BRIAN WILSON'S "SMiLE"
If you already know the history, skip this paragraph. In the mid-to-late '60s, The Beatles and the Beach Boys had a heavy rivalry going. They were influenced by each other's amazing studio innovations and new directions in popular music. The Beatles' Rubber Soul influenced Brian Wilson to write the Beach Boys' now-classic Pet Sounds album. This, in turn, influenced The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. Brian was all set to topple Sgt. Pepper with a teenage symphony called Smile. He spent endless months with the Beach Boys, writing and recording snippets of songs. He had them chewing celery for songs. They lay on the floor to sing some songs, and even had the session musicians wear fire helmets. Eventually, Brian had a nervous breakdown and the album was scrapped. SMiLE was going to be the greatest album of all time, but it was lost to the ages. It's always been Rock and Roll's greatest "What If?" Some of the songs ended up on the Beach Boys' Smiley Smile album, which was just a sloppy slapping together of some of the songs from the Smile sessions. The one song that made it out of these sessions alive was Good Vibrations. Now, 37 years later, Brian has gone back and re-recorded SMiLE from scratch.
It's really stunning to listen to. The songs flow into one another so gracefully, I didn't even realize 3 tracks had gone by on my CD player. Other songs change tempo and time signature several times, so it's hard to really grasp where one song ends and another begins. You know how the song Good Vibrations has all these different sections to it? Imagine a whole album like that. Soaring harmonies, bizarre sound effects, deep and mysterious lyrics and a structure unlike any other rock and roll album I know.
My only criticisms of SMiLE are that Brian's voice hasn't quite held up these past 30-very-odd years. it's still unmistakable, but it's been ravaged by overwhelming physical and mental instability. Smartly, he has a whole gang of vocalists to help him out. But, the Beach Boys were family and young and cocky. They sang with real artfulness. I felt like the vocals on this version of SMiLE were a bit stilted and too crisp.
So, is this going to usher in a new phase of pop music, like it was going to do in 1968? No. Why not? Because it's not 1968. Music has broken off into so many new directions, that this artifact is destined to remain an artifact and a brutal reminder of what could have been. If this album had been released in 1968, I have no doubt that it would have influenced a whole generation of musicians to make bolder, more experimental, significant music.
Basically, I feel that this new CD is a 5-star album, but it exists in a bubble and can't be related to music in the 21st Century.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
I went to see Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow with my Dad the other day. It was a Monday and the film had been out for 10 days. I've got movie passes that can be used on films that've been out for 10 days or more. I tried to use the passes, but the lady said the movie wasn't out 10 days yet. I assured her it had. She was resolute. Finally, she directed me to the manager. We went through the same thing. "Fine, it hasn't been out 10 days yet? What was the release date?" I asked. "Um, it came out last Friday," he retorted. "So, you're telling me that this movie's only been out for 3 days?" I countered. This flummoxed him. I knew for a fact that Sky Captain was the #1 movie the weekend it came out and Forgotten was the #1 movie this past weekend. I read Entertainment Weekly. The manager finally conceded that I was right and blamed the computers for not being updated. The computers were then updated, I was able to use my passes, and the manager gave my Dad and I free small popcorns and sodas for our trouble. Free movie and free refreshments! The movie could suck at this point and I'd be OK with it.
Well, it didn't suck. It did the opposite of suck. No, I don't mean it blew. I mean it was really, really enjoyable. The effects were great, the imagination was refreshing and was just a hell of a lot of fun. It was totally implausable and silly, but you just don't care because it's so much fun. It reminded me a lot of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The hero is your classic, good-looking swashbuckler who has a trusty female sidekick. She's a tough one, but she's still all woman. There are no swears and, while people do die, there's no blood or gore. The escapes are all narrow, the perils all mortal and the robots really really big. We both enjoyed it thoroughly and if you want 100 minutes of escapist fun, I recommend it highly.
I went to see Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow with my Dad the other day. It was a Monday and the film had been out for 10 days. I've got movie passes that can be used on films that've been out for 10 days or more. I tried to use the passes, but the lady said the movie wasn't out 10 days yet. I assured her it had. She was resolute. Finally, she directed me to the manager. We went through the same thing. "Fine, it hasn't been out 10 days yet? What was the release date?" I asked. "Um, it came out last Friday," he retorted. "So, you're telling me that this movie's only been out for 3 days?" I countered. This flummoxed him. I knew for a fact that Sky Captain was the #1 movie the weekend it came out and Forgotten was the #1 movie this past weekend. I read Entertainment Weekly. The manager finally conceded that I was right and blamed the computers for not being updated. The computers were then updated, I was able to use my passes, and the manager gave my Dad and I free small popcorns and sodas for our trouble. Free movie and free refreshments! The movie could suck at this point and I'd be OK with it.
