Nirvana_ "Polly" (Unplugged)

Before April's through...

Sonic Youth_ "What We Know"

Off their sure to be yet another "geezer's playing fuzzed-out guitars" venture ... this song is quite ok. A first in quite some time. Fuzzed out, yet thinned out - there's a remnant of pop structure in there- somewhere. Album goes by the name of Sacred Trickster.

'Drugstore Cowboy', film review

(Sun don't shine like it used to)

Grade: A

The parable of "the junky" is not unlike any beaten down second hand fable. The story can be transplanted into any such medium and environment – told and retold by the junky, playmate, or spectator – on film, paper - or in dank, emptied out church halls - where one skirts retribution and seeks atonement. Points of view may change, yet the narrative remains the same. Drugstore Cowboy is such a sotry - with the exception that this parable now seems every bit more captivating, as told by Bob Hughes (played by Matt Dillon).

The film plays on the cautionary tale construct of a 1950’s crime-drama – narrated by the handsome, boyish young man who’s seen the heart of darkness, and is prepared to divulge the most menacing of details – or so we think. Such a quality seems to counter the grave lifestyle the film seems to advance (in it’s own way): that of drug addiction.

Bob’s crew of characters/ friends are introduced in the first few minutes – showcased gracefully in home-movie reel style – immediately catching the viewer off-guard - establishing our incredulous comfort with such an "abhorrent, useless" breed of individual. Thieving junkies they may be, yet, we hesitate, and realize, that the characters are quite likable - all charming, odd, and familiar in some way - much like the nuclear family of what would be the Gen X era.

Set in early 1970’s Portland, Oregon - a pure looking place one can just about seize - of clear blue skies and all of nature’s abundance - splendorous, and perfectly accentuated as the film’s backdrop – intriguing conflict, as the characters roam something congruent of “God’s country. “

Never is Drugstore Cowboy a pandering, demeaning, or judgmental portrait of it’s character’s - which include Bob’s wife and childhood friend, Dianne: a stern, striking heroine played by Kelly Lynch (following the awesome Warm Summer Rain). Lynch at times displays as much Braun as her husband Bob – the “undisputed” leader of the crew. Lynch immediately translates experience and intelligence – before she has even gotten a line in. Along for the ride is Rick, the “muscle” of the crew as Bob refers to him - played by go-to early 90’s character actor James Le Gros (Point Break, Singles). Le Gros is as soft-spoken and sensible as ever – committed to whatever is at hand for him. A perfect sidekick, as the story proceeds.

It occurred to me that this might be Matt Dillon’s only role of such quality. Although his delivery tends to remain dry, it works well. Dillon plays Bob enigmatically until the very end - as if he’s kept a secret from everyone all along (including us).

Fulfilling Gus Van Sant’s (writer/director) intention is a feat in itself: illustrating the labors of heroin addiction with childlike innocence and lightheartedness. Never does the film take a moment too seriously – including the pivotal death of a supporting character.

With it's reasonable meaty portions of cop, criminal, and unaware bureaucrat, all individuals showcased here are valued as well as any well-regarded friend may be: with their share of unpleasantness and good humor, with a bit of luck to tip the scales - for goodness sake.

Toward the film's conclusion, we are introduced to Father Murphy played with a hint of appropriate self-consciousness by William S. Burroughs - who is expected to play himself - delivering his own written dialogue.. Father Murphy is a man wizened to every nugget of truth and not the world's has, and had to offer - still brandishing a smile, while maintaining a regimented, controlled drug habit. Bob believes him to be a junky sage of sorts - dispensing simple truths and precautions with his famous, knowing smirk. It is such a display that mankind should look too: a God-like persona, who's judgment is dependent on his own pain and discomfort - not universal half-truths or stereotypes. Father Murphy beats the odds... without a shred of pride or reason - preserving the most enigmatic of all persona's. It is not up to man too decree what is right or wrong, when it concerns something as trivial as the "oral ingestion" of drug's, for reliefs sake - yet we continue to do so. There can only be one Burroughs, or a Father Murphy... but we can always try to duplicate such results.

(William S. Burroughs pardoning 'Bob's' sins)

Is this it?

Global flu fears as 68 die and virus spreads

• BA cabin steward in isolation ward • Mexico invokes special measures

• Tracy McVeigh and Jo Tuckman in Mexico City
• The Observer, Sunday 26 April 2009
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A British Airways cabin steward is being treated in an isolation unit at a London hospital after falling ill on a flight from Mexico, where a killer virus is believed to have caused at least 68 deaths and sparked widespread panic. Health experts say it has the potential to become a global pandemic.

The BA steward was undergoing tests in a London hospital for the swine flu virus after arriving on a flight from Mexico City. It is the first suspected case of the new flu strain to be reported in Europe, prompting fears it may have spread across the Atlantic from Mexico.

The World Health Organisation says the swine flu strain - a unique mix of human, pig and bird viruses - constituted a public health emergency of international concern. Twenty people are known to have died in Mexico so far out of a total of 1,004 reported cases, and 48 more deaths are thought to be attributable to the outbreak.

