I apologize for having neglected my blog for the past month. I could say I've been very busy, but it'd be mostly a lie. I was busy for two weeks, and the past two I've been doing a lot of thinking, and that's basically it. Haven't even watched many movies, which is odd for me.
I'm thinking of morphing this blog into also talking about my attempts at writing. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. Stay tuned.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Lost Soul's 50 favorite albums #10-1
#10 Welcome To My Nightmare - Alice Cooper (1975)
I first heard this album when I was around ten or so. My dad picked it up on cassette and it scared me. Now that doesn't mean much as I was a scaredy cat as a kid, and I mean big time. However, the song Steven on here is still kinda creepy, but the rest of it is just really fun. The stage show for the concert that followed was unparalleled back then too, with giant spiders, a cyclops, skeletons performing burlesque... This was the start of making Alice family friendly, stageshow wise. All the songs here are great and Vincent Price has a monologue on this a full 7 years before Michael Jackson had the idea!
Best songs: The Black Widow, Steven, and The Department of Youth.
#9. Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf (1977)
I think I heard it described by Meat Loaf himself as "the soundtrack to an X-Rated Disney movie." It's not really what I think of when I hear it. I think of it as if Wagner did a Disney movie soundtrack. It's so over the top with different styles presenting themselves through the album, I just can't help but love it. Meat's voice was never better, and it had one of the first successful promo videos, seen below.
Best songs: Bat Out of Hell, For Cryin' Out Loud, and You Took The Words Right Outta My Mouth.
#8. Rising - Rainbow (1977)
Yep, another mid-late 70s album. After guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple, he made Rainbow, which was for the first 3 albums, the architecture for early 80s metal. Sadly it's hard to find material from this album's tour on the internet, and there were no music videos made. It includes probably my favorite swords and sorcery song, Stargazer, which I guess just didn't work right live due to the orchestra and choir originally used on the album. I'd heavily suggest hearing the album though.
Best songs: Tarot Woman, Stargazer, and A Light In The Dark.
#7. Bad Reputation - Thin Lizzy (1977)
The third 1977 album in a row... Musta been the last great year for rock music. Anyways, I consider this the quintessential Thin Lizzy album. It's epic whilst being unpretentious and best of all it's a good starter to the Thin Lizzy sound. From the bombastic opening of Soldier of Fortune to the God-pleading closer of Dear Lord, it's perfect. It includes one of their more popular singles with the title track, of which I included the music video of below.
Best songs: Soldier of Fortune, Southbound, and That Woman's Gonna Break Your Heart.
#6. Somewhere In Time - Iron Maiden (1986)
This was not always my favorite Maiden album. WHen I first heard it, I found the album hard to get into. Why? Because it's not like the albums that came before it. There's guitar synths, it's dark, it's more serious. However, about four years ago, this became my favorite. All the songs are great... not a lesser one in the bunch. It's got the rousing single Wasted Years, the galloping Sea of Madness, and my two favorites... The slow galloping Stranger In A Strange Land (best guitar solo ever), and the epic history lesson of Alexander The Great. I've included the video for Stranger In A Strange Land below.
Best songs: Sea of Madness, Stranger In A Strange Land, and Alexander The Great.
#5. One Way Ticket to Hell... And Back - The Darkness (2005)
I am fully aware that this is probably the odd one out of the top 10. Most people prefer Permission to Land or hate The Darkness period. I love The Darkness. Why do I consider this album superior? It's catchier, it's more Queen-like, and has a much more varied style to it. The first album was great, but this one is more fun with less unnecessary bad language.
Best songs: One Way Ticket, Hazel Eyes, and Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time.
#4. Leftoverture - Kansas (1976)
Yes, this is the one with Carry on Wayward Son on it. That is probably my least favorite song on the album, though it's still great. The album takes you on a philosophical journey as only Kansas (at the time) could. It's amazing the album was so popular as it had no real radio friendly tunes. Sure, the songs are catchy, but the catchier ones are longer than the less catchy ones. My favorite thing about the album is the last two songs. Cheyenne Anthem has this odd keyboard interlude in it that reminds me of the Bobby's World theme. The last song is called Magnum Opus, which is mainly instrumental and weird as hell. Lots of time and direction changes.
Best songs: The Wall, Cheyenne Anthem, and Magnum Opus.
#3. Tales of Mystery and Imagination - The Alan Parsons Project (1975)
Wow, I think I first heard this album when I was 4 or 5. My dad had the record of it, which like Welcome To My Nightmare scared me. I have no idea why really. The artwork wasn't that great. The music can be creepy though, even when not comprehending the words to the songs, which are based on Edgar Allan Poe stories. This was the first Alan Parsons album, and the first use of the vocoder on a record. The album was re-released in the 80s with added guitar solos and spoken word intros by Orson Welles which were originally set to be included in the original release. Sadly, no music videos were made for this album.
Best songs: The Tell-Tale Heart, (The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, and The Fall of The House of Usher.
#2. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Some more 1977 for ya. This is usually considered one of, if not the best, pop albums of all time. I'm inclined to agree. Every song on this album is played on the radio today, if you listen for it. An album written whilst the band was going through personal turmoils. (When all the band is having love affairs with each other, what do you expect?) These issues planted themselves in the lyrics of the songs like The Chain, You Make Loving Fun and I Don't Wanna Know... But really all I can think as I look at this video is "who ever thought afros looked good on white men?!"
Best songs: The Chain, I Don't Wanna Know and Gold Dust Woman.
#1. Running on Empty - Jackson Browne (1977)
Yep, it's official, 1977 was the best year for pop rock. Another album I've liked for a good long while. Written whilst on the road, literally recording part of the album on the tour bus and in hotel rooms, it's the best road album ever made most likely. It's soulful and warm, but also dark and full of longing (and all that pretentious crap). Every song on here is equally as great as the song before it.
Best songs: All of em.
I first heard this album when I was around ten or so. My dad picked it up on cassette and it scared me. Now that doesn't mean much as I was a scaredy cat as a kid, and I mean big time. However, the song Steven on here is still kinda creepy, but the rest of it is just really fun. The stage show for the concert that followed was unparalleled back then too, with giant spiders, a cyclops, skeletons performing burlesque... This was the start of making Alice family friendly, stageshow wise. All the songs here are great and Vincent Price has a monologue on this a full 7 years before Michael Jackson had the idea!
Best songs: The Black Widow, Steven, and The Department of Youth.
#9. Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf (1977)
I think I heard it described by Meat Loaf himself as "the soundtrack to an X-Rated Disney movie." It's not really what I think of when I hear it. I think of it as if Wagner did a Disney movie soundtrack. It's so over the top with different styles presenting themselves through the album, I just can't help but love it. Meat's voice was never better, and it had one of the first successful promo videos, seen below.
Best songs: Bat Out of Hell, For Cryin' Out Loud, and You Took The Words Right Outta My Mouth.
#8. Rising - Rainbow (1977)
Yep, another mid-late 70s album. After guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple, he made Rainbow, which was for the first 3 albums, the architecture for early 80s metal. Sadly it's hard to find material from this album's tour on the internet, and there were no music videos made. It includes probably my favorite swords and sorcery song, Stargazer, which I guess just didn't work right live due to the orchestra and choir originally used on the album. I'd heavily suggest hearing the album though.
Best songs: Tarot Woman, Stargazer, and A Light In The Dark.
#7. Bad Reputation - Thin Lizzy (1977)
The third 1977 album in a row... Musta been the last great year for rock music. Anyways, I consider this the quintessential Thin Lizzy album. It's epic whilst being unpretentious and best of all it's a good starter to the Thin Lizzy sound. From the bombastic opening of Soldier of Fortune to the God-pleading closer of Dear Lord, it's perfect. It includes one of their more popular singles with the title track, of which I included the music video of below.
Best songs: Soldier of Fortune, Southbound, and That Woman's Gonna Break Your Heart.
#6. Somewhere In Time - Iron Maiden (1986)
This was not always my favorite Maiden album. WHen I first heard it, I found the album hard to get into. Why? Because it's not like the albums that came before it. There's guitar synths, it's dark, it's more serious. However, about four years ago, this became my favorite. All the songs are great... not a lesser one in the bunch. It's got the rousing single Wasted Years, the galloping Sea of Madness, and my two favorites... The slow galloping Stranger In A Strange Land (best guitar solo ever), and the epic history lesson of Alexander The Great. I've included the video for Stranger In A Strange Land below.
Best songs: Sea of Madness, Stranger In A Strange Land, and Alexander The Great.
#5. One Way Ticket to Hell... And Back - The Darkness (2005)
I am fully aware that this is probably the odd one out of the top 10. Most people prefer Permission to Land or hate The Darkness period. I love The Darkness. Why do I consider this album superior? It's catchier, it's more Queen-like, and has a much more varied style to it. The first album was great, but this one is more fun with less unnecessary bad language.
Best songs: One Way Ticket, Hazel Eyes, and Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time.
#4. Leftoverture - Kansas (1976)
Yes, this is the one with Carry on Wayward Son on it. That is probably my least favorite song on the album, though it's still great. The album takes you on a philosophical journey as only Kansas (at the time) could. It's amazing the album was so popular as it had no real radio friendly tunes. Sure, the songs are catchy, but the catchier ones are longer than the less catchy ones. My favorite thing about the album is the last two songs. Cheyenne Anthem has this odd keyboard interlude in it that reminds me of the Bobby's World theme. The last song is called Magnum Opus, which is mainly instrumental and weird as hell. Lots of time and direction changes.
Best songs: The Wall, Cheyenne Anthem, and Magnum Opus.
#3. Tales of Mystery and Imagination - The Alan Parsons Project (1975)
Wow, I think I first heard this album when I was 4 or 5. My dad had the record of it, which like Welcome To My Nightmare scared me. I have no idea why really. The artwork wasn't that great. The music can be creepy though, even when not comprehending the words to the songs, which are based on Edgar Allan Poe stories. This was the first Alan Parsons album, and the first use of the vocoder on a record. The album was re-released in the 80s with added guitar solos and spoken word intros by Orson Welles which were originally set to be included in the original release. Sadly, no music videos were made for this album.
Best songs: The Tell-Tale Heart, (The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether, and The Fall of The House of Usher.
