I'm whizzing through some comics from the last 2 weeks, and then showing you guys a bit of shed skating that went on this past weekend. I should be studying ;/
jej
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Augie March at the Regal Theatre, Perth
Another event not written about here due to being busy elsewhere, we went to see Augie March play at the Regal Theatre on Monday the 3rd of November. Seeing them at a sit down type of venue was interesting. It had the bonus of not being pushed infront of by knobheads for the entire set. The downside is that moving was quite difficult. I think Noelene and I were rocking our entire row with our bopping about in our seats. It's not that people weren't into it; they clapped and cheered their little heads off. It was just odd to see a band playing and nobody moving their body in any way whatsoever.
Dan Kelly and the Ukeladies supported. I've never seen Kelly before, but he's really great. He has a really good sense of humour in his songwriting, but he's not a novelty act. He kind of just sits in the middle there somewhere. Awesome stuff. At one point the Ukeladies did a mobile phone solo with the strange distortion that phones make when put near microphones. It was cool, and strangely not all that disharmonic.
Augie March are always fantastic. Dan Kelly played as their extra guitarist, and he fit in extremely well. He even did backing vocals on some songs. If I couldn't see him on stage I would never have known that he was there, which is a good thing. He fit in really well with the Augie March sound.
They played heaps off their new album, which was great. I've been listening to it a whole lot, and I've seen them play at least 5 times before now so I was keen to see them play the stuff I hadn't seen them play before. I also really like the humour that they have on stage. It was kind of wierd to see a band on a Monday night, and they acknowleged this repeatedly.
Anyways, it was an awesome gig. Can't wait to see them again.
jej
Dan Kelly and the Ukeladies supported. I've never seen Kelly before, but he's really great. He has a really good sense of humour in his songwriting, but he's not a novelty act. He kind of just sits in the middle there somewhere. Awesome stuff. At one point the Ukeladies did a mobile phone solo with the strange distortion that phones make when put near microphones. It was cool, and strangely not all that disharmonic.
Augie March are always fantastic. Dan Kelly played as their extra guitarist, and he fit in extremely well. He even did backing vocals on some songs. If I couldn't see him on stage I would never have known that he was there, which is a good thing. He fit in really well with the Augie March sound.
They played heaps off their new album, which was great. I've been listening to it a whole lot, and I've seen them play at least 5 times before now so I was keen to see them play the stuff I hadn't seen them play before. I also really like the humour that they have on stage. It was kind of wierd to see a band on a Monday night, and they acknowleged this repeatedly.
Anyways, it was an awesome gig. Can't wait to see them again.
jej
The Fourth 2nd Tuesday Book Club
Time passes quickly. I can't believe we've already had four of these things.
Anyways, way back in last week land, on Tuesday the 11th of November, we had our fourth book club meeting. This week saw the return of my friend John Brown to town, and to our gathering.
The book of the month was Neuromancer by William Gibson. I didn't finish reading it in time, due to university work and laziness, but Adrian and John did, so we got a pretty decent conversation out of it, if a brief one.
This month I also read Ursula LeGuin's The Left Hand of Darkness. I'm not a huge science fiction reader really, but I dug this one a lot. I read a lot of science fiction in my youth, but I had a few dodgy reading experiences and got turned off by the genre. I just got my sci fi fix from endless amounts of comic books. LeGuin can write well though, and she has some really interesting ideas and concepts, so I'll end up reading more of her work I'm sure. This novel takes place on the winter planet of Gethen. The inhabitants have no sex. They change to either male or female during a period called 'kemmer', but the rest of the time they are sexless. LeGuin said that she wanted to understand gender by taking it away and seeing what was left. There's a whole lot of Taoist ideologies in here, and I really dug it.
Other books spoken of were Tom Clancy's The Hunt For Red October, which Adrian said was extremely tech driven and the characters were secondary to the tech and the action. I will probably never read a Tom Clancy novel in my life.
