Music In the Modern Day

     In a day of Mileys, Keshas, Justin Biebers and Jonas Brothers', how is it not easy to bash the current state of music and the music industry?  Over the years, a number of musicians have been critical of the state of the musical industry and I for one agree.  David Gilmour does too as he recently stated, "I keep waiting for someone who is as good as the old favourites I love, like Neil Young and Leonard Cohen, but I wait in vain - I can only live in hope" (Wenn.com).  I couldn't agree anymore with Sir Gilmour.  What is happening to the music industry?  Why does music suck so much nowadays?  Granted, times have chagned, but that does not explain it.  Personally, if I could live in any decade of history, I would probably want to live in the 1960s and 1970s as music reached a level of awe-inspiring greatness that has yet to be repeated (don't even get me started on the 1980s, because that's where it all went downhill).  
     Another concern is what will happen to the already much maligned music industry? Who knows? With the proliferation of digital downloads and music sharing, it's really hard to say.  Sir Gilmour belives something bad is imminent and he could be right.  I myself have taken part in downloading and I think it's a great way of being exposed to new and different music.  After all, CD sales do not really mean much these days, since it goes to the music corporations and who really cares about them?  Artists make their money primarily from touring and that's really what I care about.  With so many artists being manufactored in the studio, the live act is beginning to fade away.  Interestingly enough, Sir Paul McCartney has a different take on all of this and believes music is just as good now if not better than it was in his hey day.  He is a fan of Kings of Leon apparently, so this guy is clearly hip and happening, not to mention has superb taste.  Alas, it's interesting comparing these two iconic musicians' viewpoints on the state of music.  In the end, I am afraid you lose Mr. McCartney and I love this guy, but Mr. Gilmour has you on this one.   Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to go download the new Katy Perry single (SIKE)!!!

Sir Paul McCartney & Sir David Gilmour

Check out the articles: 

http://epicstudios.org/paul-mccartney-is-hip-to-modern-music/

http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/music/2010/11/03/15931511-wenn-story.html

Music and How It Makes Us Sleep

     So recently, an interesting article came to my attention: a poll of 'music most likely to help you fall asleep.'  After looking at it, I was intrigued and puzzled.  The list reads as follows (starting from #1): Coldplay, Michael Buble, Snow Patrol, Alicia Keys, Jack Johnson, Taylor Swift, Mozart, Barry White, Leona Lewis and Radiohead.  This was a poll conducted by Travelodge that surveyed 6,000 British adults.  It was a fascinating poll I thought and it really made me think about music I listen to before going to bed.   Apparently, for English people, music is a much needed aid for falling asleep.  Looking at the list, it is not a surprise to see Coldplay at the top as I find there music relaxing and easy to fall asleep too.  However, this list raises some questions as to whether this is meant to be seen in a good or bad context.  Some people may find it insulting to a band when you say that their music is great to fall asleep too, but I don't think that this survey was conducted in that context.  This was done more for people who simply use music as a stress buster and need it to help fall asleep.  It is more of an aid than an ailment.                    

     Personally, I find it helpful and have, on many occasions, fallen asleep listening to music.   The list I found, was startling too, as it was a number of eclectic musicians and I happen to like only 3 of them (more or less).  I love Radiohead (and have fallen asleep to their music) but that should not be taken as an insult to the band, as their music is simply very soothing and relaxing.  I am not going to bash the other artists on this list because there's no real point in doing that, but I could see myself falling asleep to most of them or should I say I would rather be sleeping than be listening to them.  Alas, here are some links about the poll.  Enjoy!

http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/53565

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/28/coldplay-music-to-fall-asleep/

Image Credit: Tom Sheehan; Kwaku Alston; Martin Philbey/Redferns/Getty Images

What's So Good About 3-D Anyway?

   So, as you can probably guess, I am not a big fan of 3-D.  This so-called phenomenon is anything but, it's more of a marketing ploy and an irritance to flimgoers like you and I.  Sure, there are instances when it can be fantastic, such as Avatar (or as I call it Avaturd, I was not a fan, but it was visually stunning, no doubt).  Granted, that was a film that was envisioned in 3-D unlike the multiple features that have come out recently that never were.  A few names that come to mind: The Last Airbender, Alice In Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Toy Story 3, the list is endless.  The quality of all these films ranges from god-awful to masterful, but the 3-D aspect is just about dreadful.  I don't mind the glasses, even though they can be annoying after a good hour and well, most of these movies do not even take advantage or have any idea of what the term "3-D'" even means.  Avatar was a film that was in James Cameron's mind for a long time, it took about 12 years for his vision to make it onto the big screen.  He even had to wait until technology was advanced enough for him to begin shooting, so regardless of whether I liked Avatar or not, it was a visual feast and a sight to behold.  The average of 3-D motion pictures a year has no doubt increased from say five years ago.  Now, filmmakers are simply taking advantage of this tactic to gain more box office receipts.  If a movie was not meant to be in 3-D and is then being converted to 3-D weeks before its release, that is not a good sign.  The Last Airbender has some of, if not the worst post-production 3D conversion I have ever witnessed.  Also, the additional $3.00 fee for a pair of glass is hugely dissatisfying.  I mean, who wants to pay that in addition to the already overpriced $10 movie ticket.  There is no sign that the powers of 3-D will cease any time soon and perhaps we have to thank or blame rather Mr. James Cameron for this phenomenon.  Alas, just know, when you go to see a "3-D blockbuster," don't be surprised if the "3-D" doesn't hold up.