#2. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Some more 1977 for ya. This is usually considered one of, if not the best, pop albums of all time. I'm inclined to agree. Every song on this album is played on the radio today, if you listen for it. An album written whilst the band was going through personal turmoils. (When all the band is having love affairs with each other, what do you expect?) These issues planted themselves in the lyrics of the songs like The Chain, You Make Loving Fun and I Don't Wanna Know... But really all I can think as I look at this video is "who ever thought afros looked good on white men?!"
Best songs: The Chain, I Don't Wanna Know and Gold Dust Woman.
#1. Running on Empty - Jackson Browne (1977)
Yep, it's official, 1977 was the best year for pop rock. Another album I've liked for a good long while. Written whilst on the road, literally recording part of the album on the tour bus and in hotel rooms, it's the best road album ever made most likely. It's soulful and warm, but also dark and full of longing (and all that pretentious crap). Every song on here is equally as great as the song before it.
Best songs: All of em.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
An update... finally!
Sorry folks. I'm aware I have not been blogging as much as I promised. I've been pretty busy lately watching TV shows with my sister. I've been introducing her to Pushing Daisies and Weeds whilst she is catching me up on Fringe. All 3 are of course brilliant shows that I recommend to everyone.
I've been thinking of doing reviews of the TV shows I watch this season starting next week. (House, The Event, Supernatural, and now Fringe) I'll at least start doing that and we'll see how it goes from there. It may just last a few weeks or it may last the whole season. Who knows.
Anyway, I haven't been to the movie theater lately to give you any reviews on that front really. I saw The Last Exorcism, which was pretty good until the last five minutes or so turned it to complete crap. I'd say stay away from that one. 2 stars out of 5. I guess go see it if you want to see how 5 minutes can utterly destroy an otherwise okay movie.
On the book front, I did recently finish reading a collection of Kurt Vonnegut short stories entitled Welcome To The Monkey House. This was my first brush with Vonnegut and I think I'll be reading an actual novel of his sometime soon... Perhaps Breakfast of Champions or Cat's Cradle. If his novels are as good as his short stories, I'm in for a treat. Sure, as with all short story collections, there were a few that were weaker, but most were very good, especially for being written in the 1950s! I think my favorite had to do with a human chess match using survivors of a wartime plane crash. The stories were varied in their genre from science fiction to drama to musings on war. I do recommend people read at least some of the stories from this collection.
The book I am reading now is Stephen King's memoir/how-to book On Writing.
I will be blogging again this weekend, as I'll have the house mostly to myself with my sister and dad gone all weekend. I will finish up the top 50 favorite albums and write some other stuff.
I've been thinking of doing reviews of the TV shows I watch this season starting next week. (House, The Event, Supernatural, and now Fringe) I'll at least start doing that and we'll see how it goes from there. It may just last a few weeks or it may last the whole season. Who knows.
Anyway, I haven't been to the movie theater lately to give you any reviews on that front really. I saw The Last Exorcism, which was pretty good until the last five minutes or so turned it to complete crap. I'd say stay away from that one. 2 stars out of 5. I guess go see it if you want to see how 5 minutes can utterly destroy an otherwise okay movie.
On the book front, I did recently finish reading a collection of Kurt Vonnegut short stories entitled Welcome To The Monkey House. This was my first brush with Vonnegut and I think I'll be reading an actual novel of his sometime soon... Perhaps Breakfast of Champions or Cat's Cradle. If his novels are as good as his short stories, I'm in for a treat. Sure, as with all short story collections, there were a few that were weaker, but most were very good, especially for being written in the 1950s! I think my favorite had to do with a human chess match using survivors of a wartime plane crash. The stories were varied in their genre from science fiction to drama to musings on war. I do recommend people read at least some of the stories from this collection.
The book I am reading now is Stephen King's memoir/how-to book On Writing.
I will be blogging again this weekend, as I'll have the house mostly to myself with my sister and dad gone all weekend. I will finish up the top 50 favorite albums and write some other stuff.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Lost Soul's 50 favorite albums #20-11
#20. Defenders of The Faith - Judas Priest (1984)
Most people will pick Painkiller, Screaming For Vengeance or British Steel over this one, but whilst all of those are great albums, this one is the most consistent for me. It's the heaviest album that Priest had done at this time and it was the last good album of the 1980s for them as well. I also like the extra mean-ness and gothicism.
Best songs: The Sentinel, Love Bites, and Night Comes Down.
#19. Queen II - Queen (1974)
This was one of the first complete Queen albums I ever heard, probably back when I was 8 or 9. It doesn't really have any hits on it, but then again my favorite Queen songs tend to be album cuts. Why is this better than most other Queen albums? It has a flow to it, which is one of Queen's biggest problems. The songs usually just don't fit together well. On this, the songs flow together so well that it's like there's only 2 songs on the whole album!
Best songs: Father To Son, White Queen (As It Began), and The March of The Black Queen.
#18. Led Zeppelin III - Led Zeppelin (1970)
Yes, Led Zeppelin finally makes the list. I'm one of the few that loves the different sound of III as opposed to other Zeppelin albums. It's more jam based and acoustic. Not that the other albums aren't great, but for once there seems to be actual feeling in a Zeppelin album here.
Best songs: Immigrant Song, Tangerine, and Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.
#17. The Yes Album - Yes (1971)
This is the album where Yes really got their sound. Perhaps it's due to Steve Howe joining. Some folks point to the follow up album, Fragile, as the quintessential Yes album. That has some filler in my opinion, whereas this whole album is well thought out. Still missing Rick Wakeman though...
Best songs: Starship Trooper, I've Seen All Good People, and Perpetual Change.
#16. Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy (1976)
Another recent addition to my ears, I first heard this album about four years ago for the first time. Since then, I probably listen to this in it's entirety at least once a month. It's very short, but it's got nothing I'd want to skip. It also includes their biggest hit, The Boys Are Back In Town.
Best songs: Romeo and The Lonely Girl, Cowboy Song, and Emerald.
#15. Hemispheres - Rush (1978)
This is the album that got me into Rush. Before this one, I didn't really like them. Oddly enough, this is the hardest album to get into for most people. It's their most progressive album, and even the band themselves think they may have gone to far in that direction. I mean, it only has 4 songs on it, one of them being about 20 minutes, and that one happens to be my favorite song on the album! Go figure!
Best songs: As there are only 4... all of them.
#14. Boston - Boston (1976)
You all knew that this would be on here. It's regularly considered one of the best rock albums of all time. It's short, it's catchy, and very very accessible. It's also one of the best produced albums of all time. I mean the guitar solos are multitracked to heaven, complete with a holy gloss. First heard it when I was about 9, and still one of my favorites.
Best songs: More Than A Feeling, Peace of Mind, Smokin'.
#13. Misplaced Childhood - Marillion (1985)
I had not even heard of Marillion until 2007. I came across a music video for one of the songs on this album, and I quickly got it. The album sounds like if Pink Floyd had gotten Peter Gabriel for their lead singer. It's odd, but it works. It's a very bipolar album though, going from sad to happy sometimes 2 or 3 times per song. It's also the reason we have so many girls born in '85-'86 named Kaleigh.
Best songs: Lavender, Heart of Lothian, and Blind Curve.
#12. Abbey Road - The Beatles (1969)
Yeah, I had to go with another obvious choice. Everyone loves Abbey Road. I mean it's sort of the last Beatles album, especially if you consider the fact that the Let It Be album was actually recorded first, even if it was released afterwards. My favorite George Harrison song, Here Comes The Sun is on here, and I do have a soft spot for Carry That Weight. It was also my first Beatles album I owned.
Best songs: I Want You (She's So Heavy), Here Comes The Sun, and Something.
#11. Revolver - The Beatles (1966)
Another gimmie. This was the cut-off point for the Beatles being interesting for me back when I started collecting when I was fourteen. Back then I liked from Revolver up to their end of career stuff. I gotta say, I'm still not a fan of Yellow Submarine though. The only negative to a great album. George Harrison's contributions, (Taxman, Love You To, and I Want To Tell You), are especially good.
Best songs: I'm Only Sleeping, I Want To Tell You, and Tomorrow Never Knows.
Most people will pick Painkiller, Screaming For Vengeance or British Steel over this one, but whilst all of those are great albums, this one is the most consistent for me. It's the heaviest album that Priest had done at this time and it was the last good album of the 1980s for them as well. I also like the extra mean-ness and gothicism.
Best songs: The Sentinel, Love Bites, and Night Comes Down.
#19. Queen II - Queen (1974)
This was one of the first complete Queen albums I ever heard, probably back when I was 8 or 9. It doesn't really have any hits on it, but then again my favorite Queen songs tend to be album cuts. Why is this better than most other Queen albums? It has a flow to it, which is one of Queen's biggest problems. The songs usually just don't fit together well. On this, the songs flow together so well that it's like there's only 2 songs on the whole album!
Best songs: Father To Son, White Queen (As It Began), and The March of The Black Queen.
#18. Led Zeppelin III - Led Zeppelin (1970)
Yes, Led Zeppelin finally makes the list. I'm one of the few that loves the different sound of III as opposed to other Zeppelin albums. It's more jam based and acoustic. Not that the other albums aren't great, but for once there seems to be actual feeling in a Zeppelin album here.
Best songs: Immigrant Song, Tangerine, and Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.
#17. The Yes Album - Yes (1971)
This is the album where Yes really got their sound. Perhaps it's due to Steve Howe joining. Some folks point to the follow up album, Fragile, as the quintessential Yes album. That has some filler in my opinion, whereas this whole album is well thought out. Still missing Rick Wakeman though...
Best songs: Starship Trooper, I've Seen All Good People, and Perpetual Change.
#16. Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy (1976)
Another recent addition to my ears, I first heard this album about four years ago for the first time. Since then, I probably listen to this in it's entirety at least once a month. It's very short, but it's got nothing I'd want to skip. It also includes their biggest hit, The Boys Are Back In Town.
Best songs: Romeo and The Lonely Girl, Cowboy Song, and Emerald.
#15. Hemispheres - Rush (1978)
This is the album that got me into Rush. Before this one, I didn't really like them. Oddly enough, this is the hardest album to get into for most people. It's their most progressive album, and even the band themselves think they may have gone to far in that direction. I mean, it only has 4 songs on it, one of them being about 20 minutes, and that one happens to be my favorite song on the album! Go figure!
Best songs: As there are only 4... all of them.
