Brian James's Blog, page 20

Wilfred

A reboot of an imported comedy from Australia about a guy who sees his neighbor's dog as a man in a cheap dog costume, starring Elijah Wood? Um, yes please! Those were my thoughts when this FX show first aired eight years ago. I watched the first two seasons in real time, and for reasons, some beyond my control involving the cutting of cable cords and umbilical cords, it has taken me until recently to finally conclude the entire series.
To be clear, this is not a show for everyone. Its quirky humor eventually turns darker and darker as the show goes on, and what started out as a comedy with a slight mystery, turns into more of a thrilling mystery with slight comedy. The transition between these two is carefully orchestrated over the four seasons that document Ryan's (Elijah Wood's character) tormented life and struggle with sanity.
The mystery, as one might expect, surrounds exactly who or what Wilfred is and why Ryan is the only one who can see him. The unfolding of this mystery is fraught with the kind of false leads, dead ends, and crazy theories of a stoner with a fragile grip on the workings of personal interactions.
It is also delightfully absurd and funny.
This is certainly a show that never truly made its mark on mainstream pop culture, but is certainly one that should acquire a cult following as the years pass by since it ended five years ago. A rare breed of show that is satisfying from beginning to end. 

Weekend Music Roundup

The weekend has arrived and it's really beginning to feel like Fall. It's probably no coincidence then this week's selections seem to match the weather. The tunes tend to get darker for me in the fall as I turn more inward. There's a nice mix here of wonderful surprises, featuring mostly bands that I hadn't encountered before. Definitely some that you should check out if you're feeling in the mood to explore. Enjoy.
Brika - Every Third Thought: This is the new EP from the singer songwriter and came out back in May. I can't find much information on her, but it looks like she had an album out five years ago, but it's hard to say if that is the same artist or not. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this psychedelic soul album that has a bit of a trip-hop feel to it. "Blinded," "Distracted," and "Karma" are my personal favorites.
Doctors of Madness - Doctors of Madness: This compilation, released in '78, compiles the London bands first two albums (both from '76) on one double record. This is the sound of where glam and prog begin to merge with the birth of punk. This is one of those lost bands that should be discovered by more. Anyone who likes Bowie from this era is sure to enjoy this album. It's dark, moody, and beautiful. "Suicide City," "Perfect Past," "Out," "Afterglow," "Mitzie's Cure," and "The Noises of the Evening" are fantastic songs on this incredible album.  
Band of Holy Joy - Neon Primitives: Somehow this London band has been around and released material for 35 years and this new album is the first I'm hearing of them. In a way, they remind me of Legendary Pink Dots with their minimal psychedelic sound, but they are angrier band. Certainly a solid album that makes me want to check out more of their work. "Lost in The Night," "The Devil Has a Hold on the Land," "Ecstasy Snowbirds," and "Urban Pagans" are standouts on this dark album.
Grand Funk Railroad - On Time: The 1969 debut from the heavy flint rock band, and the only one released with the "Railroad" on their name, though it's what they are still better known by. This set off a string of fantastic records in a prolific period of five years. On this album you can the band splitting away from the rock of the time and creating something heavier, paving the way for their self-titled masterpiece that would be released later the same year. "Anybody's Answer," "Time Machine," "Into the Sun," and "Call Yourself a Man" are my personal favorites. 
Sandstorm - Time to Strike: The debut album from the Vancouver metal band was released early this year. It's kind of by-the-book power metal, but it does incorporate enough stoner psychedelic elements to keep it from sounding out-dated. That said, it's not really anything I've never heard before, but that's not always the point with metal. As long as it sound good and loud, it's worthwhile. "Witchman, Sorcerer of Satan," "Denizen of Hell," and "Death is Near" are standouts for me.

Fiction Friday (89)

The YA binge continues as I'm now two thirds done my required reading for the October conference that I'm attending. This book belonged in the grouping about trust and is a book that has been hugely successful the past few years. Very much a page-turner that I breezed through.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
(Delacorte Press, 2017)

Everyone has secrets, but are their secrets worth killing for? When Simon, the self-proclaimed King of Gossip at Bayview High School is murdered, everyone in the room with him becomes a suspect.
As Simon was on the verge of posting their deepest hidden secrets, all four kids have motive: Bronwyn, the brain; Nate, the drug dealer; Addy, the homecoming queen; and Cooper, the All-American baseball star. At first, all are unlikely suspects, but as their secrets are slowly and carefully revealed to both the reader and the other characters, each becomes more suspicious.
It's no wonder this exceptionally well-crafted mystery has been so popular since it was published. It's also no wonder that it's currently in development for a TV series on Netflix. It's a gripping, page-turning story that is fairly irresistible. All of the characters are compelling, show growth, and feel very real. To make it all better, there's a surprise twist at the end, the kind of surprise twist that is believable (mostly).
* Spoiler Alert: Stop reading below if you haven't read the book and are planning to do so:
So, I liked the ending, but I have to say, I'm not sure I'm convinced Jake would be able to fake his relationship with Addy while he and Simon planned this. I mean, he must have known for weeks. AND, if he was able to fake it, he never would have then been able to express the level of anger when he supposedly found out from Addy. And then to keep all of this going for so long...I mean, sure, it's possible someone could be so possessive, but if that's Jake, I just think there needed to be more shown than simply asking her to change her clothes for a party.

