Wassup y'all. Checkin' in here at the end of the day but it's all good 'cause the calendar still says "Tuesday" right? I was hummin' and hawin' over today's topic and was debating on running with "new albums" or "latest and greatest reads", but then i thought, "Why narrow it down?" So what we are going with this week are your Top 5 Latest BAM Finds - Books, Albums and Movies are all game for the listing. Whether it's new or old, as long as it's new to you it's ok with me. We could be talking something mainstream you are digging on, or something underground that's rockin' your world right now. Whatever it is, just share the love.
Top 5 Latest BAM Finds
- Prague by Arthur Phillips. This is a crazy read for me, since the story takes place in Budapest (don't let the title fool ya), of which both the author and i are familiar. It's fiction, but refers to many streets and landmarks that exist, along with many ex-pat pasttimes that occur in Budapest, and i'm sure in many more European scenes. It's great to relate.
- Power in Numbers - Jurassic 5. I love their first album, Quality Control, (a must-play in large party situations) and bought this one based solely on that merit. I was not disappointed. I don't usually buy that much hip hop, but this stuff is jammin!
- Made. Written and directed by Jon Favreau and starring Jon and Vince Vaughn, the two Swingers stars are back at it in a mobbish comedy that i wasn't even aware of until a couple of weeks ago. Very funny, with as many quotable lines as Swingers had ("Did you just let Screech into the fuckin' bar?!"), this movie, and especially Vince, kills!
- Jason Mraz. I believe the Sweet One dropped this guy on us a little while back, but i have been recently extensively enjoying the sweet acoustic stylings of Mr. Mraz, even though i can't find one of his cds in town here to save my life! I don't wanna have to download, but for now it will have to do. One quote i read described him as "Jack Johnson on Prozac." Fitting.
- 24 Hour Party People. This film was cool. It's about the Manchester music scene from the mid 70s through the 80s and follows Tony Wilson as the central character involved in the early careers of of Joy Division, Happy Mondays and New Order, among others, as they lead into the beginnings of the rave scene. I will definitely be listening to more of this music in the near future as i wasn't really into it at the time - especially the Mondays - they sound like fun times.
Well, I don't think I have 5 right now, but
Music.....Steelheart "tangled in reins"...a fantastic hair metal album which I can't believe I haven't been turned on to before
Book......Lord if the Rings, Fellowship...I know it's a classic and everyone in the world has read it, but I haven't until now, so screw you this is my list and I'm diggin' it
Movie....Boondock Saints...I never fully accepted the genius of Willem Dafoe until I saw this excellent movie the other day.
wow. no one has ever accused me of having "class" before. :P
and yes, the Bible is an excellent read. as a lit major, i took a year long class on the bible as stritcly a work of literature and source of history - quite enlightening. it's amazing how many people will knock christianity and the Bible who have never actually READ it.
Posted by: leblanc on February 6, 2003 02:26 PMThis Leblanc Cat has class!!
"We" - Evgany Zamyatin - First Class!!
"1984" - Close second - less encouraging thats for sure.
For the ladies - "Left Hand of Darkness" - Ursula K. Leguin
I just finished the New Testament - If you haven't read it, really read it then you're missing out. The first four books are just a good story, I don't care what anyone says.
Have been talking to a pal at work (Muslim Cat) and in light of the current world situation I think I wanna check into the Qur'an - again outta curiosity.
Matty
Paula et all:
It's Stochansky. And yes it is very good. Mi amigo Ian, Produced and co-wrote it. Highly recomended.
Al
Posted by: Sweet Al on February 6, 2003 12:38 AMhands down, the best "new" album i picked up in the last year is "Perfect from Now On" -- Built to Spill. go get it.
best book? "We" - Yevgeny Zamyatin. totally excellent dystopian literature. read it.
best movie? Rivers and Tides. go see it.
1. Hot Hot Heat - This is a great band from Victoria. I love their entire album. They have an 80's ska/punk thing going on. Saw them live and they were amazing.
2. Andy Stachanski (sp?)- My sister introduced me to this artist. He is Ani Defranco's former drummer and is amazing as a solo artist. Plays a variety of instruments, and is also amazing live.
3. Xavier Rudd - Another great artist that I discovered while in Whistler. He is from Australia and is amazing. He is also a solo act. So powerful!!
4. Confesions of a Shopaholic and The Shopaholic takes on New York - Two books that I've really dug. I'm just finishing the second one right now. It's amazing how frivolously someone can spend soooo much money.
5.Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood (book and movie) - I read the book over a year ago and bought the movie before it came out. I hadn't even seen it yet. The book was great and the movie was very true to the book. There were some things left out of the movie, but nothing that truly interferred with the plot.
Posted by: Paula on February 5, 2003 03:46 PM1. Donnie Darko - this movie has been around for awhile but I saw it for the first time the other night. Very fucked up and trippy, but good.
2. A Widow for One Year by John Irving. Not your typical Irving style (it's more normal), but I really enjoyed it. He is still a strange, strange man.
3. Fences & Windows by Naomi Klein. This is a collection of articles she has written concerning the globalization debate. They are all very interesting, they open your eyes to what is really going on out there.
4. Bowling for Columbine - if you haven't seen this yet DO IT NOW. It's a great documentary about gun control in the U.S.
5. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. You could also call this Taoism for Dummies. It's a great book that explains Taoism through winnie the pooh - he is the epitome.
Posted by: Mandy on February 5, 2003 10:17 AMHmmm:
#5) Lullaby - Chuck Palahniuk. The man who brought us Fight Club's latest book. Excellent concept - What if a few select people could learn to kill anyone, anywhere on the planet just by thinking about it?
#4) Archive - You all look the same to me. This record came from my English Roommate Chris and won't leave my stereo for more than two days at a time. Kinda like a Trip-Hop Radiohead.
#3) Howard Zinn. I finally got around to Zinn after Chomsky and Michael Moore. Politically subversive and interesting as hell plus if you listen to the audiobook of The People's History of the United States you get to listen to Will Hunting himself (Matt Damon) read it for you.
#2) Bob Schneider. Mr. Sandra Bullock OR Mr. Austin Texas. The Sweet One still be digging on Alt-Country. Look for "Losing You", excellent song.
#1)Solaris - The George Clooney/Steven Soderb... remake of the Russian original. Very heavy philosphical debates. More people should see this.
Honourable mentions: Fubar the Movie, Trailer Park Boys (TV Show) Curb Your Enthusiasm (Does HBO even make bad tv?) Porno by Irvine Welsh, Jason Mraz and on and on and on...
Posted by: Sweet Al on February 5, 2003 12:59 AMAnd now, after a lot of thought, my list is posted.
Posted by: maddy on February 4, 2003 10:43 PMThat's really spooky, I picked up Prague at the library the other day after reading a review online. I haven't gotten into it yet, but it looks good. :)
Posted by: maddy on February 4, 2003 09:34 PM