#14. Boston - Boston (1976)
You all knew that this would be on here. It's regularly considered one of the best rock albums of all time. It's short, it's catchy, and very very accessible. It's also one of the best produced albums of all time. I mean the guitar solos are multitracked to heaven, complete with a holy gloss. First heard it when I was about 9, and still one of my favorites.
Best songs: More Than A Feeling, Peace of Mind, Smokin'.
#13. Misplaced Childhood - Marillion (1985)
I had not even heard of Marillion until 2007. I came across a music video for one of the songs on this album, and I quickly got it. The album sounds like if Pink Floyd had gotten Peter Gabriel for their lead singer. It's odd, but it works. It's a very bipolar album though, going from sad to happy sometimes 2 or 3 times per song. It's also the reason we have so many girls born in '85-'86 named Kaleigh.
Best songs: Lavender, Heart of Lothian, and Blind Curve.
#12. Abbey Road - The Beatles (1969)
Yeah, I had to go with another obvious choice. Everyone loves Abbey Road. I mean it's sort of the last Beatles album, especially if you consider the fact that the Let It Be album was actually recorded first, even if it was released afterwards. My favorite George Harrison song, Here Comes The Sun is on here, and I do have a soft spot for Carry That Weight. It was also my first Beatles album I owned.
Best songs: I Want You (She's So Heavy), Here Comes The Sun, and Something.
#11. Revolver - The Beatles (1966)
Another gimmie. This was the cut-off point for the Beatles being interesting for me back when I started collecting when I was fourteen. Back then I liked from Revolver up to their end of career stuff. I gotta say, I'm still not a fan of Yellow Submarine though. The only negative to a great album. George Harrison's contributions, (Taxman, Love You To, and I Want To Tell You), are especially good.
Best songs: I'm Only Sleeping, I Want To Tell You, and Tomorrow Never Knows.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Weekly Media Report: August 2- 9
Books read...
Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief - After watching the movie, I decided that I should read the book to see what all the hate towards the movie was about. Yes, the book is better, but it doesn't matter as the journey in the movie is very different from the book. The goal is the same, but the challenges are fewer and different than in the book... and Percy is older in the movie as well. I still like the movie okay as just entertainment, even if it is pretty dumb, but the book is just okay too. It's a Harry Potter clone right down to the bone, but at an even lower reading level. I will continue to read the series, just so I can say I have. Besides, maybe the books will get better as they go along.
Movies watched...
Millions (2004) - I'm still not sure what I think of this one. It was my first time watching it, I knew what to expect, and it still felt odd. It include the Danny Boyle patented 3rd act left turn, and that was my favorite part I think. It's a feel good Christmas movie at heart, but it's also a heist film, a tearjerker, a family movie, and a religious film. It was entertaining, but I couldn't tell if I really enjoyed it or not. Like most Boyle films, I'll have to give it a few more tries.
Zombieland (2009) - This is my most watched blu-ray. This time I showed the movie to my sister. Unsurprisingly, she apparently liked it, as her and I have essentially the same taste in movies. I tend to rate Zombieland higher than Shaun of the Dead in terms of entertainment, though it's definitely not as smart or as poignant. Still, it stays funny and it's a really fun ride.
Queen Rock Montreal/Live Aid (1981/1985) - This was probably the last real Queen concert. After the 1981 tour, they added so many synths to the shows, it wasn't really Queen anymore. The show they put on here is phenomenal, with a fantastic light show. I was always more of a 70s Queen fan than an 80s one anyway, so the setlist on this is near optimal... (even though I'm growing to despise Crazy Little Thing Called Love) The Live Aid performance is pretty good too. Only a few songs long, but it includes my favorite Queen song, Hammer To Fall, even though the song was never great live. Live Aid has no light show, but the audience makes up for it. It's still considered one of the best live performances ever for a reason.
Meet Bill (2007) - I am convinced that Aaron Eckhart is one of the best actors out there. He makes some questionable decisions (The Core), but even in those, he still entertains me. This movie is, I believe, an independent film. It also stars Jessica Alba, Elizabeth Banks, and Logan Lerman, who now plays Percy Jackson. The movie is about Aaron Eckhart's character confronting his mid-life crisis and realizing he's accomplished nothing on his own, his wife has her own issues, and on top of that, he's really wanting a donut franchise. Enter youthful Logan Lerman, who helps him loosen up and get on with life. Pretty simple independent film premise, but it works for me. At least it isn't pseudo-intellectual drivel.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief - After watching the movie, I decided that I should read the book to see what all the hate towards the movie was about. Yes, the book is better, but it doesn't matter as the journey in the movie is very different from the book. The goal is the same, but the challenges are fewer and different than in the book... and Percy is older in the movie as well. I still like the movie okay as just entertainment, even if it is pretty dumb, but the book is just okay too. It's a Harry Potter clone right down to the bone, but at an even lower reading level. I will continue to read the series, just so I can say I have. Besides, maybe the books will get better as they go along.
Movies watched...
Millions (2004) - I'm still not sure what I think of this one. It was my first time watching it, I knew what to expect, and it still felt odd. It include the Danny Boyle patented 3rd act left turn, and that was my favorite part I think. It's a feel good Christmas movie at heart, but it's also a heist film, a tearjerker, a family movie, and a religious film. It was entertaining, but I couldn't tell if I really enjoyed it or not. Like most Boyle films, I'll have to give it a few more tries.
Zombieland (2009) - This is my most watched blu-ray. This time I showed the movie to my sister. Unsurprisingly, she apparently liked it, as her and I have essentially the same taste in movies. I tend to rate Zombieland higher than Shaun of the Dead in terms of entertainment, though it's definitely not as smart or as poignant. Still, it stays funny and it's a really fun ride.
Queen Rock Montreal/Live Aid (1981/1985) - This was probably the last real Queen concert. After the 1981 tour, they added so many synths to the shows, it wasn't really Queen anymore. The show they put on here is phenomenal, with a fantastic light show. I was always more of a 70s Queen fan than an 80s one anyway, so the setlist on this is near optimal... (even though I'm growing to despise Crazy Little Thing Called Love) The Live Aid performance is pretty good too. Only a few songs long, but it includes my favorite Queen song, Hammer To Fall, even though the song was never great live. Live Aid has no light show, but the audience makes up for it. It's still considered one of the best live performances ever for a reason.
Meet Bill (2007) - I am convinced that Aaron Eckhart is one of the best actors out there. He makes some questionable decisions (The Core), but even in those, he still entertains me. This movie is, I believe, an independent film. It also stars Jessica Alba, Elizabeth Banks, and Logan Lerman, who now plays Percy Jackson. The movie is about Aaron Eckhart's character confronting his mid-life crisis and realizing he's accomplished nothing on his own, his wife has her own issues, and on top of that, he's really wanting a donut franchise. Enter youthful Logan Lerman, who helps him loosen up and get on with life. Pretty simple independent film premise, but it works for me. At least it isn't pseudo-intellectual drivel.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Weekly Media Report : July 25- August 1
So I originally started this blog to review every single movie I watch, book I read, etc, and I feel that now's the time to start it. This is for the week of July 25-August 1.
Movies Watched
...In Theaters...
Inception (2nd viewing) - I still think this is better than The Dark Knight. Maybe because it's not an adaptation of some sort. The visuals of course I fantastic, but I very much liked the plot. It's not totally original or new, but it's done in such a grand and intriguing way that I didn't really care. Oddly enough, viewing it this second time, I noticed a few similarities to the other DiCaprio movie of 2010, Shutter Island.
...From My Collection...
Dead Like Me: Season 2 (2004) - This is a great series, but some of the episodes towards the end of season 1 weren't as good. Season 2 made up for that. There really weren't any uninteresting ones, and it expanded on the mythology only a little bit. I feel a bit let down that I'm done with the series, but in actuality there's not much more they could have done with it. At least there's the TV movie still left, but I've heard mixed things about it.
Rear Window (1954) - It's been one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite Hitchcock film for years, and I finally watched my remastered copy. One of the best suspense movies of all time and pretty funny to boot. Staged almost as a play would be, as I think it was one at one point, and that works to it's advantage. Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Raymond Burr. Fantastic stuff.
Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage (2010) - Yes, I'm a Rush fan. This documentary spans their whole career, which is good, as they've changed a lot musically over the years. It does skimp on the post-70s stuff though, which is sad. I've seen this 3 times over the past 3 weeks or so, and it stays interesting and funny. All the members of the band are hilarious. It was sad to find out that my 3 favorite albums (Hemispheres, Power Windows, and Hold Your Fire) are the ones where they thought they'd gone too far in one direction and reversed course on the next ones though. Pity.
Styx: Caught In The Act (1983) - This is a live concert from the year that Styx ended up breaking up for the first time. And it was this tour that caused it. It's based on the Kilroy Was Here album, which had this concept of some Moral Majority type group banning rock music and a resistance fighting back. Yeah, it's not that great. The lead songwriter/singer, Dennis DeYoung made this a theatrical type thing with everyone in the band in their respective roles. The tour failed and the rest of the band hated it. The songs are performed well, but it's heavy-handed and the stage play portions fail miserably.
Army of Darkness (1993) - This is my least favorite Evil Dead film, but I still love it. It was my first time seeing the American cut in years, as I had only owned the Director's Cut DVD until now. I gotta say, this version is better. The ending for the director's cut did fit thematically for the series, but this ending (the one in S-Mart) fits the movie better. I was amazed at how quotable this movie was as well. I'd forgotten that and how short the movie is... It's like an hour and fifteen minutes!
Once Upon A Time In The West (1968) - Sergio Leone's operatic western. Some call it slow and boring, I call it a feast for the senses. It's beautiful in every way shape and form. Sure, it's light on action, but the story makes up for it. There's a feeling of melancholy throughout, even with the humorous bits. I don't think a western can ever eclipse this. It really was the last great American western. (And this one was even filmed there!)