Next month is in December, so we'll get a little Christmassy with some foodstuffs. We've got a selection of books to read for next month's meeting. Watchmen by Alan Moore should get some interesting discussions going. We're also searching for The Worm and the Ring by Anthony Burgess, but failing that we're going to read Musicophilia by Oliiver Sacks. I'm having a hard time finding that one also, but the search is not over.
Until next month, keep reading :D WOOT!
jej
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Moofies - Hunger, Funny Games, Burn After Reading
I haven't been watching many films lately, but in the last couple of weeks I've seen three of the best films I've seen all year.
Firstly, we went and saw Hunger yesterday:
This was so difficult to watch, but at the same time I loved the way it was put together. There is almost no dialogue for the first 40 minutes of the film. All the story is told with the incredibly striking visuals. Then there is a long conversation as the middle of the film, and in the third act we see (spoilerz) someone starve themselves to death. I gagged a few times watching this, cried a few times. This is very affecting stuff. It's about a period in the early 1980s which I know little about. Irish prisoners who believed their crimes were politically motivated refused to wear the clothes of a criminal. They had to strip naked and had nothing but a rug to warm themselves. They also went on a 'no wash' protest. They were treated incredibly inhumanely. It is mostly told from the prisoners point of view, but we do see how the treatment effects those giving it to a certain extent. The music that is played in the trailer (above) just grabbed me at the end. I was sitting there in the dark watching the credits roll, thinking about what I'd just seen, and this incessant piano music just got to me. I was a mess. I had to recompose myself before I went out into the sunlight again. Such a great film. If a film can do that to me without just being ridiculously over the top and patronising then I'm impressed.
Funny Games was another difficult watch that I enjoyed:
It's a shot for shot remake of a 1997 German film. Michael Haneke wrote and directed bothe the original and the remake. I'm not usually a fan of remakes, but having not seen the original I dug this a lot. The fact that it's practically shot for shot impresses me too. It does kind of seem like a film that Haneke wants more people to see, and this is his way of doing it. Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, and their young son drive out to a holiday cabin. Micheal Pitt and Brady Corbet show up and cause them much terror. It's a slow building terror, which is interesting. Just that uneasy and gradual build up of a change from normality into crazytown. Pitt occasionally breaks the fourth wall and stairs right at the viewer, promting them for a response. You somehow feel like the events that are taking place are partly your fault because you are watching them. The other interesting thing is that all of the violence bestowed on this nice family is off screen. Instead of seeing the violence we see reaction shots and close ups on faces of people not directly involved. It reminded me a lot of Irreversible. That kind of self-aware, extreme film that wants to change your mind about something and make you think about what film is and what it does to you as a viewer. The Naked City song used in the soundtrack is extremely off putting when married with the bold red opening credits. Awesome film.
Last of all, Burn After Reading:
How can you go wrong with a Coen Brothers film? I even enjoyed The Ladykillers to a certain extent, and that had Tom Hanks in it. Intolerable Cruelty wierded me out a little, but even in that crap the Coen Brothers still have something that other film makers don't. They just seem to get these great performances out of people and construct really awesome premises. This is funny stuff and it's a bunch of quirky characters being acted really well. That doesn't necessarilly mean 'good film', but this is sweet. I appreciated the way it ended.
So yeah, three must see moofies. I should get out more often. Who knows if I've missed any other awesome films that I would totally love ;/ I guess that's what Blockbuster is for.
jej
Firstly, we went and saw Hunger yesterday:
This was so difficult to watch, but at the same time I loved the way it was put together. There is almost no dialogue for the first 40 minutes of the film. All the story is told with the incredibly striking visuals. Then there is a long conversation as the middle of the film, and in the third act we see (spoilerz) someone starve themselves to death. I gagged a few times watching this, cried a few times. This is very affecting stuff. It's about a period in the early 1980s which I know little about. Irish prisoners who believed their crimes were politically motivated refused to wear the clothes of a criminal. They had to strip naked and had nothing but a rug to warm themselves. They also went on a 'no wash' protest. They were treated incredibly inhumanely. It is mostly told from the prisoners point of view, but we do see how the treatment effects those giving it to a certain extent. The music that is played in the trailer (above) just grabbed me at the end. I was sitting there in the dark watching the credits roll, thinking about what I'd just seen, and this incessant piano music just got to me. I was a mess. I had to recompose myself before I went out into the sunlight again. Such a great film. If a film can do that to me without just being ridiculously over the top and patronising then I'm impressed.
