After several failed attempts at making it the whole way through the past two days, I finally listened to Hazards of Love in its entirety today. You know how you feel when you read a really good book for the first time? There's a sense of accomplishment and finality coupled with the slight feeling of sadness that you'll never be able to experience that story for the first time ever again. That's how I felt after listening to Hazards of Love. Hazards will probably be remembered as the least accessible album in the Decemberists catalog (at least until they start doing noise rock covers of Motley Crue songs), but it is without a doubt their greatest sonical achievement to date. I'll admit, I have a tendency to fall in love with every new Decemberists album after I hear it once, then, after a month or two realize that Picaresque is still their best album, but there is something special about Hazards of Love.
The narrative of the record (that's right, this album has a narrative thread) is probably the most melodramtic tale ever featured in a Decemberists album. It's fairly complicated and, frankly, I'm not entirely sure what happens, but I do know this, everybody dies (well, maybe not the Queen, but I could've missed something).
The music is incredibly moving. Since it is a rock opera, there are really only about 10 distinct musical themes that are repeated and reprised over the course of the 17 tracks on the album, but the way they work together is extraordinary. There are no stand out singles on this album. Really there are no songs that would work outside the context of the album (The Rake song is probably the most likely candidate, but it's a tough sell). This is an album that demands to be heard in its entirety. This is an album that demands your attention.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Steve and Mary's Wedding; or Pete Wissinger Almost Ruins Everything
Steve and Mary got married yesterday. The ceremony was small, intimate and very nice. The reception was tasteful and fun. All and all, it was almost a perfect wedding... except for one thing: Pete Wissinger. Whether or not it was a conscious decision, I will never know, but for some reason, Pete Wissinger seemed determined to ruin the magic of Steve and Mary's special day.
It all started with his suit, the coat of which, conspicuously did not match his vest. If that wasn't enough, Pete's coat continued to distract with the all buttons vs. one button fiasco, that raged up until the beginning of the ceremony. During the ceremony, Pete didn't cause too much of a problem, but not for want of trying. His constant standing next to Steve and beard having, was a desperate if not effective plea for attention, the audacity of which was matched only by his loud and vulgar slamming of the ring box during the presentation of the rings.
Having nearly ruined the magic of the wedding ceremony, one would think that Pete would be satisfied, but they would be thinking incorrectly. Pete's campaign to spoil what would otherwise be the happiest day of Steve and Mary's young life together was taken to the next level once the reception began. His "toast" was neither lengthy nor in verse form (unless you count blank, which I can safely say, I don't). Then, for the happy couple's first dance, Pete "couldn't get the sound system to work properly". Of course, Pete's selfish, petty behavior was topped off by his flagrant vest flaunting. Not only was his vest quite dapper, but it also had more buttons on it than Steve's entire ensemble for the evening, breaking the cardinal room of best man attire (that rule being: The best man should have fewer buttons on his person than the groom at all times {not just at the ceremony, but for the rest of their lives}). Of course, Steve took all of Pete's chicanery in stride, as he has for most of their lives together, and by the time I left the reception last night, the brothers were still on speaking terms.
In all seriousness though, it was a really great wedding. Also, in all seriousness, Pete Wissinger is kind of a dick.
It all started with his suit, the coat of which, conspicuously did not match his vest. If that wasn't enough, Pete's coat continued to distract with the all buttons vs. one button fiasco, that raged up until the beginning of the ceremony. During the ceremony, Pete didn't cause too much of a problem, but not for want of trying. His constant standing next to Steve and beard having, was a desperate if not effective plea for attention, the audacity of which was matched only by his loud and vulgar slamming of the ring box during the presentation of the rings.