Jaws (1975) - I watch this one every summer, and it never gets old. I always notice a line that I missed or some detail in the background. The Kintner death still really affects me every time, mainly because you can't really tell what's happening from that angle. It's like documentary footage, as it's Brody's POV. The shark may look sort of fake today, but it scares me more than any CGI creature I've seen. It may be mechanical, but it could still kill ya. I also have to give props to Dreyfuss and Shaw. The banter between those two really makes the movie. One of Spielberg's best.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) - I saw this in theaters, and while it's still not my favorite Gilliam film, I liked it better this viewing. They really made Heath Ledger's death a non-issue with the reshoots with Depp, Law, and Farrell. The movie is definitely not for everyone, but that's true of most Gilliam films. I'm still confused by the last fifteen minutes of the film.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) - Yet another I saw originally in theaters. I am one of the few that likes this better than Columbus's two Harry Potter films. This one strays from the book widely. The main characters are about 5 years older than they are in the book, and the plot is trimmed down so much that we have no idea why it's a big deal that the Lightning Bolt is stolen. Sounds like a bad adaptation, but in the movie it doesn't matter. It's not following the book to a T. It's good for a younger audience, but it's only good for light entertainment, and nothing more.
Jaws 2 (1978) - This is often unfairly lumped in with the rest of the Jaws sequels as being a horrible movie. It's not. It's still got good acting, Scheider is back as well as most of the town, and it's still suspenseful. It's not as expertly crafted, but it's a good monster movie. I'd say it's like a well acted slasher film with the shark as the killer. It's actually a pretty worthy sequel.
Tomorrow I will post a review of the book I just finished reading, John Irving's Last Night In Twister River.
Movies Watched
...In Theaters...
Inception (2nd viewing) - I still think this is better than The Dark Knight. Maybe because it's not an adaptation of some sort. The visuals of course I fantastic, but I very much liked the plot. It's not totally original or new, but it's done in such a grand and intriguing way that I didn't really care. Oddly enough, viewing it this second time, I noticed a few similarities to the other DiCaprio movie of 2010, Shutter Island.
...From My Collection...
Dead Like Me: Season 2 (2004) - This is a great series, but some of the episodes towards the end of season 1 weren't as good. Season 2 made up for that. There really weren't any uninteresting ones, and it expanded on the mythology only a little bit. I feel a bit let down that I'm done with the series, but in actuality there's not much more they could have done with it. At least there's the TV movie still left, but I've heard mixed things about it.
Rear Window (1954) - It's been one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite Hitchcock film for years, and I finally watched my remastered copy. One of the best suspense movies of all time and pretty funny to boot. Staged almost as a play would be, as I think it was one at one point, and that works to it's advantage. Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly, and Raymond Burr. Fantastic stuff.
Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage (2010) - Yes, I'm a Rush fan. This documentary spans their whole career, which is good, as they've changed a lot musically over the years. It does skimp on the post-70s stuff though, which is sad. I've seen this 3 times over the past 3 weeks or so, and it stays interesting and funny. All the members of the band are hilarious. It was sad to find out that my 3 favorite albums (Hemispheres, Power Windows, and Hold Your Fire) are the ones where they thought they'd gone too far in one direction and reversed course on the next ones though. Pity.
Styx: Caught In The Act (1983) - This is a live concert from the year that Styx ended up breaking up for the first time. And it was this tour that caused it. It's based on the Kilroy Was Here album, which had this concept of some Moral Majority type group banning rock music and a resistance fighting back. Yeah, it's not that great. The lead songwriter/singer, Dennis DeYoung made this a theatrical type thing with everyone in the band in their respective roles. The tour failed and the rest of the band hated it. The songs are performed well, but it's heavy-handed and the stage play portions fail miserably.
Army of Darkness (1993) - This is my least favorite Evil Dead film, but I still love it. It was my first time seeing the American cut in years, as I had only owned the Director's Cut DVD until now. I gotta say, this version is better. The ending for the director's cut did fit thematically for the series, but this ending (the one in S-Mart) fits the movie better. I was amazed at how quotable this movie was as well. I'd forgotten that and how short the movie is... It's like an hour and fifteen minutes!
Once Upon A Time In The West (1968) - Sergio Leone's operatic western. Some call it slow and boring, I call it a feast for the senses. It's beautiful in every way shape and form. Sure, it's light on action, but the story makes up for it. There's a feeling of melancholy throughout, even with the humorous bits. I don't think a western can ever eclipse this. It really was the last great American western. (And this one was even filmed there!)
Jaws (1975) - I watch this one every summer, and it never gets old. I always notice a line that I missed or some detail in the background. The Kintner death still really affects me every time, mainly because you can't really tell what's happening from that angle. It's like documentary footage, as it's Brody's POV. The shark may look sort of fake today, but it scares me more than any CGI creature I've seen. It may be mechanical, but it could still kill ya. I also have to give props to Dreyfuss and Shaw. The banter between those two really makes the movie. One of Spielberg's best.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) - I saw this in theaters, and while it's still not my favorite Gilliam film, I liked it better this viewing. They really made Heath Ledger's death a non-issue with the reshoots with Depp, Law, and Farrell. The movie is definitely not for everyone, but that's true of most Gilliam films. I'm still confused by the last fifteen minutes of the film.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) - Yet another I saw originally in theaters. I am one of the few that likes this better than Columbus's two Harry Potter films. This one strays from the book widely. The main characters are about 5 years older than they are in the book, and the plot is trimmed down so much that we have no idea why it's a big deal that the Lightning Bolt is stolen. Sounds like a bad adaptation, but in the movie it doesn't matter. It's not following the book to a T. It's good for a younger audience, but it's only good for light entertainment, and nothing more.
Jaws 2 (1978) - This is often unfairly lumped in with the rest of the Jaws sequels as being a horrible movie. It's not. It's still got good acting, Scheider is back as well as most of the town, and it's still suspenseful. It's not as expertly crafted, but it's a good monster movie. I'd say it's like a well acted slasher film with the shark as the killer. It's actually a pretty worthy sequel.
Tomorrow I will post a review of the book I just finished reading, John Irving's Last Night In Twister River.
The Lost Soul's 50 favorite albums #25-21
#25. Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good - Megadeth (1985)
Megadeth's first album is probably their heaviest, and it has a meanness and bite to it that none of the albums after it have. The songs seemingly flow into each other. The production used to be horrible, but it was remastered about 5 years ago, and sounds great now. The only bad thing is that the cover of "These Boots" was bleeped out almost the whole way through.
Best songs: Last Rites/Loved To Death, Rattlehead, and Mechanix.
#24. American Idiot - Green Day (2004)
Yes, I know it's unfashionable to like this album. I don't care. It's a great concept album, and the songs are catchy... even the 8 minute ones. Sure, it may anger some older Green Day fans, but I never was one. It encapsulates the mid-2000s mindset very well. Alas, they tried to catch fire twice with 21st Century Breakdown, which was just OK. This, however, is great.
Best songs: Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday, and Homecoming.
#23. Aqualung - Jethro Tull (1971)
Probably Jethro Tull's most accessible and well-known album. It's sort of two concept albums on one disc. The first 6 songs are about a homeless guy called Aqualung, and the rest of the songs are about how Religion is ungodly. I tend towards the second half of the album, but both are amazing.
Best songs: Aqualung, Hymn 43, and Wind Up.
#22. The Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne (1981)
I didn't actually hear this album until a few years ago, and even then, it took a few listens to grow on me. I usually despise Ozzy, personally. I'll credit the album to the others in the band, as Ozzy wrote nothing on it. The guitar playing is out of this world, and the songs a mix of beautiful, fun, and eerie.
Best songs: Goodbye To Romance, Mr. Crowley, and Revelation (Mother Earth).
#21. Animals - Pink Floyd (1977)
Probably the least accessible of their classic albums, but I love the droning pomposity of it all. The song only has 3 real songs on it, with 2 small bookends, and every second of it counts. Roger Waters may be a prick, but he can write some beautiful, eerie stuff. Pigs is a perfect example.
Best songs: The whole thing... only has 3 real songs...
Megadeth's first album is probably their heaviest, and it has a meanness and bite to it that none of the albums after it have. The songs seemingly flow into each other. The production used to be horrible, but it was remastered about 5 years ago, and sounds great now. The only bad thing is that the cover of "These Boots" was bleeped out almost the whole way through.
Best songs: Last Rites/Loved To Death, Rattlehead, and Mechanix.
#24. American Idiot - Green Day (2004)
Yes, I know it's unfashionable to like this album. I don't care. It's a great concept album, and the songs are catchy... even the 8 minute ones. Sure, it may anger some older Green Day fans, but I never was one. It encapsulates the mid-2000s mindset very well. Alas, they tried to catch fire twice with 21st Century Breakdown, which was just OK. This, however, is great.
Best songs: Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday, and Homecoming.
#23. Aqualung - Jethro Tull (1971)
Probably Jethro Tull's most accessible and well-known album. It's sort of two concept albums on one disc. The first 6 songs are about a homeless guy called Aqualung, and the rest of the songs are about how Religion is ungodly. I tend towards the second half of the album, but both are amazing.
Best songs: Aqualung, Hymn 43, and Wind Up.
#22. The Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne (1981)
I didn't actually hear this album until a few years ago, and even then, it took a few listens to grow on me. I usually despise Ozzy, personally. I'll credit the album to the others in the band, as Ozzy wrote nothing on it. The guitar playing is out of this world, and the songs a mix of beautiful, fun, and eerie.
Best songs: Goodbye To Romance, Mr. Crowley, and Revelation (Mother Earth).
#21. Animals - Pink Floyd (1977)
Probably the least accessible of their classic albums, but I love the droning pomposity of it all. The song only has 3 real songs on it, with 2 small bookends, and every second of it counts. Roger Waters may be a prick, but he can write some beautiful, eerie stuff. Pigs is a perfect example.