Well, it didn't suck. It did the opposite of suck. No, I don't mean it blew. I mean it was really, really enjoyable. The effects were great, the imagination was refreshing and was just a hell of a lot of fun. It was totally implausable and silly, but you just don't care because it's so much fun. It reminded me a lot of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The hero is your classic, good-looking swashbuckler who has a trusty female sidekick. She's a tough one, but she's still all woman. There are no swears and, while people do die, there's no blood or gore. The escapes are all narrow, the perils all mortal and the robots really really big. We both enjoyed it thoroughly and if you want 100 minutes of escapist fun, I recommend it highly.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
ROB'S BOOK CLUB
I little while ago I posted a recommendation for a book called Jennifer Government by Max Barry. In the post I also mentioned that I loved Da Vinci Code and the other Dan Brown books as well. Since that post, I've lent out my Max Barry books left and right and still have a waiting list! I've lent out Dan Brown books and heard of people going out and buying those on their own! I'm toying with the idea of some kind of book-reading club, because it's really fun to hear back from people about books I like. I'll keep you posted.
Meanwhile, I finished reading Max Barry's first book, Syrup and think it's easily as good as Jennifer Government, but in a slightly different way. Syrup is a smaller book that satirizes the people who work in marketing, while Jennifer Government paints its satire with a much broader brush, taking on the capitalist system and America's epirilistic world-view. Max's third book is called Company and is due out in 2005.
As I've mentioned, I thought both of Barry's books would make exciting films, but that there's a fundamental problem with both. They name-drop too many huge companies and have them doing unsavory things. I have a hard time believing that Coke would approve its name and logos to be used in a film that depicts them being so unlikeable. That said, I've read that Syrup WAS optioned for a film, but the deadline passed and no script was produced. Jennifer Government was also optioned by none other than Section 8 Films, which is owned by renowned filmmakers George Clooney and Steven Soderburgh. This is very exciting. In addition, I read that the option for this film was in danger of running out, too, but Section 8 renewed the option for another 18 months. This shows a real interest in getting this made. Keep your eyes open!
Ain't-It-Cool News ran a story on this a while ago and opened a message board for it. Here it is: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=13772
I little while ago I posted a recommendation for a book called Jennifer Government by Max Barry. In the post I also mentioned that I loved Da Vinci Code and the other Dan Brown books as well. Since that post, I've lent out my Max Barry books left and right and still have a waiting list! I've lent out Dan Brown books and heard of people going out and buying those on their own! I'm toying with the idea of some kind of book-reading club, because it's really fun to hear back from people about books I like. I'll keep you posted.
Meanwhile, I finished reading Max Barry's first book, Syrup and think it's easily as good as Jennifer Government, but in a slightly different way. Syrup is a smaller book that satirizes the people who work in marketing, while Jennifer Government paints its satire with a much broader brush, taking on the capitalist system and America's epirilistic world-view. Max's third book is called Company and is due out in 2005.
As I've mentioned, I thought both of Barry's books would make exciting films, but that there's a fundamental problem with both. They name-drop too many huge companies and have them doing unsavory things. I have a hard time believing that Coke would approve its name and logos to be used in a film that depicts them being so unlikeable. That said, I've read that Syrup WAS optioned for a film, but the deadline passed and no script was produced. Jennifer Government was also optioned by none other than Section 8 Films, which is owned by renowned filmmakers George Clooney and Steven Soderburgh. This is very exciting. In addition, I read that the option for this film was in danger of running out, too, but Section 8 renewed the option for another 18 months. This shows a real interest in getting this made. Keep your eyes open!
Ain't-It-Cool News ran a story on this a while ago and opened a message board for it. Here it is: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=13772
Sunday, September 12, 2004
ADVENTURES IN ACCIDENTS
It was Monday, Labor Day. At 6pm, I was sent to the Farm stand down the road to get tomatoes. I prepared to turn left into their driveway and then realized they were closed. I stopped for a second and tried to decide whether I should continue down the road, or turn into the driveway and make a 3-point-turn. After a few seconds I decided to make the left turn and go into the driveway. As I put my foot on the gas, an SUV came out of nowhere and passed me on the left. He just clipped me. We both pulled over and after determining nobody was hurt, the other guy asked if we could keep this out of insurance. I agreed and we exchanged info. I suggested I get it fixed and send him the bill. He said he owned an auto body shop and the part would only cost $60. He gave me a business card. It said "Chilly Willy Auto Body". Turns out I hit Willy himself. I still don't understand why hee's "chiily", though. If he was a refrigerator expert, i could see it. Anyway, after a few more minutes of me videotaping the damage and us talking, he said the whole job would be only $200. I balked and looked at him. I had understood that he would fix it if I paid for the part. I told him this and he offered to simply sell me the part and I could do with it what I wanted. I told him I’d call tomorrow at noon.