http://randomtoreason.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/cheesy-3d.jpg

The Ultra Shop Shock - A Day at A&F

     It should be no surprise that Abercrombie & Fitch craves attention.  It's a store that isn't afraid to piss people off and boy does it do it oh so well.  The store has been involved in a number of high-profile controversies, most notably in 2004 with the González v. Abercrombie & Fitch debacle.  The case was about A&F denying minorities employment at their retail stores and only offering desirable positions to white American employees.  However, the case was resolved and A&F agreed to pay $45 million to unaccepted applicants and affected employees.   So, this proved to be a pivotal change as it advanced the store's infamous ad campaigns which started to include more diversity.  Well now they are at it again.

       When one enters an Abercrombie & Fitch, there are a few things you probably notice.  The toxic aura, the noise, the plaid-drenched employees, among many other things.  It would be hard to mistake the store for a club with excessive amounts of Fierce sprayed everywhere, however, one then realizes that it is a retail store.  You may also notice the giant, billboard like pictures of so-called models.  For the most part, these images are basically soft core pornography of a some sort and at the very least you would hope it would provide some level of arousal.  However, that is unfortunately not the case as it is anything but.
      I will admit that I own some apparel from this store and for the most part, the clothes are pretty decent.  Granted, they sure as hell are not worth the price they sell them for, but every now and then you find a good bargain.  So one day I decided to venture into a A&F for shits and giggles and came upon their new so called ad campaign and boy is it nothing short of "clever" and "shocking."  It's complete utter shite and that's no exaggeration.  Essentially, it's a four frame split screen of models exiting an audition room.  The catch is that their naked, but have items carefully placed covering their privates.  Oooooooh, so daring and erotic you say, but it really is anything but.  Now, you're probably wondering why I am badmouthing a store that is already pretty hated and has been using this dull, supposed-to-be-shocking ad campaign, well, to be honest, I couldn't help myself.   It's as if they do it intentionally for the reason to be insulted; it's just begging to be lambasted.   Alas, this store needs to rethink their advertising and not to mention lower the damn volume when you enter it so I can hear a human voice.  Also, air fresher wouldn't hurt once in a while.   Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go shopping at Hollister.

Gorillaz - Alive at Last

                                   A performance of "Dirty Harry" 10/6/2010

          When Gorillaz first appeared on the music scene back in 2001, no one really knew what to make of it.  What exactly was it?  Was it a band?  Who were the members?  Are they real? Luckily, they are, well...sort of.   The men behind this extraordinary project, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett created something incredibly new, inventive and simply awe-inspiring.  Of course, when people found out this was not really a band made up of people, but was a virtual band, they wondered, how the hell are these guys gonna put on a show?  Well, luckily they found a way, and while it may not be the way everyone hopes for, it's still a helluva show and well worth your time, whether you are a Gorillaz fan or just a fan of good, live music.
          Gorillaz began as a concept more than a band, and somehow this concept caught on and took over the world.  The idea of manufactoring a band and doing it properly was partly the inspiration as well as Albarn's and Hewlett's dissatisfaction with what was happening in the music scene at the time.  As Albarn put it, "Being in a band can make you feel like a cartoon." Cartoon or not, I would love to be a part of this band.  Initially, they played some shows using advanced hologram technology and had planned a world tour using it in 2006, but it turned out it was too damn expensive and difficult to stage, so they decided to go out with a live band this time around.  While this may sound disappointing to some, it's quite the opposite actually.  These guys know how to put on a show and a lot of that is because of lead singer Damon Albarn, whose energy and showmanship captures you from the very first note he sings.  Originally, the frontman of the english alt-rock band Blur, Albarn has been around for sometime and his ability to win over an audience shows immensely.  Gorillaz has arguably become bigger than Blur and deservedly so.
          I, along with my equally enthusiastic girlfriend, were very lucky to catch these guys at Agganis Arena in Boston, MA during their October 6th performance and boy was it worth it!   I was not sure of what to expect, but I had heard plenty of good things, so I was definitely excited about the show!  Indeed, 2-D, Noodle, Murdoc Niccals & Russel Hobbs took the stage and for the next two hours had me and her spellbound!  These guys have amazing material from all of their stellar albums and they churned out a setlist that should satisfy just about any fan.  With the release of their latest album, Plastic Beach, the set leaned heavily on songs from that record, but classics were aplenty throughout the night.  From the opening "Orchestral Intro" to the fierce chorus of "Rhinestone Eyes," the band had just about everyone jumping and shouting, "It's electric!"  On stage with Albarn were a number of collaborators from the album, most notably De La Soul, Little Dragon and Bobby Womack.  The band consisted of half of the legendary Clash, lead guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simonon and they all put on quite a display of musical wizardry.  A few notable highlights for me included "Kids With Guns" with its absolutely killer bassline to its accompanying music video, in fact for a number of the performances, the music videos to each were presented on a huge screen behind the band.   Other noteworthy moments included the wonderful sing along catchiness of "Dirty Harry" to the infectiously zany and dancey "DARE" to the thundering "Clint Eastwood."  It was also a pleasant surprised to hear the wonderful symphonic and enchanting "Demon Days" end the show (as this was a track I didn't think they would ever play).  Overall, I cannot deny the awesomeness of this show and I highly recommend anyone to go out and catch them while they are on their tour in America this month.