Best songs: The whole thing... only has 3 real songs...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Concert write up: Iron Maiden, July 20, 2010
Iron Maiden has been my favorite band for about 7 years now. I was bored my first year of college, and decided that I needed a new band to be into. I started looking into some heavier stuff than what I was used to at the time, which was Styx, Queen, Aerosmith, Van Halen… mainly classic rock stuff. Well, I came across the Maiden album covers and decided I needed to hear them. I downloaded some music videos, (No Youtube back then folks!), and they are still my favorite band today. I first saw them live two years ago on the Somewhere Back In Time Tour. That tour was a “classics” tour with most of the songs being from the 1980s. (All but one, which was the setlist staple, “Fear of The Dark” from 1992.) That was the best concert I’d ever been to. It had pyro, lots of dry ice, a great stage design, and of course classic songs. The concert this year, which was for the Final Frontier World Tour was about as different from that as you can get…
The Set:
This North American leg of the tour is just a sort of fling for the band before the Final Frontier album comes out on August 17th. They are trying to get the album as high on the charts as they can. (The last album, “A Matter of Life and Death”, made it to #9 in 2006.) They will be coming back to tour for the actual album next year. As the album isn’t out yet, they are playing only one song from the new album this time around, and that’s a song they released for free on the internet last month called “El Dorado.” There are also not many 80s songs in the set. In fact, most of the songs are from the last 3 Iron Maiden albums! In the horrible concert climate right now, that takes balls, and yet whilst American Idol has cancelled 8 days, Iron Maiden came filled the seats of almost every show. They played to 80,000 people in Ottawa this tour, and they’ve broken their own records for crowds at most every show. Sure, there’s been some complaining about the setlist. You won’t hear “The Trooper”, “Run To The Hills”, or “2 Minutes To Midnight”. My response? Who cares?! Iron Maiden is one of the few bands that their new stuff is just as good as their classics. Now yes, it’s a different type of metal now, more progressive and dark, but it’s just as catchy and you can still sing along pretty well. Those classics will be there again. The band and the hardcore fans just wanted to do the new stuff for a bit.
Setlist was as follows.
1. The Wicker Man (from Brave New World, 2000)
2. Ghost of the Navigator (from BNW)
3. Wrathchild (from Killers, 1981)
4. El Dorado (from The Final Frontier, 2010)
5. Dance of Death (from Dance of Death, 2003)
6. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (from A Matter of Life and Death, 2006)
7. These Colours Don’t Run (from AMOLAD, 2006)
8. Blood Brothers (from BNW, 2000)
9. Wildest Dreams (from DOD, 2003)
10. No More Lies (from DOD, 2003)
11. Brave New World (from BNW, 2000)
12. Fear of The Dark (from Fear of The Dark, 1992)
13. Iron Maiden (from Iron Maiden, 1980)
Encore:
14. The Number of The Beast (from The Number of The Beast, 1982)
15. Hallowed Be Thy Name (from TNOTB, 1982)
16. Running Free (From IM, 1980)
Notice that there are no songs from the true “classic” Maiden period, which was the four album stretch between 1983-1988. Now the setlist did change a bit from the first couple of shows. There was in fact, one more newer song in the set. It was a longer song from their last album called “Brighter Than A Thousand Suns”. It was replaced after the first date of the tour with the much shorter early 80s number, “Wrathchild,” which is not one of my favorites. Also, in the first part of the tour, they were alternating between “Paschendale” and “Dance of Death”, which are the two main epics from the “Dance of Death” album (2003). After a while, they just stuck with “Dance of Death.” Both songs are excellent, but “Paschendale” is harder to play by a long shot. They just couldn’t get it right and apparently one of the backdrops failed or something.
The Production:
The show had a much smaller production than the ones on the last tour. There was no big inflatable Eddie rising behind the drum set, there was no pyro… Eddie still did his walk on appearance, even miming playing a guitar! There was still some dry ice as well. The show on the whole just felt a lot more intimate as a result. I don’t know if it was because I sat a bit closer this time or if it was the minimal production though. The stage set was also not as complex, looking a bit like a derelict landing pad or something. All of this did not really detract from the show though. It was nice that it was more intimate. Also the light effects were much better. The last tour had a yellow, white, and red color scheme for the lights, as it was Egypt themed. This one was mainly red, blue, green and white. It was darker on the whole. It was subtly space themed, and so those lights worked. The light programs were more complex as well, and the lighting rig was… interesting to look at.
The Crowd:
Here’s the one aspect of the show I’m kind of saddened about. The last tour the audience was really into it. They knew every song, they were jumping up and down, head banging, fists in the air the whole show. This time… I felt I was the only one in my area doing anything. Sure, the pit was still pretty active, but as I looked around me, most people had their arms crossed… few knew the words… there was too much texting going on. Do you really go to concerts to text nowadays? That’s almost worse than doing it in the movies! What a waste of money! Anyway, the crowd got better about five songs in. I guess they realized that this was not a classics tour and that they should just enjoy themselves. More people started banging their fists along with the music and head banging, and by the end of the concert, it was pretty wild.
It was a great show. Very different from my first, but almost as good! I will be sure to see them on the proper album tour, even if the closest they come in New York. Maiden are playing better than they ever have. Even better than the 80s! Bruce can still hit the notes, even while he’s running all over the stage and jumping over monitors. I very much recommend an Iron Maiden show to anyone. Even if you don’t know the songs, they always put on a hell of a show for ya.
Oh, and just a few words about the opening act, Dream Theater. I just recently got into Dream Theater big about six months ago. Before that I only owned two of their earlier albums. They’ve gone through a big change in the past 10 years towards a more metal direction, away from their progressive rock sound. I’m not too happy with that, and most of the songs they played were from this period. They played 6 songs, only 2 of them being from the 90s. Even the songs they played from their newer albums were the “hits”. Constant Motion and Panic Attack are both Rock Band 2 songs, even. Still, the band was entertaining. The highlight was Mike Portnoy’s drum solo, which incorporated parts of four Maiden songs. (Run To The Hills, The Trooper, Where Eagles Dare, and The Prisoner.) For The Prisoner part, the guitarist, John Petrucci, was out of tune a little, and out walks one of Maiden’s guitarists, Adrian Smith. He looks at him weird and walks offstage smiling as Petrucci tries to hand him the guitar. Other than that moment, the only parts that real caught my interest were the end song, Pull Me Under, and Home, the other 90s song. When it comes to Dream Theater, you really need to see one of their 3 hour concerts.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Lost Soul's 50 favorite albums - #30-26
#30. Keeper of The Seven Keys - Helloween (1988/1989)
I'm sort of cheating on this one. Keeper is actually two albums. (Pt1 and Pt2 released a year apart.) However, they are both fantastic, and both are the same style. Both are German power metal, made with the genre's founder, guitarist Kai Hansen, later of Gamma Ray. The albums are somewhat cheesy and lighthearted.
Best songs: Halloween, Eagle Fly Free, and I Want Out.
#29. In Rock - Deep Purple (1970)
This is one of those albums I was blown away with the first time I heard it. It's loud, it's hyper... It sometimes sounds like the band pressed record and put down whatever came to their heads. It's probably harder edged than any other rock album at the time. This isn't Smoke on The Water. This is something much more rocking.
Best songs: Flight of The Rat, Child In Time, and Hard Lovin' Man.
#28. 2112 - Rush (1976)
It took me a while to appreciate this one. I mean, the first track is 20 1/2 minutes! Still, that track has a great sci-fi story to it, and the rest of the songs are of exceptional quality. One of the few Rush albums that doesn't have EVERY song lyric by Neil Peart.
Best songs: 2112, A Passage To Bangkok, and Something For Nothing.
#27. Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins (1993)
One of the few 90s albums on here. Regretfully in the early 90s, I wasn't listening to the rock hits of the day. I discovered this album about three years ago. I was blown away. This is much better than Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. The songs flow better, they are better written, and they rock harder.
Best songs: Geek USA, Silverfuck, and Disarm.
#26. Piece of Mind - Iron Maiden (1983)
This is Maiden's pop culture album. The songs are all about historical figures, mythology, movies, and books. A few people think the last half of the album is lacking. It's still good to me. Quest For Fire may be silly, but the guitar solos are great. This album also includes one of Maiden's best known songs... The Trooper.
Best songs: Where Eagles Dare, Revelations, and The Trooper.
I'm sort of cheating on this one. Keeper is actually two albums. (Pt1 and Pt2 released a year apart.) However, they are both fantastic, and both are the same style. Both are German power metal, made with the genre's founder, guitarist Kai Hansen, later of Gamma Ray. The albums are somewhat cheesy and lighthearted.
Best songs: Halloween, Eagle Fly Free, and I Want Out.
#29. In Rock - Deep Purple (1970)
This is one of those albums I was blown away with the first time I heard it. It's loud, it's hyper... It sometimes sounds like the band pressed record and put down whatever came to their heads. It's probably harder edged than any other rock album at the time. This isn't Smoke on The Water. This is something much more rocking.
Best songs: Flight of The Rat, Child In Time, and Hard Lovin' Man.
#28. 2112 - Rush (1976)
It took me a while to appreciate this one. I mean, the first track is 20 1/2 minutes! Still, that track has a great sci-fi story to it, and the rest of the songs are of exceptional quality. One of the few Rush albums that doesn't have EVERY song lyric by Neil Peart.
Best songs: 2112, A Passage To Bangkok, and Something For Nothing.
#27. Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins (1993)
One of the few 90s albums on here. Regretfully in the early 90s, I wasn't listening to the rock hits of the day. I discovered this album about three years ago. I was blown away. This is much better than Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. The songs flow better, they are better written, and they rock harder.
Best songs: Geek USA, Silverfuck, and Disarm.
#26. Piece of Mind - Iron Maiden (1983)
This is Maiden's pop culture album. The songs are all about historical figures, mythology, movies, and books. A few people think the last half of the album is lacking. It's still good to me. Quest For Fire may be silly, but the guitar solos are great. This album also includes one of Maiden's best known songs... The Trooper.
Best songs: Where Eagles Dare, Revelations, and The Trooper.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Lost Soul's 50 favorite albums #35-31
#35. The Metal Opera - Avantasia (2001/2002)
I'm semi-cheating here. This is actually two albums released seperately, Part 1 and Part 2 of a full work. Still, I count it as one album. If you ever want an all-encompassing feel of power metal, get these albums. It includes most of the best power metal performers from a dozen bands. The album is a metal opera in the way a rock opera is an opera. Different people for different roles. The story is pretty good too.
Best Songs: Farewell, The Tower, and The Seven Angels
#34. Let It Be - The Beatles (1970)
Yes, I'm one of the few that really loves this Beatles album, and I even love Phil Spector's production. It may be Beatles leftovers, but that's better than most band's best stuff. The song selections flow pretty well, whilst keeping a "jam" type feel, complete with studio chat between tracks. I also must point out that the version of the song Let It Be included on the album is much better than the more popular single version.
Best Songs: Let It Be, I've Got A Feeling, and Dig A Pony.