TUESDAY
I called at 11:45. I offered to pay for the part and let him take care of the work. He said he’ll find out about the part and I should call back in 15 minutes. I called back around noon and got an answering machine message for a dog groomer. The message had a cell number on it. I called that and get a woman. I briefly explained why I called her and the woman told me she’s Willy’s wife, Vicky. She assures me that Willy owns 3 shops and the message on his machine is the result of a borrowed machine with her old message on it. She gave me Willy's cell number and explained to me that he’s feeding the kids lunch, so he’s not in the shop. I finally reached him on his cell and again tells me $200. I tell him I won’t pay the $200, but I will agree to the $65 for the part. At this, he got really feisty and I had to assure him that this is fair. I explained that since he passed me on the left, crossing a double yellow line, he would be found in fault of the accident. So I was being very generous in offering to pay for the part. After 5 minutes of fighting, I told him to forget it, I’ll just go through the insurance. The fighting was getting nowhere. At that, he told me that if we do that, we’ll have to go to the “precinct”. I assumed this is his way of threatening me. I called his bluff and he folded. He decided that in the interest of getting this over with he’ll pay for the whole thing. So, I offered to split it, he decided he should pay NOTHING, and then does a complete 180 and offers to pay for the WHOLE THING. I immediately get really suspicious. Then he asked to meet me so he can get the paint color off the car. I told him to tell me over the phone how to find it. He did, but I couldn't find it. I reluctantly agreed to meet him at 7-11. Right before I left to meet him, Vicky, hsi wife called me, and wanted to know what the hell is going on and why the hell I won’t pay for the job when it was my fault? I assure her very firmly that it was Willy’s fault. We went back and forth for 10 minutes before she caved. She apologized to me and asked me to forgive her for calling, and also don’t tell Willy I called. I assured her this is all very impersonal and that I’m not mad at her or Willy, I just want this taken care of. I hung up and Willy called right after, asking why I’m not at 7-11. I decided not to say, “because your wife called me!” and limmediately met him. I was a little scared of a fight. I got there and Willy and another guy got out of his car. I got very nervous, but the other guy was clearly a grease monkey and decided he wasn't gonna beat me up. The two of them looked at the car and get the paint info. Willy called it in and ordered a pint. While on hold, he looked at me and asked, “Did my wife call you?” I reluctantly tell him that she did. He apologized for her and I waved it all off. “I told her not to call you!” he complained. The paint is secured and he told me that he can have the whole thing done by tomorrow morning and that he’ll call me as soon as all the parts and paint are in his possession. 4 hours later, at 6:00pm, I called him and ask what’s up? He apologized and said he wasn’t able to get the part today but he will tomorrow morning.
Right now, everything is fairly civil between us, but I was getting more and more nervous as this dragged out.
WEDNESDAY
I called at 9:30am. Willy tells me he’s dealing with his kids and school, but to call back in an hour. He will definitely have the fender by then. I called back at 10:30 and left a voicemail. I called back again at 11:00 and he tolds me he’s getting the part right now. I say great! When can I come by and drop the car off? He tells me he’ll call me back in 10 minutes. At 11:30 I go to call him back, but Kat tells me to wait until noon. I called at noon and got voicemail.
Not long after, Willy called back and tells me to come down. We all piled in the cars and found the house in Bay Shore. There’s a huge fance around the entire property and I can’t figure out how to enter. I called him on my cell and his assistant from 7-11 let me in. I dropped off the car and left. Willy told me “this time tomorrow” (2pm) the car would be ready to be picked up
THURSDAY
I called Willy at 2pm. He told me there was a problem he didn’t expect with the paint and he had to do more work to prepare it. He assured me it would be ready by 9pm that night. I told him to take his time and I’d call in the morning. He casually mentioned that he might not be there in the morning because he boxes. I decided that wasn't a threat, but it made me nervous.