P.S. - The opening act was N.E.R.D., and they were adequate at best.  They certainly had their moments, but you could tell they weren't feeling as much love as Gorillaz.  A fine opener, but it's not must see stuff (especially since they played a lot of their new stuff, come on Pharell, play the damn hits!)

                 Check out this live performance of "Feel Good, Inc" by Gorillaz
                Taken during 10/6/2010 Agganis Arena, Boston, MA performance
                                               Courtesy of Bijal Patel

The Social Network - It's Worth Sharing

                        

      It’s usually at this time when the good movies start to make it to the cinema.  The Social Network, is certainly one of the most anticipated films of the year and I am pleased to say it lives up the hype.  David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin have crafted an absorbing and fascinating film about arguably the most popular social networking site out there: facebook.  The film deals with unique subject matter that just about anyone can enjoy (even those who do not have a facebook account).  

          The film is primarily told in flashbacks as we meet our protagonist Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) at Harvard University conversing with his girlfriend, Erica (Rooney Mara).  She learns his obsession with acheiving status at Harvard and the conversation escalates into a rather unfortunate outcome: she dumps him.  He does not take it too well and proceeds to his room along his roommates, including his best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and they create a social website called “facemash,” which essentially rates the beauty of Harvard girls.  The site become a local phenomenon which makes the Harvard servers crash.  From there on, things become interesting as some other students hear of this incident and want to work with Zuckerberg.  Three students, twins Tyler and Winklevoss (Josh Pence and Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Max Minghella) approach him to design a dating website which he agrees to take part in.  However, things change and Mark uses the template of their idea to create something else.  His idea, then called “the facebook,” is essentially a social website that transforms the college experience onto the internet.  It becomes a huge phenomenon as it makes its way across other campuses. and soon catches the attention of Napster creator Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake). The situation becomes problematic as Parker creates tensions between Zuckerberg and Saverin.  The flashbacks are interwined with two court trials that involve all three parties: Zuckerberg, Saverin and the twins.  All of this makes for a stunning film that explores a number of issues.

                                   
          The movie touches on a lot of subjects: success, failture, rivalry, friendship, relationships, social media, trust, fame, theft, you name it and it does it so very well.   Fincher enlists some fine young talent to provide honest and hard-edged performances along with using a razor sharp script by veteran Aaron Sorkin.  Fincher is adept in a number of genres and his versatility shows no sign of stopping here.  He creates an effective and intimate film that reels you in with every passing scene. Sorkins’s script is well-written and filled with sharp dialogue and clever bits of humor sprinkled throughout.  Credit must be given to the actors as well, because they embody their characters and make us believe who they are playing.  Eisenberg has a difficult job because he has to show us the many sides of Zuckerberg’s complex personality.  On the one hand, we have the power hungry egoist, but on the other is a human and heartfelt individual.  One character describes him perfectly: “You’re not an asshole, you are just trying very hard to be an asshole.”  Timberlake, who has shown us that he can act a la Alpha Dog and Black Snake Moan has a lot of fun with his role as Sean Archer, the master mind behind Napster.  He is a man who knows how to win people over and his character escalates the tension between Zuckerberg and Saverin’s friendship.  Garfield seems comfortable in his role as the alienated Saverin, his character certainly undergoes the most turmoil as he is practically abandoned by his so called best friend.  (It should be noted that the film, which is based on the book The Accidental Millionaires by Ben Mezrich uses Saverin as its main source, hence why the film seems to fall in his favor).  With that said, Sorkin, Fincher and Eisenberg do not attempt to simply trash Zuckerberg, they develop a fully realized character filled with likable and dislikable traits.  

      The Social Network marks the first big oscar contender of the 2010 season and this film has the potential to win a number of awards.  This is a film that I simply must recommend to everyone.  It is why we go to the movies, to be enteratined and this film did its job ten times over.  Will Mr. Fincher finally get his due?  Who knows?  That’s not for me to decide, but he is certainly worthy of a nomination as are Eisenberg, Sorkin and Timberlake.  In addition, Trent Reznor’s and Atticus Ross’s electronic fuzed soundtrack suits the emotional intensity of the film and is worthy of oscar consideration.  Please go see this film, it is one that speaks so truthfully about our generation and has given me hope that there can still be gems every so often playing at the cinema.  This network awaits your visit.