Funny Games was another difficult watch that I enjoyed:
It's a shot for shot remake of a 1997 German film. Michael Haneke wrote and directed bothe the original and the remake. I'm not usually a fan of remakes, but having not seen the original I dug this a lot. The fact that it's practically shot for shot impresses me too. It does kind of seem like a film that Haneke wants more people to see, and this is his way of doing it. Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, and their young son drive out to a holiday cabin. Micheal Pitt and Brady Corbet show up and cause them much terror. It's a slow building terror, which is interesting. Just that uneasy and gradual build up of a change from normality into crazytown. Pitt occasionally breaks the fourth wall and stairs right at the viewer, promting them for a response. You somehow feel like the events that are taking place are partly your fault because you are watching them. The other interesting thing is that all of the violence bestowed on this nice family is off screen. Instead of seeing the violence we see reaction shots and close ups on faces of people not directly involved. It reminded me a lot of Irreversible. That kind of self-aware, extreme film that wants to change your mind about something and make you think about what film is and what it does to you as a viewer. The Naked City song used in the soundtrack is extremely off putting when married with the bold red opening credits. Awesome film.
Last of all, Burn After Reading:
How can you go wrong with a Coen Brothers film? I even enjoyed The Ladykillers to a certain extent, and that had Tom Hanks in it. Intolerable Cruelty wierded me out a little, but even in that crap the Coen Brothers still have something that other film makers don't. They just seem to get these great performances out of people and construct really awesome premises. This is funny stuff and it's a bunch of quirky characters being acted really well. That doesn't necessarilly mean 'good film', but this is sweet. I appreciated the way it ended.
So yeah, three must see moofies. I should get out more often. Who knows if I've missed any other awesome films that I would totally love ;/ I guess that's what Blockbuster is for.
jej
AOTW - Squarepusher - Just A Souvenir
I'd never really listened to Squarepusher before now. I remember he always had crazy interesting videos like this one:
...but for some reaosn I never pursued checking out his albums. His latest is fantastic. It starts like a funky breakbeat smooth chill out thing with some awesome bass riffs and nice little snare rolls. Great driving music. The funky jazzy kind of feel continues until track 3 'Open Society' which is this sparse classical guitar thing that's been warped and played with. Then track 4 'A Real Woman' hit me. It's so great. I had to keep listening to it over and over again. It's like Kraftwerk and the Buzzcocks mixed together. So great:
... Then track 5 sounds a bit like Naked City or Fantomas, some heavy guitar riffage jazzyish thing, but with more break beats. The rest of the album kind of messes with these sounds set up in the opening part of the album and it's killer. I should have checked out Squarepusher a long time ago.
jej
...but for some reaosn I never pursued checking out his albums. His latest is fantastic. It starts like a funky breakbeat smooth chill out thing with some awesome bass riffs and nice little snare rolls. Great driving music. The funky jazzy kind of feel continues until track 3 'Open Society' which is this sparse classical guitar thing that's been warped and played with. Then track 4 'A Real Woman' hit me. It's so great. I had to keep listening to it over and over again. It's like Kraftwerk and the Buzzcocks mixed together. So great:
... Then track 5 sounds a bit like Naked City or Fantomas, some heavy guitar riffage jazzyish thing, but with more break beats. The rest of the album kind of messes with these sounds set up in the opening part of the album and it's killer. I should have checked out Squarepusher a long time ago.
jej
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Marvel Sucker Speed Pie Round
Speeding through a week's comics, with a little Obama pie on the side.
jej
jej
Sunday, November 09, 2008
What's Goin' On
My 2nd year of university being over is so close I can taste it. Classes are over, I have a week left of prac, and two exams, and then BAM! Summer is here!