#33. Origin of Symmetry - Muse (2001)
I love every Muse album... the first one a bit less than the others. Surprisingly though, my favorite is the one that comes right after my least favorite. It's not so mainstream as their modern stuff, and the sounds are amazing. Matt Bellamy's screams and falsetto are a force to behold.
Best Songs: Hyper Music, Bliss, and Plug In Baby.
#32. Damnation - Opeth (2003)
Opeth's only soft albums. No death metal vocals on this one, as it's creepy sounding progressive rock all the way through, and it is amazing. This should be listened to whilst immersed in a dark room.
Best Songs: Death Whispered A Lullaby, Hope Leaves, and To Rid The Disease.
#31. A Day At The Races - Queen (1976)
No, not Night At The Opera... Day At The Races. I know it's probably not the BETTER album, but I like it better. It has a very nice flow to it. It's conductive to a complete listen through on the fly. That's one of the most important things to me. Also, the album has many of the Queen songs that I find underrated like You and I & Teo Torriate.
Best Songs: Long Away, Somebody To Love, and Teo Torriate (Let Us Cling Together)
I'm semi-cheating here. This is actually two albums released seperately, Part 1 and Part 2 of a full work. Still, I count it as one album. If you ever want an all-encompassing feel of power metal, get these albums. It includes most of the best power metal performers from a dozen bands. The album is a metal opera in the way a rock opera is an opera. Different people for different roles. The story is pretty good too.
Best Songs: Farewell, The Tower, and The Seven Angels
#34. Let It Be - The Beatles (1970)
Yes, I'm one of the few that really loves this Beatles album, and I even love Phil Spector's production. It may be Beatles leftovers, but that's better than most band's best stuff. The song selections flow pretty well, whilst keeping a "jam" type feel, complete with studio chat between tracks. I also must point out that the version of the song Let It Be included on the album is much better than the more popular single version.
Best Songs: Let It Be, I've Got A Feeling, and Dig A Pony.
#33. Origin of Symmetry - Muse (2001)
I love every Muse album... the first one a bit less than the others. Surprisingly though, my favorite is the one that comes right after my least favorite. It's not so mainstream as their modern stuff, and the sounds are amazing. Matt Bellamy's screams and falsetto are a force to behold.
Best Songs: Hyper Music, Bliss, and Plug In Baby.
#32. Damnation - Opeth (2003)
Opeth's only soft albums. No death metal vocals on this one, as it's creepy sounding progressive rock all the way through, and it is amazing. This should be listened to whilst immersed in a dark room.
Best Songs: Death Whispered A Lullaby, Hope Leaves, and To Rid The Disease.
#31. A Day At The Races - Queen (1976)
No, not Night At The Opera... Day At The Races. I know it's probably not the BETTER album, but I like it better. It has a very nice flow to it. It's conductive to a complete listen through on the fly. That's one of the most important things to me. Also, the album has many of the Queen songs that I find underrated like You and I & Teo Torriate.
Best Songs: Long Away, Somebody To Love, and Teo Torriate (Let Us Cling Together)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Lost Soul's 50 favorite albums #40-36
#40. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (1973)
Despite it being a double album, I think all the songs on here are great. (Yes, even Jamaica Jerk-Off!) The first side of the first record was of course the big hit, and is also MY favorite part. I still find Bennie and the Jets to be trying in large doses though.
Best Songs - Funeral For A Friend (Love Lies Bleeding), This Song Has No Title, and Roy Rogers.
#39. Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath (1980)
...and here we are with Dio again! Now, I gotta say, I like Dio-fronted Sabbath more than Ozzy-fronted. It's a completely different style and sound. Dio made the band sound more like Rainbow, which is a great thing. The lyrics turned towards sorcery and such over women, which is what the last few Sabbath albums before this had been about. A great turnaround and a perfect album.
Best Songs - Die Young, Heaven & Hell, Wishing Well (hard to choose really)
#38. Somewhere Out In Space - Gamma Ray (1997)
It was hard to choose between Gamma Ray albums. They are probably my favorite power metal group. Their problem is that some of their albums don't flow together as well as they should. This one does. It's a pretty long album, but it's still one I play a lot. Every song is space themed. I wish they'd play more songs from it in concert, especially Shine On/Rising Star.
Best Songs - Beyond The Black Hole, Pray, and Shine On/Rising Star
#37. Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy (1976)
Thin Lizzy is another one of those bands that I got into within the last five years. This was the first album I got. I had heard that they'd inspired my favorite group, Iron Maiden. Well, the whole album is fantastic. Not one weak song in the whole bunch. Again, it's short and lends itself to repeated listenings all the way through. It includes their only American hit, The Boys Are Back in Town, but I prefer The Cowboy Song.
Best Songs - Jailbreak, Cowboy Song, and Emerald
#36. Van Halen - Van Halen (1977)
It's a classic for a reason in this case. Hard enough to almost be metal at parts, but not so much that the mainstream radio didn't like it. It also was the premier of the great Eddie Van Halen. It's known mainly for the first three tracks, which admittedly show off the band very well, but the rest of the album is just as good, if not better. This was one of the first bands and albums I got into that my dad didn't like first when I was 15, so it's very special to me.
Best Songs - Ice Cream Man, I'm The One, and Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Despite it being a double album, I think all the songs on here are great. (Yes, even Jamaica Jerk-Off!) The first side of the first record was of course the big hit, and is also MY favorite part. I still find Bennie and the Jets to be trying in large doses though.
Best Songs - Funeral For A Friend (Love Lies Bleeding), This Song Has No Title, and Roy Rogers.
#39. Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath (1980)
...and here we are with Dio again! Now, I gotta say, I like Dio-fronted Sabbath more than Ozzy-fronted. It's a completely different style and sound. Dio made the band sound more like Rainbow, which is a great thing. The lyrics turned towards sorcery and such over women, which is what the last few Sabbath albums before this had been about. A great turnaround and a perfect album.
Best Songs - Die Young, Heaven & Hell, Wishing Well (hard to choose really)
#38. Somewhere Out In Space - Gamma Ray (1997)
It was hard to choose between Gamma Ray albums. They are probably my favorite power metal group. Their problem is that some of their albums don't flow together as well as they should. This one does. It's a pretty long album, but it's still one I play a lot. Every song is space themed. I wish they'd play more songs from it in concert, especially Shine On/Rising Star.
Best Songs - Beyond The Black Hole, Pray, and Shine On/Rising Star
#37. Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy (1976)
Thin Lizzy is another one of those bands that I got into within the last five years. This was the first album I got. I had heard that they'd inspired my favorite group, Iron Maiden. Well, the whole album is fantastic. Not one weak song in the whole bunch. Again, it's short and lends itself to repeated listenings all the way through. It includes their only American hit, The Boys Are Back in Town, but I prefer The Cowboy Song.
Best Songs - Jailbreak, Cowboy Song, and Emerald
#36. Van Halen - Van Halen (1977)
It's a classic for a reason in this case. Hard enough to almost be metal at parts, but not so much that the mainstream radio didn't like it. It also was the premier of the great Eddie Van Halen. It's known mainly for the first three tracks, which admittedly show off the band very well, but the rest of the album is just as good, if not better. This was one of the first bands and albums I got into that my dad didn't like first when I was 15, so it's very special to me.
Best Songs - Ice Cream Man, I'm The One, and Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
The Lost Soul's favorite albums #45-41
#45. The Nylon Curtain - Billy Joel (1982)
This is another of those albums I've had in some form since I was about twelve, and it's my favorite full Billy Joel album. In my opinion, it's also his last truly great album. It's a tribute to the Beatles, really. All of the songs have a latter day Beatles sound, especially Surprise and Laura, which sound very Lennonesque.
Best Songs - Surprise, Pressure, and Scandinavian Skies
#44. Holy Diver - Dio (1983)
I only heard this album in full a few months ago, but I had previously heard all but two songs from the album. It's Dio's first, and arguably his best, solo work. It's moody, cryptic, and another of those short albums that just flows so well you can listen to it all the way through any time anywhere.
Best Songs - Holy Diver, Don't Talk To Strangers, and Shame On The Night
#43. Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? - Megadeth (1986)
If most people were to pick the two best Megadeth albums, I can about guarantee it'd be this and Rust In Peace. Well, I agree on this album at least. Their second album, and one of their heaviest. Chris Poland was always my favorite Megadeth guitarist. This is the one of the last Megadeth albums where I still feel Dave Mustaine's anger fueling things.
Best Songs - Peace Sells, Bad Omen, and My Last Words (probably my favorite Megadeth song)
#42. Imaginations From The Other Side - Blind Guardian (1995)
I love German power metal. The music is so over the top and happy sounding... Well, most of the time. This album is pretty dark in comparison to most power metal. Blind Guardian is very literature based, but on this album, not as much. No Dark Tower or other Stephen King based songs here. It's their most cohesive work along with Nightfall In Middle Earth. Mordred's Song is one of my top 5 Blind Guardian songs. Check it out.
Best Songs - Imaginations From The Other Side, A Past and Future Secret, and Mordred's Song
#41. The Turn of A Friendly Card - The Alan Parsons Project (1980)
My dad was a big Alan Parsons Project fan in the late 70s, early 80s. I had heard 2 or 3 albums by the time I was 10, but not this one. I finally heard it in full about 5 years ago, and it's now, surprisingly here in my top 50. It's another short album, with both pop and progressive elements. The only weak part is the instrumental "The Gold Bug". The 5 part suite at the end is phenomenal, and Games People Play is probably my favorite disco-ish song.
Best Songs - Turn of A Friendly Card, Games People Play, and Time
This is another of those albums I've had in some form since I was about twelve, and it's my favorite full Billy Joel album. In my opinion, it's also his last truly great album. It's a tribute to the Beatles, really. All of the songs have a latter day Beatles sound, especially Surprise and Laura, which sound very Lennonesque.
Best Songs - Surprise, Pressure, and Scandinavian Skies
#44. Holy Diver - Dio (1983)
I only heard this album in full a few months ago, but I had previously heard all but two songs from the album. It's Dio's first, and arguably his best, solo work. It's moody, cryptic, and another of those short albums that just flows so well you can listen to it all the way through any time anywhere.
Best Songs - Holy Diver, Don't Talk To Strangers, and Shame On The Night
#43. Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? - Megadeth (1986)
If most people were to pick the two best Megadeth albums, I can about guarantee it'd be this and Rust In Peace. Well, I agree on this album at least. Their second album, and one of their heaviest. Chris Poland was always my favorite Megadeth guitarist. This is the one of the last Megadeth albums where I still feel Dave Mustaine's anger fueling things.
