Essential viewing this April:
- Clint Eastwood is 78 years old. And he is still making some of the finest movies around. If you need more to be impressed, go look somewhere else. “Gran Torino” is his latest piece and it is indeed another one to be cherished. The script might be crippled by a simple plot with a few cliché attachments, but this is still terrific storytelling. Pure human drama where Eastwood once again proves he is a master of the genre. It is rumoured that this might be Clint’s final performance in front of the camera and if so, it is a worthy swansong for a true screen legend.
- After being stuck in distribution hell, Tom DiCillo’s “Delirious” has finally arrived. Reuniting with his old pal Steve Buscemi, DiCillo delivers a crude look at America’s need for stardom and even showcases some decent acting from Michael Pitt. A refreshing antidote to the upcoming blockbusters, a true Hollywood independent shows us all is not gold that glitters. And it has some of this year’s best dialogue in it too.
- After releasing his Bush impression onto the Saturday Night Live audience a few years ago, Will Ferrell must have known he was bound to make an impact. Now, after a successful run on Broadway, his one-man show “You’re Welcome, America – A Final Night with George W. Bush” has seen the light of day. For us Europeans it is only available the illegal way for now, but do keep an eye out for it. Ferrell proves himself worthy the praise and as a true genius of improvisation he has created a portrait that is not only hysterically funny, but with a surprisingly moving punch. Believe it or not, it might stand as quite a relevant show, looking back at the past eight years of the US government.
Essential listening this April:
- “Loyalty to Loyalty” is the title of American rock band Cold War Kids’ second album. And what wondrous terrific music it is. With thirteen tracks, the album covers quite a bit of ground but all together it might be one of the tightest and most honest releases to come out of California in a while. And the single “Something Is Not Right with Me” is already on my shortlist for coolest song of the year.
- The Setting Son is one of my favourite Danish rock bands, and with their second full length album “Spring of Hate”, they have proven themselves worthy my endless cheering. Part pop, part psychedelic rock, they are the sweetest thing to come out of Denmark since… Carlsberg? Take your socks off, go out in the rain with you favourite t-shirt and enjoy the soundtrack of spring 2009!
- The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart should score high just for their irresistible band name, but they are so much more than that. With their self titled debut album finally hitting the stands of our northern record stores, there is no turning back. Catchy pop tunes with great lyrics, there is no need to ask for anything more. These are romantic sounds for true music lovers. And it might even turn the heads of all those non believers out there.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
iProblems
I am addicted to my iPod. I have been since I first got it three years ago. I use it every day and it is one of the few things I absolutely can not leave the house without. The other day it broke down and my life has not been the same since. I am hopelessly distraught and don’t seem able to appreciate anything anymore. When I’m waiting for the bus and hear the birds singing, it doesn’t make me think about how beautiful the simple things in life can be, it reminds me that my iPod is useless and I should be tapping my foot to the sounds of my favourite rock tunes right now.
I will try to get it fixed and if that fails I simply will have to acquire a new one, which raises a whole other bunch of problems, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Now, in desperate need for music in my ear as I go through my days, I have cleared out my closet and dug out my big box of old miscellaneous things. Including a lost treasure called the MiniDisc. The MiniDisc, or simply the MD as we used to call it, was a piece of miraculous technology I got my hands on in the late 90’s. When the Walkman was obsolete and the Discman was too big to carry around. Can you believe people walked around with those things? Teenagers today will never get their heads around it. What was great about the MD was that you could buy these tiny discs and store any music, and best of all in any order you desired and make your own little compilations. It was truly astonishing. Unless you wanted more than 25 songs on each one. I’m still waiting for that massive size disc. So during those blissful times I put together a bunch of compilations consisting of songs and music that rocked my world at the time. And now, it is serving its purpose once again. Who needs an iPod when I’ve got MiniDisc classics such as “Summer 2004 Awesome Mix”, “Springtime Rocks 2002” and, still my personal favourite, “Great Ass Walking Songs 2003”. In your face, Apple!
I will try to get it fixed and if that fails I simply will have to acquire a new one, which raises a whole other bunch of problems, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Now, in desperate need for music in my ear as I go through my days, I have cleared out my closet and dug out my big box of old miscellaneous things. Including a lost treasure called the MiniDisc. The MiniDisc, or simply the MD as we used to call it, was a piece of miraculous technology I got my hands on in the late 90’s. When the Walkman was obsolete and the Discman was too big to carry around. Can you believe people walked around with those things? Teenagers today will never get their heads around it. What was great about the MD was that you could buy these tiny discs and store any music, and best of all in any order you desired and make your own little compilations. It was truly astonishing. Unless you wanted more than 25 songs on each one. I’m still waiting for that massive size disc. So during those blissful times I put together a bunch of compilations consisting of songs and music that rocked my world at the time. And now, it is serving its purpose once again. Who needs an iPod when I’ve got MiniDisc classics such as “Summer 2004 Awesome Mix”, “Springtime Rocks 2002” and, still my personal favourite, “Great Ass Walking Songs 2003”. In your face, Apple!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
"A Million Mondays"
streets with too familiar names
a different taste to what once was sweet
not enough words to tell a lie
an empty house can never be a home
a funeral behind a gas station
all can be found but not over here
drunken poetry with too much truth
these words may never die
a saturday can have a million mondays
picture this without the sound
not a sign never a miracle
this air is yours to breathe
a different taste to what once was sweet
not enough words to tell a lie
an empty house can never be a home
a funeral behind a gas station
all can be found but not over here
drunken poetry with too much truth
these words may never die
a saturday can have a million mondays
picture this without the sound
not a sign never a miracle
this air is yours to breathe
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Easter
Last night I returned home after a terrific easter holiday. I had divided my break into two parts, spending half of if up north in Troms, and the rest in Røros. Both idyllic spots for enjoying lazy days in the sun with skiing, good food, cold beer and good company.
Faksfjord, Troms April 5, 2009
In Troms there was beautiful weather all week long and I got to hang out with my family, and in particular my nephews. Sliding downhill, roasting hot dogs on an open fire in the mountains, eating ungodly amounts of candy and of course skiing. My nephews are actually far better skiers than I am. Here is the youngest one, who is an absolute pro. Until there is a slight turn...
While in Røros I took a trip into town. I've been there before and I enjoy walking around in the streets. It is a small town with just over 5,000 people, and it is actually on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list for its authentic old wooden buildings and history. There are plenty of odd shops, cafes, museums and stores that show the history of its industry, mainly coal mining, which has lasted for over a hundred years. It is a lovely place.
Røros, Sør-Trøndelag April 11, 2009
Faksfjord, Troms April 5, 2009
In Troms there was beautiful weather all week long and I got to hang out with my family, and in particular my nephews. Sliding downhill, roasting hot dogs on an open fire in the mountains, eating ungodly amounts of candy and of course skiing. My nephews are actually far better skiers than I am. Here is the youngest one, who is an absolute pro. Until there is a slight turn...
While in Røros I took a trip into town. I've been there before and I enjoy walking around in the streets. It is a small town with just over 5,000 people, and it is actually on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list for its authentic old wooden buildings and history. There are plenty of odd shops, cafes, museums and stores that show the history of its industry, mainly coal mining, which has lasted for over a hundred years. It is a lovely place.
Røros, Sør-Trøndelag April 11, 2009
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