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I_Fought_Piranhas
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Name: Jonathan
Country: United States
State: Georgia
Metro: Kennesaw
Birthday: 6/23/1984
Gender: Male
Interests: good film, good literature, and good music.
(I'm in an antiquated phase right now...I can't get enough Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelley, or Audrey Hepburn...Black and White soothes my soul.)
Expertise: I have learned enough to realize how much farther I have to go...I think I can say I am an expert on the White Stripes though.
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
AIM:  VashTStampede45
Member Since:
2/7/2005
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| No More XangaI'm sorry Xanga, I have moved on. It's not you, it's me. I have grown
comfortable, and need to shake things up. I am leaving you for another
blog. I know it seems harsh, but I think you will be better off in the
long run. I need an artistic overhaul, and leaving you is just the way
to do it.
Not that you would want to, but if you are interested in my new life, here's the link...http://scodlg.blogspot.com/
p.s. I am also leaving you for Sylvia Plath. mmmmmmm. Sylvia Plath.
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| Icky Thump (one of two album titles with the word "thump" in them that I can think of, guess which o
no, it is not tubthumping by that musical footnote to a footnote, Chumbawumba (ok, so thumping isn't exactly the same as thump, but its close enough, I'm an English teacher, leave me alone.)(can you tell I've been waiting eagerly to toss that into conversation?). Anyway, "Icky Thump," the sixth album by the glorious Post-Detroit, Neo-Nashville duo known to their adoring fans simply as The White Stripes, is, as I previously said about the first single off the new album by the same name, quite possibly better than sex. A little extreme, maybe, but the album is still pretty remarkable. Following up the well reviewed, but tenatively received "Get Behind Me Satan," "Thump" is proof that not only can Jack White do no wrong, you onder why so many other bands don't follow his lead. White makes the albums and songs he wants to make. Pop sensibilities, pressure by suits, even pressure to continue his legacy as an innovative musician, just seem to slide off of this guy. In the ninth track, "Rag and Bone" Meg and Jack half sing, half talk about finding terrific odds and ends at a rummage sale. While the song might cause many to pause and think "what is this guy doing?" The spirit of the song could personify the very reason Jack's stuff works. This album, infused with Jack's signature Son House/Jimmy Page guitar riffs and his bluesy scream, also features bagpipes and spanish horns, yes, spanish horns. "Conquest," while not written by White, has all the flair of a Robert Rodriguez film soundtrack, with all the theatrics and cohones to match. The combined "Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn" and "St. Andrew (This Battle is in the Air)" could find its way playing at your favourite Irish Pub, while "Little Cream Soda" is (as a friend of mine so eloquently put it) "Sounds like early Metallica...but its good!"
Jack's spirit of forced constraints have been thrown out the window on this album. Boasting the longest recording time (still only a mind blowing three weeks) of any of their albums, as well as the most diverse song list, this album is an oddity. You can go from hard rocking, industrial psychadelia, to darkly themed pop melodies, to songs you classify under "What was that?" An album this seemingly chaotic could spell disaster for somebody less talented than White, but when you create music without the pressure to create your own meaning through your creation (a paraphrase from an NPR interview Jack gave in which he showed his Catholic upbringing by saying anything he ever created musically would pale in comparison to the creation of the world, so there was no pressure to out-do something that can't be outdone). When you aren't concerned with your musical legacy, or creaing your own Led Zeppelin IV or White Album, you have the creative freedom to do whatever you want. When the music you want to create is brilliant, and flows freely out of you like drool from this fan-boys mouth over this album, its simply a good thing. I don't want to put a disclaimer like "This album isn't for everyone," because, honestly, if you don't like this album you are missing so much joy. For those that follow Jack's career, this album is no surprise, but if you are just a casual listener, absorb this album. Just one disclaimer: Do NOT listen to "Conquest" while driving, a speeding ticket will probably ensue.
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| YeahYeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah Yeahs! they are so Hott (if I may use two t's for emphasis). This New York Trio is raucous, crude, and oh so destructively delightful. Imagine the earlier punk/garage feel of early White Stripes on high levels of crack. Karen O has completely changed my attitude toward female rock vocalists. She can do it with the best of the guys (she dated Jack White for a while, and you can hear his influence on her voice some...which is pretty weird). Totally worth the 7-8 bucks for the CD. "Rich" changed my life (not really, but it is still pretty freakin unbelievable regardless).
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| MY SIP!I am sick, sleep deprived, and more than just a little paranoid, but it is finally done! I still have some work to do on my rationale, but the story itself is done. Insert portion of Handel's masterwork here.
I will probably upload the story in segments so you can read it if you want to.
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| because I am tired of endless work...five of my top movie moments...hopefully more to come
1. The death of Colnel Kurtz in Apocolypse Now:
One of those rare moments in cinema where you are watching something that has become more than a film. You cannot explain it, and to do so would take away its magic, but you are watching something inspired: and this sequence is that ex periance in spades.
2. Mr. Orange and Mr. White in Reservoir Dogs:
one of the most iconic film expression's of a mexican standoff, but also one of the most iconic film expressions of loyalty, betrayal, trust, and gut-busting friendship all in 5 minutes.
3. The Frogs in Magnolia
If you have seen the movie, you know why. If you haven't; see it.
4. "Look upon me! I'll show you the life of the mind!" in Barton Fink
The movie, which has spent the previous hour and change building and building the tension until ine of the most explosive moments in my moviewatching career.
5. The Dance Number in Bande A Part
As a harbinger of the French New Wave, Jean-Luc Goddard was a masterful director. This scene, which really breaks any sort of typical narrative structure is as groundbreaking as it is cool
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