Best Songs - Peace Sells, Bad Omen, and My Last Words (probably my favorite Megadeth song)
#42. Imaginations From The Other Side - Blind Guardian (1995)
I love German power metal. The music is so over the top and happy sounding... Well, most of the time. This album is pretty dark in comparison to most power metal. Blind Guardian is very literature based, but on this album, not as much. No Dark Tower or other Stephen King based songs here. It's their most cohesive work along with Nightfall In Middle Earth. Mordred's Song is one of my top 5 Blind Guardian songs. Check it out.
Best Songs - Imaginations From The Other Side, A Past and Future Secret, and Mordred's Song
#41. The Turn of A Friendly Card - The Alan Parsons Project (1980)
My dad was a big Alan Parsons Project fan in the late 70s, early 80s. I had heard 2 or 3 albums by the time I was 10, but not this one. I finally heard it in full about 5 years ago, and it's now, surprisingly here in my top 50. It's another short album, with both pop and progressive elements. The only weak part is the instrumental "The Gold Bug". The 5 part suite at the end is phenomenal, and Games People Play is probably my favorite disco-ish song.
Best Songs - Turn of A Friendly Card, Games People Play, and Time
The Lost Soul's favorite albums #50-46
*This is just a notice. This is not a "best album" list, but rather a "favorite album" list. There is a difference. I don't think that all of these albums would be great for everyone. These are simply what I listen to the most because I enjoy them the most. Got it? Good. Also this list will not include live albums or greatest hit packages.
With that out of the way, here we go!
#50. Images and Words - Dream Theater (1992)
This is the most recent addition to my list, not by year, but of my approval. I used to not like Dream Theater much. I had only heard their Train of Thought album, which is not their best. This one is more prog rock, less noodly metal. It's got some very pretty songs on it. It's only their second album too, and their first with James Labrie.
Best Songs - Surrounded, Pull Me Under, and Learning To Live
#49. The Grand Illusion - Styx (1977)
I've had this album in various forms since I was about twelve. There's not one song on here I don't like. Some are stronger than the others, or else it'd be in the top 20. When someone talks about "art rock", they are probably referring to an album like this. Sort of prog-rock lite.
Best Songs - Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man), Man In The Wilderness, and Castle Walls
#48. Destiny - Stratovarius (1998)
Most have probably not heard of this band. They are a Finnish power metal group. This album is from their heyday. It's the most progressive release, although I had a hard time picking between this and it's follow up, Infinite. Lots of feeling in these songs, along with some playful keyboard and guitar work. It's a dark-sounding album, musically, but lyrically it's pretty hopeful.
Best Songs - Destiny, No Turning Back, and Anthem of The World
#47. Argus - Wishbone Ash (1972)
This is an album that's been scandalously forgotten by most of the world. It's Wishbone Ash's only great album, and it inspired countless bands (Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy to name two). It's one of the first albums to have twin guitar harmonies, and nowhere else on the album is two guitar brought to better effect than on Throw Down The Sword, which has two beautiful guitar solos going on at the same time, playing two different things, but converging in the middle, just to split again afterwards.
Best Songs - Throw Down The Sword, Time Was, and The King Will Come
#46. Van Halen II - Van Halen (1979)
To be truthful, the first four Van Halen albums are pretty equal in my view, but I listen to this one a lot. It's short, it's excellently played, and experimental. What more could I ask for? The cover of You're No Good is superb, and Dance The Night Away is their best pop type song.
Best Songs - Light Up The Sky, You're No Good, Dance The Night Away
With that out of the way, here we go!
#50. Images and Words - Dream Theater (1992)
This is the most recent addition to my list, not by year, but of my approval. I used to not like Dream Theater much. I had only heard their Train of Thought album, which is not their best. This one is more prog rock, less noodly metal. It's got some very pretty songs on it. It's only their second album too, and their first with James Labrie.
Best Songs - Surrounded, Pull Me Under, and Learning To Live
#49. The Grand Illusion - Styx (1977)
I've had this album in various forms since I was about twelve. There's not one song on here I don't like. Some are stronger than the others, or else it'd be in the top 20. When someone talks about "art rock", they are probably referring to an album like this. Sort of prog-rock lite.
Best Songs - Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man), Man In The Wilderness, and Castle Walls
#48. Destiny - Stratovarius (1998)
Most have probably not heard of this band. They are a Finnish power metal group. This album is from their heyday. It's the most progressive release, although I had a hard time picking between this and it's follow up, Infinite. Lots of feeling in these songs, along with some playful keyboard and guitar work. It's a dark-sounding album, musically, but lyrically it's pretty hopeful.
Best Songs - Destiny, No Turning Back, and Anthem of The World
#47. Argus - Wishbone Ash (1972)
This is an album that's been scandalously forgotten by most of the world. It's Wishbone Ash's only great album, and it inspired countless bands (Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy to name two). It's one of the first albums to have twin guitar harmonies, and nowhere else on the album is two guitar brought to better effect than on Throw Down The Sword, which has two beautiful guitar solos going on at the same time, playing two different things, but converging in the middle, just to split again afterwards.
Best Songs - Throw Down The Sword, Time Was, and The King Will Come
#46. Van Halen II - Van Halen (1979)
To be truthful, the first four Van Halen albums are pretty equal in my view, but I listen to this one a lot. It's short, it's excellently played, and experimental. What more could I ask for? The cover of You're No Good is superb, and Dance The Night Away is their best pop type song.
Best Songs - Light Up The Sky, You're No Good, Dance The Night Away
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Plan
Hello all, I promised an outline of how things will be done here, and well… here it is. Hopefully this will make the blog easier to navigate, and the updates more constant. It’s all about keeping me motivated, after all. Well, maybe not, but I like to think so.
At any rate, here’s the plan for the next few months.
July will focus on my top 50 favorite rock/metal albums of all time. I’m really excited to finally compile this list, which I’ve been thinking of doing for the past 2 or 3 years. Obviously my musical tastes have expanded since then. Why rock albums? That’s what I listen to. In reality therefore, it’s my 50 favorite OVERALL albums, but if I didn’t specify the genre, it just wouldn’t seem fair to, say Gustav Holst or Miles Davis now would it?
August and September will be dedicated towards compiling my 50 favorite films. I’ll be attempting to post one a day at that point, with reasons why it’s one of my favorites. After those 50 days we have like 10 left, and I’m still kind of thinking about what to do there… Possibly I’ll work in some leg-room so that I can have ten days during those two months where I don’t have to post.
Now, in regards to the Outpost Hub, and how that figures in with these specials… I’ll probably post an update every ten installments on there, and it will include just the list. There won’t be any comments from me on them. I’ll leave those to my personal blog, as it’s easy to access it from the Hub.
Along with these special top 50 lists, I’ll still be posting book/film/album/concert reviews, special comments on media topics, links to upcoming short stories that I do, etc. So all in all, this is gonna be one busy blog in the coming months. I’m very much looking forward to this, so stay tuned. I hope you like it.
At any rate, here’s the plan for the next few months.
July will focus on my top 50 favorite rock/metal albums of all time. I’m really excited to finally compile this list, which I’ve been thinking of doing for the past 2 or 3 years. Obviously my musical tastes have expanded since then. Why rock albums? That’s what I listen to. In reality therefore, it’s my 50 favorite OVERALL albums, but if I didn’t specify the genre, it just wouldn’t seem fair to, say Gustav Holst or Miles Davis now would it?
August and September will be dedicated towards compiling my 50 favorite films. I’ll be attempting to post one a day at that point, with reasons why it’s one of my favorites. After those 50 days we have like 10 left, and I’m still kind of thinking about what to do there… Possibly I’ll work in some leg-room so that I can have ten days during those two months where I don’t have to post.
Now, in regards to the Outpost Hub, and how that figures in with these specials… I’ll probably post an update every ten installments on there, and it will include just the list. There won’t be any comments from me on them. I’ll leave those to my personal blog, as it’s easy to access it from the Hub.
Along with these special top 50 lists, I’ll still be posting book/film/album/concert reviews, special comments on media topics, links to upcoming short stories that I do, etc. So all in all, this is gonna be one busy blog in the coming months. I’m very much looking forward to this, so stay tuned. I hope you like it.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Schedule coming tomorrow!
As you can see, I've only done two substantial posts since starting this blog. This is unacceptable. I'm currently working on a schedule of topics for the next 3 months, which I hope to post here tomorrow, so watch this space.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Jurassic Park: Memories 17 Years In The Making
I've been going through some kind of crazy 1/3-life crisis lately. It's lasted about a year now, and there's really no end in sight. I turn 25 tomorrow. Halfway to 50, when my body will really start to shut down, if my parents are any indication. As this crisis goes through, I tend to look back a lot, mostly in shock. Fifteen years since Toy Story?! Thirteen years since I saw the original Star Wars trilogy re-released in theaters?! Seventeen years since I saw my first PG-13 movie in theaters?!
Yes folks, Jurassic Park is seventeen years old now. Can you believe it? I was 8 when I saw the movie, having just had my birthday. I remember looking so much to seeing this movie that I knew next to nothing about. I was just really into dinosaurs at the time. My dad had read the book earlier that year. He was reading it while the family went down to South Carolina to see my grandma, and I would ask him every few minutes what was happening in the book, to his annoyance. I got some TOPPS Jurassic Park trading cards that summer, and a cassette tape full of songs just about dinosaurs. At first my parents said I couldn't see the movie. I was only 8, and at that time, my parents wouldn't even let me watch Ninja Turtles on Saturday mornings. I was pretty sheltered. Yet after my dad saw the movie, he decided that I could see it for my birthday. I can remember that theater experience to this day.
I had never seen such a reaction to a movie. People jumped, some screamed, and a lot of kids (including me) were hiding their eyes in their parents arm a lot of the time. The part that always scared me most was oddly supposed to be comic relief. The Dilophosaurus still kinda freaks me out a little to this day... and the real dinosaur didn't even have what freaks me out about it... Those neck frills and the oil-like poison. Still, those dinosaurs looked damned real, and the movie is still an adrenaline rush.