Finishing assignments is such a good feeling. Once they're printed and handed in there is nothing more than I can do, which is great. Until they're done all I can think about is what I could do to improve my essays, but now it's out of my hands I can stop thinking about it. As much as I'm enjoying my prac, I will enjoy my holidays more. It's soooo close.
In other exciting news, Cate Blanchet is coming to Perth as part of a 6 hour performance of The War of the Roses; eight Shakespeare plays condensed into 2 mammoth performances, with a nice break in the middle. Get your tickets here. I've got ours.
There's also a bunch of other great stuff going on as part of the Perth International Arts Festival, and a lot of it is free. Get out there and see some of it. I will try and tear myself away from the television a little and check some of it out.
That's it.
jej
Finishing assignments is such a good feeling. Once they're printed and handed in there is nothing more than I can do, which is great. Until they're done all I can think about is what I could do to improve my essays, but now it's out of my hands I can stop thinking about it. As much as I'm enjoying my prac, I will enjoy my holidays more. It's soooo close.
In other exciting news, Cate Blanchet is coming to Perth as part of a 6 hour performance of The War of the Roses; eight Shakespeare plays condensed into 2 mammoth performances, with a nice break in the middle. Get your tickets here. I've got ours.
There's also a bunch of other great stuff going on as part of the Perth International Arts Festival, and a lot of it is free. Get out there and see some of it. I will try and tear myself away from the television a little and check some of it out.
That's it.
jej
AOTW - Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
I've actually been listening to this album for a couple of months, but I just realised that I hadn't blogged about it yet. This album is one of the best this year. It's their first album, and it's so ridiculously solid. I guess it kind of reminds me of Midlake's harmonies a little, but more choir/churchy. The lyrics kind of pop out of this different sound and it's really awesome. Every song is great. All killer, no filler ;p
Here's the song that you've possibly already heard:
jej
Here's the song that you've possibly already heard:
jej
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
U.S. Election Hologram Coverage
Nothing says NEWSWORTHY like a hologram interview.
I came home from uni today for lunch and plonked myself infront of the U.S. Election television coverage. ABC1 kept crossing between their own coverage to CNN. Perhaps it was because I saw it next to a very subdued, semi serious sort of ABC presentation, but CNN felt like a big hollywood circus. It was awesome. There are a bazillion things flashing and blinking all over the screen. There are a panel of 'CNN Contributers' sounding like experts about the whole thing, and there are a bunch of people walking around in front of computers looking busy in the background. All of that I've seen before, but this is something new.
We cut from an ABC interview with a U.S. expert from some university in Australia, to a CNN host interviewing WILL.I.A.M from the 'Black Eyed Peas'. Okay, so it looks like the next president will be black. Who is the least offensive black celebrity we can have on the show? Will Smith is busy, so we get WILL.I.A.M. Sure, he plays "rap music", but it's so white and he does it with that white chick with the lady humps. Get him on. He can talk about politics, right?
This was all obvious and boring. What grabbed my attention was that he was a HOLOGRAM!!!!! Instead of being on a screen he's standing next to the presenter in true Star Wars hologram style. If he was in the studio we would have a close up/medium shot of his head and shoulders, but seeing as he's a hologram and all, we'll show his entire standing body. The truth is he was probably just standing in the studio next door, but we got see him via hologram. It was also sweet to see how far away from him the presenter was standing. The guy was looking right at him at eye level, which would have been impressive if he wasn't standing so far away from the freaky looking thing. Anyone would think holograms were contagious or something.
Anyway, I thought between the hologram and Joe the plumber, this U.S. election has been pretty freaking entertaining.