Weekend Music Roundup

The has arrived and so I bring you more ramblings about my adventures in the world of music listening. I've been still enjoying a long list of new releases and share some of those with you as well. I've also has some vinyl shopping days of late and found many great things. Those I'm sharing as well. This is a pretty broad mix of rock so hopefully something interests you. Enjoy.
Clinic - Wheeltappers and Shunters: The eighth album from the Liverpool psychedelic dance punk outfit is their best since 2008's Do It! There are few bands that do this genre well, and they are one of them. They came around when there were other bands doing this, The Rapture, Cooper Temple Clause, and Death from Above and this album sees them return to the chaos that defined their best work. "Rubber Bullets," "Laughing Cavalier," "Ferryboat of the Mind," "D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.," "Flying Fish," and "Rejoice" are standouts on a wonderful record. 
The Nice - Ars Longa Vita Brevis: The second album from the London psych band released in '68, a few months after their debut. The band would release one more album the next year before disbanding. My copy is the Columbia extended version that features a few bonus tracks, released in '73. Definitely inspired by Syd era Pink Floyd, this is that early psych sound that mixes pop with the bizarre. "Daddy Where Did I Come From," "Happy Freuds," are standouts on the first side, while the entire second side of the album contains the epic title track with is a wonderful freak-out in five movements. 
Summer Cannibals - Can't Tell me No: This is the fourth full length album from the Portland band, and their first in three years. This is my first encounter the band. This is straight up indie rock with strong female vocals. There's some link to 90s Rrriot Grrl bands, but that sound is mixed with the current indie pop sound to create something both nostalgic and contemporary. "Behave," "One of Many," "Start Breaking," "Spin," and "Into Gold" are my personal favorites. 
Slade - Slade Alive!: Released in '72, nine months before their breakout second LP, this stellar live record captures the glam band right as they were poised for takeoff. They are raw and determined and it shows. They were a band that knew where they were going, and in that sense they remind me of Oasis, who always knew they were going to be huge simply because they believed they were the best. I'd been on the hunt for some Slade vinyl and was shocking having a hard time finding any, then I did. "In Like a Shot From My Gun," "Know Who You Are," "Keep on Rockin" and the Loving Spoonful cover "Darling Be Home Soon" are standouts. 
Foreigner - Foreigner: The 1977 debut from the NYC hard rock band blends pop rock with the remains of space rock and prog elements which were already on the decline at the time. The combination is what made this album click with many listeners at the time and is also what makes still interesting to listen to now. "Starrider," "Cold as Ice," "The Damage is Done," "Long, Long Way From Home," and "At War with the World" are my personal favorites on this great rock record.

Fiction Friday (88)

As I mentioned in my last Fiction Friday, I'm taking part in an all day conference this October related entirely to YA books. As a result, I have six books to read before that conference and am finally getting started on that. Here are my thoughts on the first one, a book that after the first 50 pages, I was sure I was going to hate, but ended up really enjoying.

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
(S&S 2018)

Alternating between two main characters, this novel is essentially a story about how two people can fall in love. It is as much about the way they fall in love as it is about being in love. 
Penny is an Asian American girl starting her freshman year at University of Texas when she meets her new roommate's "uncle", twenty-one year old Sam who is an Austin native from a time before Austin was hipster central. The two quickly become secret texting buddies, sharing deeply personal thoughts, opinions, and feelings that neither is really adept at sharing in real life. Over the course of Penny's first semester, this friendship evolves into a romantic relationship.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is the way it develops a relationship through a series of text conversations. When there is so much focus on the negative aspects of texting and social media, and basically any form of "virtual" relationships, this book shows the other side. It examines that core power of these type of relationships, that it can be far easier to be honest in the virtual world, which can be a bad thing, but can also be a beautiful thing. 
I found this book to be a little bit of a slow starter, and admit to not really liking either character all that much in the beginning. However, as they got to know each other, the reader gets to know them better and discovers there are real reasons for some of their unlikable characteristics. Very entertaining, and a nice change of pace from all the negative conversations about this aspect of the world we live in.