Now, I've heard a lot of comments in the last few years about Jurassic Park being a lesser film. What is it with this decade and people loving to trash everything that is deemed "nostalgic"? Sure, the movie didn't age well in some respects. "Oh wow! It's an interactive CD-ROM!" The dress style in the movies is also dated to the early 90s. I don't care. It was made in the early 90s and is set there. Case closed. (Although no amount of critical thinking can make me approve of the goofy sound when Nedry slips and falls down the flash-flooded embankment.)
Looking back, I don't think I ever saw the trailer for the movie. I have a feeling that if I did, I would have been kind of disappointed. If you haven't seen it, look here.
It basically is the movie in 3 minutes! And it looks horrible! If you noticed, they only show the animatronic dino shots, and not the CGI ones. That's a good choice, but the trailer gets the feel of the movie all wrong. I guess the movie must have gone all on hype, because I can't see the trailer getting people drawn in. Now the poster on the other hand... come on... it's just classic.
Let me speak of the special effects for a minute. I'm not amazed by CGI a lot these days, but Jurassic Park was one of the first films to use it extensively, and to this 8 year old, those dinosaurs were real. (So real that I kept looking down over the side of my bunk bed that night thinking the dilophosaurus was down there.) Even just viewing it again a few days ago those dinos look real in most shots. The only times where I can very easily tell the CGI are some shots of the kitchen Velociraptors, and the Gallimimus flock. The T-Rex always looks real, and especially in what is one of my favorite scenes. Ellie and Muldoon have found Malcolm and are now searching for Grant and the kids. All of a sudden the Rex bursts from the woods and chases the Jeep they are in. I don't think the T-Rex was as frightening in the other two films. The attack on the Jeep is nerve-wracking to me still. It may have been a robot, but the plexi-glass top of the jeep all of a sudden coming down on those kids... it's pretty chilling. (And let's not forget the humorous but gruesome death of Genaro either. Yet another classic.)
Now, when I was about 14, I finally read the book, and was very surprised at how different it was to the movie. Whole sequences with the dinosaurs were taken out, such as the aviary, the river boat sequence, hiding behind the waterfall from the T-rex... (all of which would appear in some form or another in the 2 lesser sequels) Heck, even the characters were different, especially John Hammond! In the book, John Hammond is more of an exploiter. He can get cranky too. He's not Walt Disney with a dash of Santa Claus like he is in the movie. The movie's main low point, according to critics, was the lack of character development, and all I have to say to that is it was a hell of a lot better than the book's. Now listen up folks, for I have a theory. Read a good book and then see the movie, and you will always be at least slightly disappointed. See a good movie, then read the book, and most likely you will still enjoy the movie, and you'll have enjoyed the book as well. This is Trent's theory of post-literary adaptation. Take of it what you will.
In my point of view, the movie holds up fantastically well. It's still suspenseful, the effects are amazing to this day, the music is some of John Williams' best, and it's miles better than either of the sequels. I seriously recommend that if you have not seen the movie in a while, to sit down, "turn the light off!", and put on the surround sound ("Don't get cheap on me"), and "Hold on to your butts!"
Yes folks, Jurassic Park is seventeen years old now. Can you believe it? I was 8 when I saw the movie, having just had my birthday. I remember looking so much to seeing this movie that I knew next to nothing about. I was just really into dinosaurs at the time. My dad had read the book earlier that year. He was reading it while the family went down to South Carolina to see my grandma, and I would ask him every few minutes what was happening in the book, to his annoyance. I got some TOPPS Jurassic Park trading cards that summer, and a cassette tape full of songs just about dinosaurs. At first my parents said I couldn't see the movie. I was only 8, and at that time, my parents wouldn't even let me watch Ninja Turtles on Saturday mornings. I was pretty sheltered. Yet after my dad saw the movie, he decided that I could see it for my birthday. I can remember that theater experience to this day.
I had never seen such a reaction to a movie. People jumped, some screamed, and a lot of kids (including me) were hiding their eyes in their parents arm a lot of the time. The part that always scared me most was oddly supposed to be comic relief. The Dilophosaurus still kinda freaks me out a little to this day... and the real dinosaur didn't even have what freaks me out about it... Those neck frills and the oil-like poison. Still, those dinosaurs looked damned real, and the movie is still an adrenaline rush.
Now, I've heard a lot of comments in the last few years about Jurassic Park being a lesser film. What is it with this decade and people loving to trash everything that is deemed "nostalgic"? Sure, the movie didn't age well in some respects. "Oh wow! It's an interactive CD-ROM!" The dress style in the movies is also dated to the early 90s. I don't care. It was made in the early 90s and is set there. Case closed. (Although no amount of critical thinking can make me approve of the goofy sound when Nedry slips and falls down the flash-flooded embankment.)
Looking back, I don't think I ever saw the trailer for the movie. I have a feeling that if I did, I would have been kind of disappointed. If you haven't seen it, look here.
It basically is the movie in 3 minutes! And it looks horrible! If you noticed, they only show the animatronic dino shots, and not the CGI ones. That's a good choice, but the trailer gets the feel of the movie all wrong. I guess the movie must have gone all on hype, because I can't see the trailer getting people drawn in. Now the poster on the other hand... come on... it's just classic.
Let me speak of the special effects for a minute. I'm not amazed by CGI a lot these days, but Jurassic Park was one of the first films to use it extensively, and to this 8 year old, those dinosaurs were real. (So real that I kept looking down over the side of my bunk bed that night thinking the dilophosaurus was down there.) Even just viewing it again a few days ago those dinos look real in most shots. The only times where I can very easily tell the CGI are some shots of the kitchen Velociraptors, and the Gallimimus flock. The T-Rex always looks real, and especially in what is one of my favorite scenes. Ellie and Muldoon have found Malcolm and are now searching for Grant and the kids. All of a sudden the Rex bursts from the woods and chases the Jeep they are in. I don't think the T-Rex was as frightening in the other two films. The attack on the Jeep is nerve-wracking to me still. It may have been a robot, but the plexi-glass top of the jeep all of a sudden coming down on those kids... it's pretty chilling. (And let's not forget the humorous but gruesome death of Genaro either. Yet another classic.)
Now, when I was about 14, I finally read the book, and was very surprised at how different it was to the movie. Whole sequences with the dinosaurs were taken out, such as the aviary, the river boat sequence, hiding behind the waterfall from the T-rex... (all of which would appear in some form or another in the 2 lesser sequels) Heck, even the characters were different, especially John Hammond! In the book, John Hammond is more of an exploiter. He can get cranky too. He's not Walt Disney with a dash of Santa Claus like he is in the movie. The movie's main low point, according to critics, was the lack of character development, and all I have to say to that is it was a hell of a lot better than the book's. Now listen up folks, for I have a theory. Read a good book and then see the movie, and you will always be at least slightly disappointed. See a good movie, then read the book, and most likely you will still enjoy the movie, and you'll have enjoyed the book as well. This is Trent's theory of post-literary adaptation. Take of it what you will.
In my point of view, the movie holds up fantastically well. It's still suspenseful, the effects are amazing to this day, the music is some of John Williams' best, and it's miles better than either of the sequels. I seriously recommend that if you have not seen the movie in a while, to sit down, "turn the light off!", and put on the surround sound ("Don't get cheap on me"), and "Hold on to your butts!"
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Book Review: State of Fear
Anyone remember the good old days when everyone thought global warming was real? Wait, they still do? Well, after this past year's scandal in regards to supposed fact fudging on the part of global warming studies, the number of people who believed in the phenomena went down quite a bit. (Let's face it, they were looking for any excuse.) One person who never really believed in the global warming hoopla was Michael Crichton, the writer of such pseudo-scientific books as Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, and Sphere.
The book is about the evil, dreaded environmentalist, and how they are only there to take your money and commit acts of terrorism in the name of trees. (Or icebergs or volcanoes, or whatever is around them at the time.) No, I am not kidding. We should hear Crichton out though. In this critic's opinion, he got it right for the most part. Modern day environmentalist groups fall into two categories... terrorists like ELF or bureaucratic machines whose main goal is to make money. How do they do this? Well by making us afraid. Turn on the news and it's a rare day when you don't hear about some environmental disaster. Crichton's view is that society is kept in check by the politicians, media, and corporations working together to keep us afraid. I personally don't see how this could be accurately disputed.
My problem with the book is how Crichton makes the whole environmentalist movement look liked Snidely Whiplash. They create disasters, they kill people, and even use complex Bond villainesque ways of doing these things. It's pretty preposterous even for Michael Crichton. Seriously, I thought at times that I was reading a novelization of a Roland Emmerich film! The characters were bland as hell, there was a lot of traveling, lots of imminent disasters, and I'm pretty sure Randy Quaid is being abducted by aliens in there somewhere.
All in all, I guess the book was okay if you don't mind being preached too. I already pretty much agreed with Crichton here, but if I didn't, I can tell you I'd probably have disliked the book. It does get rather "out there" towards the end, but then again, so do over half of Crichton's other books. I can at least say I enjoyed it better than his previous book, Prey.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
And so it begins...
Well, I finally am back to blogging. I ditched my old one a few years ago, as it was going nowhere fast, but now I have more free time on my hands. I am out of college, I have a job I like (even though it hardly pays well enough), and I'm probably more mentally stable now.
Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering what you'll find on this blog if you do intend to follow it. Well, with the absence of thoughtful discussion of film, music, or anything else for that matter on the net, I've decided to try to foster that here. I'll try to explain my thoughts and criticisms to the films I see, the music I hear, and the places I go as accurately as I can, and as often. Some of my opinions are bound to be very unpopular.
Here you'll eventually find youtube videos of me musing about some of these things, especially when I'm suffering from writer's block. Other times you may see me simply blogging movie criticisms or praises. In other words, this is an invitation into the dark recesses of my mind. Pull up a brain stem and stay a while.
Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering what you'll find on this blog if you do intend to follow it. Well, with the absence of thoughtful discussion of film, music, or anything else for that matter on the net, I've decided to try to foster that here. I'll try to explain my thoughts and criticisms to the films I see, the music I hear, and the places I go as accurately as I can, and as often. Some of my opinions are bound to be very unpopular.
Here you'll eventually find youtube videos of me musing about some of these things, especially when I'm suffering from writer's block. Other times you may see me simply blogging movie criticisms or praises. In other words, this is an invitation into the dark recesses of my mind. Pull up a brain stem and stay a while.
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