It's pretty much certain that Obama is in now, but I was really hoping to see McCain get it. I don't really support either of them and couldn't care less who gets in, but it would've been great to see the media reeling from shock when the 'sure thing' didn't happen. Oh well.
jej
I came home from uni today for lunch and plonked myself infront of the U.S. Election television coverage. ABC1 kept crossing between their own coverage to CNN. Perhaps it was because I saw it next to a very subdued, semi serious sort of ABC presentation, but CNN felt like a big hollywood circus. It was awesome. There are a bazillion things flashing and blinking all over the screen. There are a panel of 'CNN Contributers' sounding like experts about the whole thing, and there are a bunch of people walking around in front of computers looking busy in the background. All of that I've seen before, but this is something new.
We cut from an ABC interview with a U.S. expert from some university in Australia, to a CNN host interviewing WILL.I.A.M from the 'Black Eyed Peas'. Okay, so it looks like the next president will be black. Who is the least offensive black celebrity we can have on the show? Will Smith is busy, so we get WILL.I.A.M. Sure, he plays "rap music", but it's so white and he does it with that white chick with the lady humps. Get him on. He can talk about politics, right?
This was all obvious and boring. What grabbed my attention was that he was a HOLOGRAM!!!!! Instead of being on a screen he's standing next to the presenter in true Star Wars hologram style. If he was in the studio we would have a close up/medium shot of his head and shoulders, but seeing as he's a hologram and all, we'll show his entire standing body. The truth is he was probably just standing in the studio next door, but we got see him via hologram. It was also sweet to see how far away from him the presenter was standing. The guy was looking right at him at eye level, which would have been impressive if he wasn't standing so far away from the freaky looking thing. Anyone would think holograms were contagious or something.
Anyway, I thought between the hologram and Joe the plumber, this U.S. election has been pretty freaking entertaining.
It's pretty much certain that Obama is in now, but I was really hoping to see McCain get it. I don't really support either of them and couldn't care less who gets in, but it would've been great to see the media reeling from shock when the 'sure thing' didn't happen. Oh well.
jej
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Marvel Sucker Bitching Session
No intro this week. My computer seems to not want me to have one ;/
jej
jej
AOTW - The Essential Leonard Cohen
Like the total sell out I am, I didn't actually get an old Leonard Cohen album, but opted for the 'Essential' collection. I have a later Cohen release, which is good, but I knew I was missing out on something by not listening to his earlier stuff. This double disc album is chockers with his awesomeness. It's pretty sweet hearing how his voice changes over time on these tracks too.
Anyway, my favourite tracks:
jej
Anyway, my favourite tracks:
jej
Why I haven't posted all week
Life is pretty hectic right now. I'm on prac at the moment. It's actually been really great and I love the school I'm at, but it's a pain in the butt because I have essays to finish writing. I have enough hours to do the work. It's just getting my head to write something interesting that's hard. I'm very preoccupied and worn out by being a teacher two days a week that it's hard to switch back into 'uni student' mode and write.
But alas, next week is the last week of uni classes. Once I've handed in my two major assignments I'll have a week left of prac, a report to write about my prac, and two exams. Then it's SUMMERTIME BABY! I'm very much hanging out for that. Much skating, viewing, reading, whatever...will be done.
In other news, fans of the Chaser and all things presedential election will be pleased to know that the guys are back with a daily round up of what's going on with Obama and McCain. It's great to hear them again. I think it's on JJJ at 5pm weekdays, but you can download the podcast like me from here.
You can also take part in the polls. WOOT! POLLS!
jej
But alas, next week is the last week of uni classes. Once I've handed in my two major assignments I'll have a week left of prac, a report to write about my prac, and two exams. Then it's SUMMERTIME BABY! I'm very much hanging out for that. Much skating, viewing, reading, whatever...will be done.
In other news, fans of the Chaser and all things presedential election will be pleased to know that the guys are back with a daily round up of what's going on with Obama and McCain. It's great to hear them again. I think it's on JJJ at 5pm weekdays, but you can download the podcast like me from here.
You can also take part in the polls. WOOT! POLLS!
jej
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