Sylvia Plath B
As leftovers from the Ariel poems, this collection was composed during the last year of Plath's life (with the exception of "Three Women").  Winter Trees struck me as fire and ice wrapped in melancholy.  

*My Gray Morning's Best of 2012*

Best Films

10. Moonrise Kingdom
Cutesy, but completely original

9. The Sessions
Iron lung is no joke...  & Helen Hunt - yowzah!

8. Argo
It's good even though you know how it ends. 

7. Young & Wild
A 2012 Sundance film- the title says it all.

6. Supporting Characters
This one stars my boy, Alex Karpovsky (I once sat next to him at a film screening). 

5. Safety Not Guaranteed
The dark horse film of the 2012. 

4. The Queen of Versailles
I was simultaneously entertained and dumbfounded

3. Your Sister's Sister
 2012 was a great year for Mark Duplass fans. 

2. Liberal Arts
Because I feel younger than I am.  

1. Flight
Denzel... nuff said. 

-----------------
Best Albums (w/ my favorite track)

10. Voyageur - Kathleen Edwards
Empty Threat

9.  Most Of My Heroes Still Don't Appear On No Stamp - Public Enemy
 Hoovermusic 

8. How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? - Sinead O'Connor
Reason with Me

7.  Born & Raised - John Mayer
Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967

6. Young & Old - Tennis
Petition

5. Lonerism - Tame Impala
Be Above It

4. Clear Heart Full Eyes - Craig Finn
 Western Pier

3. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City - Kendrick Lamar
Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe  

2. Channel Orange - Frank Ocean
Thinkin About You

1. The Idler Wheel... - Fiona Apple
Anything We Want

Zero Dark Thirty - Movie Review

Zero Dark Thirty (R) 157 minutes C
The Interrogation Locker 

Starring: Chris Pratt, Édgar Ramírez, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong

Steve Coll wrote an interesting article in the February 7, 2013 issue of the The New York Review of Books.  Essentially, the article quoted several high ranking government officials stating their disdain for the exaggerated and potentially dangerous reenactment of interrogations techniques, counterterrorism and historical facts in the film Zero Dark Thirty.  When I saw the film I didn't know how much was exaggerated for Hollywood purposes.  But, I tend to agree that it doesn't necessarily send out a positive message when its entire premise is based on "this is how it went down." I'll be the first to say that fiction is fiction.  However, after the closing credits rolled I felt like I'd be okay if I never saw another  Kathryn Bigelow film.    

My Gray Morning's Sundance 2013 Wrap-up

Another great year at Sundance!

*Cutie and the Boxer B+

It Felt Like Love A-

*Crash Reel A-

Pit Stop B

*The Way Way Back A  

Escape From Tomorrow D-

Milkshake B

* Most likely to succeed in 2013.