Weekend Music Roundup

Well it's here...the unofficial last weekend of summer! I thought I'd feature mostly new releases on this list, a sort of catching up on summer albums before summer passes. This is a completely rock based list, including new artists, indie rock, new wave icons, metal monsters, and classic rock superstars. Lots of great stuff on here, and another spectacular summer of listening. Hopefully you all found some great music this summer as well. Enjoy.
Briston Maroney - Indiana: The second EP from Nashville based the singer songwriter was released earlier this year. Only 21 years old, his work shows a lot of promise. He reminds a bit of Eliot Smith, with a much brighter outlook, but not all that much brighter. Only four songs long, but the sparseness definitely adds to the appeal. "Caroline" is my favorite, but all four songs are excellent. Definitely one to check out.

Interpol - A Fine Mess: A year after Marauder, their comeback album of sorts, the NYC band has released this five song EP. Cut from the same cloth as that album, this is another fine release that sees a band that has re-found themselves. The title track is one of their finest songs since the early days, and the next four keep the feel going. This probably won't win them any new fans, but old fans will be pleased, and fans who haven't listened to them in a decade might want to return. 
Graham Parker and the Rumour - Stick to Me: After listening to and loving the '79 Squeezing Out the Sparks record, I snatched up this one from '77 from the "4 for $10" bin at the local shop. This one is just as good, and just as much a clone of Elvis Costello. By clone, I don't mean rip-off, I mean sounds similar and equally as great. "Problem Child," "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down," "Watch the Moon Come Down," and "Thunder and Rain" are my personal favorites on this great record.  
Liam Gallagher - MTV Unplugged (Preview): In spectacular fashion, the once influential channel announced the return of the once iconic Unplugged program to the UK featuring Liam. Recorded in Hull, this is a career spanning set as the Oasis singer prepares for the release of his second solo album and will air on Sept. 27th. In preparation, this bootleg collection of live acoustic performances hit the internet. An amazing collection of tunes from one of the best voices in rock. 
The Mystery Lights - Too Much Tension!: This is the third album from the L.A. formed, Brooklyn based psychedelic garage rock band. Right from the opening, it digs deep into the early '70s psychedelic garage sound of The Stooges and feels interesting and dangerous. The first three tracks are fantastic, but this aura fades on some tracks, but never vanishes, making this a record worth listening to.
Grand Funk - Survival: The band's fourth album in two years, was released in 1971. This is a band that I wasn't turned on to until the last couple of years, but have grown to love. Their brand of hard rock is totally pure, as it should be as one of the pioneer's of the genre. The band was shit hot at this point in their career, and perhaps overextended, but somehow they manage to keep up the quality on this record. "Comfort Me," and the covers of Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright" and The Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter" are my personal favorites. 
Krokus - The Blitz: Released in 1984, this is the eighth album from Swiss hard rock band. This is very representative of hard rock from the era, borrowing heavily from bands like AC/DC. It features blistering guitars, pounding drums, and hair raising screeching vocals...a good formula in my mind. "Out of Control," "Our Love," and "Rock the Nation" are my personal favorites. Just plain old good hard rock. 

Familiarily Strange

In the beginning of the summer, I posted about how I finally plunged into Stranger Things and then neglected to report that I finished all three seasons in a few short weeks. There's been a lot of mixed responses to Season 3, and I can see why. The freshness of the concept has waned, expectations were through the roof, and the characters have changed (ie. grown). For my part however, while I thought the first two seasons to be brilliant, I also thoroughly enjoyed the third one. 
The strength of this show is how it masterfully borrows from classics of the 80's, and therefore my childhood, but doesn't simply rehash them. It reshapes elements into a new story with new characters that feed off iconic characters, making them familiar and entertaining. The inclusion of Max in the second season, and her role in the third season, definitely made the stories stronger. The growth of Steve Harrington was also a positive for the show. 
Yes, the whole Russian thing in the third season was a little far-fetched, but being a kid from the 80s, it was nostalgic to see our old foes the Soviets again. I will say that I think the show probably can only squeeze out another season or two before it devolves, but I'm definitely still game for more.

Weekend Music Roundup

As summer begins to wind down, I figured it was about time to do a list that featured some of the recent albums that I've been listening to that capture that late summer vibe, you know, that time of year when as a teen, your freedom was dwindling which meant you lazed around more than ever exploring the word through new perceptions. These albums are all right for that kind of exploration. Enjoy.

