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Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! The Simpsons Movie is finally here and thank Mother of God it doesn’t suck—in fact, quite the opposite. It rocks. After eighteen years of waiting, Simpsons fans will be relieved to know that the movie version does the show nothing but justice. The film starts out with the band Green Day playing a show on Springfield Lake. Unfortunately for Billy Joe and the crew, their fates are sealed as the pollution in the lake causes their barge to dissolve. Lisa, the ever eco-conscious eight-year old that she is, takes up the charge to have the lake cleaned and Springfield begrudgingly follows suit…except for one man. Homer, who is saddled with a silo full of pig crap and the order from Marge to take care of it, is faced with the dilemma whether to dispose of it responsibly or dumping it in the lake. He chooses to be responsible and takes it to a toxic waste site. PSYCH! Of course, he dumps it in the lake. read more »
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Posing as a comedic effort from the ever-growing movie giant that is Judd Apatow, Knocked Up is just what the name implies, a story about pregnancy. As the story unravels, however, it becomes clear that this is less a film about yucks and more an honest look at what it means to try and navigate adulthood. Ben Stone (Seth Rogan) is an unemployed, barely hygienic 23 year old who lives in apartment with his four best friends. They drink, they smoke weed (notice the clever allegory?) and they spend their days planning how they are going to get rich quick with their website directory of naked celebrity flesh. read more »
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The latest rock album by The White Stripes comprises of many lyrical and musical levels that promise to give anyone interested hours of thoughtful consideration. Although Icky Thump may not be for everyone the album is an excellent example of fun, funky, and often eclectic hard rock.
Icky Thump is successful as a hard rock album with political charge. Interestingly, the album also doesn’t take itself too seriously with songs like the fun Rag & Bone which Pack Rat Magazine elects to be the new Indy Anthem for upcycling. The song is part conversational and part musical riff, Jack speaks “…things you don’t want / I can use them / Meg can use them / We can do something with them / We’ll make something out of them / Make some money out of them at least.” With two or three songs being conversational, it will be interesting to see how the band will perform them live. Just a side tip, for those of you love song junkies out there, check out 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues to hear Jack’s torrent of love troubles. Another featured love song, A Martyr For My Love For You, is great little song bound to have girls dressed in black, pushing black hair from eyes, shouting out Jack’s name. Or maybe it will be the redheaded girl he keeps mentioning? read more »
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The new release by Bright Eyes is a full dinner plate. Cassadaga documents a collection of songs that address the uncertain times that face many of us who will inherit a world falling apart. Tracks on Cassadaga either provide fragments of narrative moments or reflective considerations. Each track is flushed with a sense that lead singer Coner Oberst is trying to sort out choices made around him, and the passage of time in a world where “all reality twists” ("Soul Singer In A Session Band").
Cassadaga has a country folk sound that sometimes tips a hat to singer and song writer influences from a time past. The disconcerting “No One Would Riot for Less” is a love song on the level of the great Leonard Cohen, and also a folksy political commentary that would make Bob Dylan proud. Oberst’s reflections on today’s world are grim but he looks for comfort in the one he loves, and sings with tenderness, “From the madness of the governments / To the vengeance of the sea / Everything is eclipsed / By the shape of destiny/ So love me now/ Hell is coming”. read more »