FRIDAY
I called and left voicemail with Willy at 10am, 11am and 12noon. He calls me back around 12:15 to tell me that he’d painted the car, but it wasn’t a factory mix so it doesn’t look good. He said he spent all morning at the store getting the paint mix-up fixed. He assured me it’ll be done by 6pm or so. Again, I told him to take his time and I'll pick it up in the morning. Kat and I planned for a problem. We assumed he would ask for money once I got there, but I never brought the subject up on the phone with Willy. We decided we'd be willing to pay the original $65 mentioned on Monday but no more.
SATURDAY
Willy called me around 4:00pm and told me it was done. I couldn't believe it! We showed up quickly and I went into the "shop." Willy showed me the van and told me all the work he did on it and what a pain in the neck it was. I took the keys and thanked him. We shook hands and I drove away. Part of me wanted to hand him some money, but in the end I didn't.
So there's no real punchline to this story, sorry.
It was Monday, Labor Day. At 6pm, I was sent to the Farm stand down the road to get tomatoes. I prepared to turn left into their driveway and then realized they were closed. I stopped for a second and tried to decide whether I should continue down the road, or turn into the driveway and make a 3-point-turn. After a few seconds I decided to make the left turn and go into the driveway. As I put my foot on the gas, an SUV came out of nowhere and passed me on the left. He just clipped me. We both pulled over and after determining nobody was hurt, the other guy asked if we could keep this out of insurance. I agreed and we exchanged info. I suggested I get it fixed and send him the bill. He said he owned an auto body shop and the part would only cost $60. He gave me a business card. It said "Chilly Willy Auto Body". Turns out I hit Willy himself. I still don't understand why hee's "chiily", though. If he was a refrigerator expert, i could see it. Anyway, after a few more minutes of me videotaping the damage and us talking, he said the whole job would be only $200. I balked and looked at him. I had understood that he would fix it if I paid for the part. I told him this and he offered to simply sell me the part and I could do with it what I wanted. I told him I’d call tomorrow at noon.
TUESDAY
I called at 11:45. I offered to pay for the part and let him take care of the work. He said he’ll find out about the part and I should call back in 15 minutes. I called back around noon and got an answering machine message for a dog groomer. The message had a cell number on it. I called that and get a woman. I briefly explained why I called her and the woman told me she’s Willy’s wife, Vicky. She assures me that Willy owns 3 shops and the message on his machine is the result of a borrowed machine with her old message on it. She gave me Willy's cell number and explained to me that he’s feeding the kids lunch, so he’s not in the shop. I finally reached him on his cell and again tells me $200. I tell him I won’t pay the $200, but I will agree to the $65 for the part. At this, he got really feisty and I had to assure him that this is fair. I explained that since he passed me on the left, crossing a double yellow line, he would be found in fault of the accident. So I was being very generous in offering to pay for the part. After 5 minutes of fighting, I told him to forget it, I’ll just go through the insurance. The fighting was getting nowhere. At that, he told me that if we do that, we’ll have to go to the “precinct”. I assumed this is his way of threatening me. I called his bluff and he folded. He decided that in the interest of getting this over with he’ll pay for the whole thing. So, I offered to split it, he decided he should pay NOTHING, and then does a complete 180 and offers to pay for the WHOLE THING. I immediately get really suspicious. Then he asked to meet me so he can get the paint color off the car. I told him to tell me over the phone how to find it. He did, but I couldn't find it. I reluctantly agreed to meet him at 7-11. Right before I left to meet him, Vicky, hsi wife called me, and wanted to know what the hell is going on and why the hell I won’t pay for the job when it was my fault? I assure her very firmly that it was Willy’s fault. We went back and forth for 10 minutes before she caved. She apologized to me and asked me to forgive her for calling, and also don’t tell Willy I called. I assured her this is all very impersonal and that I’m not mad at her or Willy, I just want this taken care of. I hung up and Willy called right after, asking why I’m not at 7-11. I decided not to say, “because your wife called me!” and limmediately met him. I was a little scared of a fight. I got there and Willy and another guy got out of his car. I got very nervous, but the other guy was clearly a grease monkey and decided he wasn't gonna beat me up. The two of them looked at the car and get the paint info. Willy called it in and ordered a pint. While on hold, he looked at me and asked, “Did my wife call you?” I reluctantly tell him that she did. He apologized for her and I waved it all off. “I told her not to call you!” he complained. The paint is secured and he told me that he can have the whole thing done by tomorrow morning and that he’ll call me as soon as all the parts and paint are in his possession. 4 hours later, at 6:00pm, I called him and ask what’s up? He apologized and said he wasn’t able to get the part today but he will tomorrow morning.