Having nearly ruined the magic of the wedding ceremony, one would think that Pete would be satisfied, but they would be thinking incorrectly. Pete's campaign to spoil what would otherwise be the happiest day of Steve and Mary's young life together was taken to the next level once the reception began. His "toast" was neither lengthy nor in verse form (unless you count blank, which I can safely say, I don't). Then, for the happy couple's first dance, Pete "couldn't get the sound system to work properly". Of course, Pete's selfish, petty behavior was topped off by his flagrant vest flaunting. Not only was his vest quite dapper, but it also had more buttons on it than Steve's entire ensemble for the evening, breaking the cardinal room of best man attire (that rule being: The best man should have fewer buttons on his person than the groom at all times {not just at the ceremony, but for the rest of their lives}). Of course, Steve took all of Pete's chicanery in stride, as he has for most of their lives together, and by the time I left the reception last night, the brothers were still on speaking terms.
In all seriousness though, it was a really great wedding. Also, in all seriousness, Pete Wissinger is kind of a dick.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Spaced and other things
So I'm watching the second series of Spaced right now, and I've come to a some conclusions.
Conclusion one: It is no where nearly as good as the first series. This is mostly do to the fact that is slightly more derivative than the first series. It relies heavily on first season callbacks and movie parodies (really just in the first and third episodes).
Conclusion two: At the age of 27, Edgar Wright had more talent as a director than most other directors do after an entire career in "the biz".
Conclusion three: Nick Frost is an incredibly gifted actor. Not that the rest of the cast isn't, but Spaced is the first thing he acted in, and he's brilliant.
Conclusion four: Although it isn't as good as the first series, Episode 5, the "Gunfight" episode is one of the best half hours of television ever produced (probably in the top ten).
Enough about Spaced. What did I do this week? I can't really remember, but there was a lot of editing involved. I spent a lot of time in Grauel this week. Next week is Spring Break. Woot? I guess. More importantly, next week is both Pancake Day and St. Patrick's Day. Word.
STEVE WISSINGER IS GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW! This blows my mind. Well not really. I think Steve is going to be good at being married.
Conclusion one: It is no where nearly as good as the first series. This is mostly do to the fact that is slightly more derivative than the first series. It relies heavily on first season callbacks and movie parodies (really just in the first and third episodes).
Conclusion two: At the age of 27, Edgar Wright had more talent as a director than most other directors do after an entire career in "the biz".
Conclusion three: Nick Frost is an incredibly gifted actor. Not that the rest of the cast isn't, but Spaced is the first thing he acted in, and he's brilliant.
Conclusion four: Although it isn't as good as the first series, Episode 5, the "Gunfight" episode is one of the best half hours of television ever produced (probably in the top ten).
Enough about Spaced. What did I do this week? I can't really remember, but there was a lot of editing involved. I spent a lot of time in Grauel this week. Next week is Spring Break. Woot? I guess. More importantly, next week is both Pancake Day and St. Patrick's Day. Word.
STEVE WISSINGER IS GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW! This blows my mind. Well not really. I think Steve is going to be good at being married.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Pain
Over the past week or so, I have collected a set of injuries that, for some reason, are localized to the left side of my body. My left arm hurts when I move it. My left leg hurts when I'm not standing, and my lower back, on the left side, hurts pretty much all the time. This makes sleeping and sitting pretty uncomfortable, but while walking around, running, carrying things (basically doing things work-related) I feel just fine.
I was inspired to start listening to Beulah again recently. I'd pretty much only heard their album "The Coast is Never Clear", until this Beulah kick started. After listening to their other stuff though, I'm pretty sure "The Coast is Never Clear" is their best album.
Watchmen was kind of boring. I don't think it was the movie's fault. The book is kind of boring. And now I'm going to take some Ibuprofen, then go to class then edit for a few hours. Yay(ish).
I was inspired to start listening to Beulah again recently. I'd pretty much only heard their album "The Coast is Never Clear", until this Beulah kick started. After listening to their other stuff though, I'm pretty sure "The Coast is Never Clear" is their best album.
Watchmen was kind of boring. I don't think it was the movie's fault. The book is kind of boring. And now I'm going to take some Ibuprofen, then go to class then edit for a few hours. Yay(ish).
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