The Blank Tapes - Super Bloom EP: The new EP from Cali neo-psych artist Matt Adams is my first exposure though he's been around for over a decade and makes music that is right in my wheelhouse. This album consists of six meandering songs that feel sun-drenched and hazy, reminding me of many other psychedelic pop artists like Psychic Ills. A wonderful lazy summer album, with my favorites being "Get Yourself Down," "Exotica," and the title track. 
Stonefield - Bent: This is the fourth album from the all-female heavy psych band from down under.  This has that heavy eerie sound that we've come to expect from a heavy psych band these days. The grinding guitar work is what really struck me about this album, and Amy's vocals (it's always nice to hear a female voice in rock). There's definitely some prog rock elements on here that set it apart from a lot of other psych albums. "Sleep," "Dead Alive," and "Shutdown" are my personal favorites. 
Yes - Close to the Edge: Released in 1972, this is the prog band's fifth album and regarded by most to be their best. Consisting of only three tracks, one on Side A and two on Side B, this is a true prog album with complex changes in tempo and progressions. This is one of those albums that musicians adore because of the sheer dedication that must have gone into constructing it. A legendary example of the genre that should be included in any prog fan's catalog.  
Return to Forever - No Mystery: This is the fifth album from the NYC jazz funk band, released in 1975. The fusion of jazz and funk created a genre all its own in the 70s, one that brought magic of jazz to a new crowd. Purists have often shunned the fusion genres, but when done right, as this is, it's the creation of something new. Chick Corea is a legendary keyboard player, and he dominates the structure of this record, keeping it from straying too far away from the jazz roots.  This is the kind of album that should be heard in its entirety to capture the intended mood. That said, "Excerpt from the First Movement of Heavy Metal," "Celebration Suite Part II," and the lush title track are standouts.
Inspectah Deck - Chamber No9: It's been nine years since we've had a solo record from the Wu member, though he's done a bunch of stuff under the Czarface team. As with other Wu returns in the past half decade, the boys have found their demons again and continue to put out old school hardcore, that kind of hip-hop that I grew up on and crave. Tight beats, tough rhymes, and lots of attitude. This is another great addition to the Wu Saga.

Erskine Hawkins - One Night Stand with Erskine Hawkins: Recorded live from Blue Room in the Hotel Lincoln, New York in 1946, this features the trumpeter at the height of his skills. This is full of post-war excitement and you can hear it in the audience. The world was new and the future was bright, and Erskine fed that feeling with joyous noise. Another wonderful swing jazz record found on the cheap.

Fiction Friday (87)

As a writer, it's not surprising that I tend to be loyal to authors once I've read something of theirs that I've really enjoyed. And when I read something by an author I hadn't read before, and completely love it, as I did with Mary Stewart's The Little Broomstick, naturally I seek out other works. And being a librarian, I have easy access to those other works. A request was put in for this book the day I finished the last one. The next one will have to wait though as I must begin reading six straight YA books for a discussion I will be taking part in come this October. Enjoy.
A Walk in Wolf Wood by Mary Stewart
(William Morrow, 1980)

John and his younger sister Margaret are picnicking with their parents after visiting the ruins of an old German castle. Their weary parents soon fall victim to the sleepy afternoon, and fail to see the oddly dressed man pass by them and enter into the dark woods. Bored and restless, the children decide to follow him, unaware that they are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.
In an old cottage, the siblings discover secrets and magic that they can hardly believe. Before they know it, they find themselves stuck far in the past and caught in the middle of a sinister enchantment that they must help break in order to return home. 
Written straight after her acclaimed Merlin trilogy for adults, Mary Stewart is clearly steeped in the time period and has a remarkable way of bringing the castle to life. She also does an excellent job in how she deals with sorcery and fantasy. Having just read her magnificent middle grade novel The Little Broomstick, I will say that story lacks the same character development that drew the reader to Mary Smith in that novel. John and Margaret feel more like plot devices to propel the tale than fully developed children with ideas and imaginations. Because of that, this rather short novel drags slightly in the beginning, but by the middle it really picks up. By the end, it was very enjoyable, if not altogether magical.  

Once Upon A Time...

The era of the Director has long since passed, but a handful of heavyweights still manage to make each new movie an event. Quentin Tarantino is one of those directors, whose name alone could open a moive...but it certainly doesn't hurt that he always has an amazing cast. For his 9th film, he's turned his attention to his well-documented love affair with his hometown. 
This is one of those movies that's hard to pin down in one line what it's about. Sure, it's about the Manson Family's brutal slaying of Sharon Tate (sort of). Yes, it's about the grind-them-up-spit-them-out factory of the movie industry that uses up talent until it becomes useless to the big wigs trying to make money. It's about the stars, both rising and falling. It's about those on the periphery and those under the enchantment of celluloid fiction. It's about a city that is the center of its own created world and the magic that hangs over it. 
It tackles these many themes through a string of loosely connected scenes centering around Leo Dicaprio's character (the falling star) and Brad Pitt's character (the once-was stuntman). It sort of meanders through a six month period in a not-exactly linear style that is remmincent of Tarantino's best work. And as always, the dialouge is extremely tight and hilarious. 
This is another classic film from Quentin, and I'd rank it as my third favorite, just above Inglorious Bastards. Definitely a masterpiece of Hollywood turning the fiction inward and writing a Hollywood version of its own history.