Right now, everything is fairly civil between us, but I was getting more and more nervous as this dragged out.
WEDNESDAY
I called at 9:30am. Willy tells me he’s dealing with his kids and school, but to call back in an hour. He will definitely have the fender by then. I called back at 10:30 and left a voicemail. I called back again at 11:00 and he tolds me he’s getting the part right now. I say great! When can I come by and drop the car off? He tells me he’ll call me back in 10 minutes. At 11:30 I go to call him back, but Kat tells me to wait until noon. I called at noon and got voicemail.
Not long after, Willy called back and tells me to come down. We all piled in the cars and found the house in Bay Shore. There’s a huge fance around the entire property and I can’t figure out how to enter. I called him on my cell and his assistant from 7-11 let me in. I dropped off the car and left. Willy told me “this time tomorrow” (2pm) the car would be ready to be picked up
THURSDAY
I called Willy at 2pm. He told me there was a problem he didn’t expect with the paint and he had to do more work to prepare it. He assured me it would be ready by 9pm that night. I told him to take his time and I’d call in the morning. He casually mentioned that he might not be there in the morning because he boxes. I decided that wasn't a threat, but it made me nervous.
FRIDAY
I called and left voicemail with Willy at 10am, 11am and 12noon. He calls me back around 12:15 to tell me that he’d painted the car, but it wasn’t a factory mix so it doesn’t look good. He said he spent all morning at the store getting the paint mix-up fixed. He assured me it’ll be done by 6pm or so. Again, I told him to take his time and I'll pick it up in the morning. Kat and I planned for a problem. We assumed he would ask for money once I got there, but I never brought the subject up on the phone with Willy. We decided we'd be willing to pay the original $65 mentioned on Monday but no more.
SATURDAY
Willy called me around 4:00pm and told me it was done. I couldn't believe it! We showed up quickly and I went into the "shop." Willy showed me the van and told me all the work he did on it and what a pain in the neck it was. I took the keys and thanked him. We shook hands and I drove away. Part of me wanted to hand him some money, but in the end I didn't.
So there's no real punchline to this story, sorry.
DOUBLE DADDY DUTY
As most of you know, I now have a daughter. That's two kids. I took a month off of work, hoping that would help ease the family into normality. Today's my last day of "vacation" and I can't believe the difference between a 3-person family and a 4-person family.
When we had Sam almost three years ago, I stayed home for a month also. I distinctly remember thinking what a great month it was and how I'd love to be a stay-at-home Dad if I could. I woke up at 2 in the morning very often and napped in the middle of the day just as often. Time became nebulous. This time I'm still getting up in the middle of the night, but now we have to keep some sort of normal time schedule because of Sam. We can no longer sleep until noon or take a family nap at 5 in the afternoon. If I get no sleep at night, I can't simply nap all day anymore.
In general, Kat parents Allie and I take care of Sam. Mostly this is due to the facts that Allie is breastfeeding and Sam is a real handful. Kat is still recovering from the surgery and I can't breastfeed, so we're sort of bound by fate to play zone defense.
This is the most exhausted I think I've ever been. Considering everything, Sam is being wonderful. I find myself snapping at him out of sheer exhaustion, but he doesn't hold a grudge and he seems to like Allie. Once she sleeps through the night, things will be immensely easier.
As most of you know, I now have a daughter. That's two kids. I took a month off of work, hoping that would help ease the family into normality. Today's my last day of "vacation" and I can't believe the difference between a 3-person family and a 4-person family.
When we had Sam almost three years ago, I stayed home for a month also. I distinctly remember thinking what a great month it was and how I'd love to be a stay-at-home Dad if I could. I woke up at 2 in the morning very often and napped in the middle of the day just as often. Time became nebulous. This time I'm still getting up in the middle of the night, but now we have to keep some sort of normal time schedule because of Sam. We can no longer sleep until noon or take a family nap at 5 in the afternoon. If I get no sleep at night, I can't simply nap all day anymore.
In general, Kat parents Allie and I take care of Sam. Mostly this is due to the facts that Allie is breastfeeding and Sam is a real handful. Kat is still recovering from the surgery and I can't breastfeed, so we're sort of bound by fate to play zone defense.
This is the most exhausted I think I've ever been. Considering everything, Sam is being wonderful. I find myself snapping at him out of sheer exhaustion, but he doesn't hold a grudge and he seems to like Allie. Once she sleeps through the night, things will be immensely easier.
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