At least nine swine flu cases have been reported in California and Texas. The most recently reported California case, the seventh there, was a 35-year-old woman who was treated in hospital but recovered. The woman, whose illness began in early April, had no known contact with the other cases.

At least two more cases have been confirmed in Kansas, bringing the US total to 11. State health officials said yesterday they had confirmed swine flu in a married couple living in the central part of the state after the husband visited Mexico. They have not been hospitalised, and the state described their illnesses as mild. Dr Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas's state health officer, said: "Fortunately, the man and woman understand the gravity of the situation and are very willing to isolate themselves."

Additionally, at least eight students at a New York high school were last night also believed to have a form of human swine flu, but authorities are not yet certain if it is the same strain that has killed people in Mexico.

The 38-year-old BA steward is being kept in Northwick Park hospital in north-west London, which has a specialist ward for patients with suspected tropical and infectious diseases, while doctors carry out swabs and blood tests. A Health Protection Agency spokeswoman said: "We are aware of a patient admitted to a London hospital with reported travel history to Mexico. As a precautionary measure the patient is being tested for a range of respiratory and other illnesses ... At present there have been no confirmed cases of human swine flu in the UK or anywhere in Europe."

The crew member, who flew out to Mexico on 20 April, is understood to have shown symptoms of fever before embarking yesterday for the return leg to Heathrow. He had been suffering from high temperature, aches and dizziness the night before the return flight but was allowed through health controls at Mexico City airport to report for duty.

He collapsed around two hours into the flight, and was isolated from the other passengers. None of the other crew members or passengers reported similar symptoms. A BA spokeswoman said: "We can confirm one of our cabin crew felt unwell during the flight from Mexico and was taken to hospital on arrival at Heathrow. The Port Health Authority met the flight at Heathrow and no other passengers or crew were detained."

The Mexican government yesterday issued a decree authorising President Felipe Calderón to invoke powers allowing the country's health department to isolate patients and inspect homes, travellers and baggage. Mexico's health secretary, José Angel Córdova, said: "We are very, very concerned."

Yesterday, people in Mexico City were being ordered not to kiss or shake hands. Football matches went ahead without spectators, theatres, shops and museums were closed, staff were inside locked schools scrubbing classrooms with disinfectant, and health workers patrolled buses, ordering sickly looking people home.

The WHO stopped short of issuing a worldwide alert over the swine flu strain, but its director general, Dr Margaret Chan, said that option remained "on the table".

Scientists have long feared that a new flu virus could launch a worldwide pandemic. Evolving when different flu viruses infect a pig, a person or a bird, mingling their genetic material, a hybrid could spread quickly because humans would have no natural defences.

"We are seeing a range of severity of the disease, from mild to severe, and of course death," said Chan. "The eight cases in the US have been mild in terms of severity and it is too premature to calculate the mortality rate of this disease."

Any doubts over the extent of the emergency were dispelled last night by the sight of soldiers handing out blue surgical masks to pedestrians and motorists along Mexico City's central boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma. With TV and radio calling on the population to seek medical advice for any flu-like symptoms, queues grew at clinics and hospitals across the city.

Calderón said his government learned only on Thursday night what kind of virus Mexico was facing after tests by specialist laboratories in Canada confirmed the outbreak as a type - labelled A/H1N1 - not previously seen in pigs or humans. Few of the cases appear to have had any contact with live pigs.

The WHO said the virus appeared to be able to spread from human to human and contained human virus, avian virus and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.

Given how quickly flu can spread, there might be cases incubating around the world already, said Dr Michael Osterholm at the University of Minnesota: "Hundreds and thousands of travellers come in and out [of Mexico] every day."

It was unclear how much protection current vaccines might offer. A "seed stock" genetically matched to the new virus has already been created by the US Centres for Disease Control. If the US government decides vaccine production is necessary, it would be used by manufacturers to get started.

At Mexico City's international airport, passengers were questioned to try to prevent anyone with flu symptoms from boarding aircraft and spreading the disease. The Foreign Office issued a warning to UK travellers about the outbreak, but stopped short of recommending people did not visit Mexico. US health officials took a similar line, urging visitors to wash their hands frequently.

• guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009

'The Cake Eaters' - film review

Grade: B- Cynics may shamelessly downsize Kristen Stewart’s pains as some newfound “pop” novelty, or happenstance – although, her intellect, charm, and overall splendor, compel us to mull over subtle inadequacies, affecting morality and futility, without our actual awareness of such things – establishing her as the “millennial” generation’s actress (of the Winona Ryder set - for the laymen in all of us.)

The Cake Eaters is a modest effort – leaving one yearning for a less “imperfect” Kristen Stewart, since all her charm has been cloaked by Georgia’s rare handicap, known as Friedreich's Ataxia. The performance may seem perfunctory, although, Stewart effortlessly outshines all in this ensemble drama, set in “any small-town USA.” Stewart’s approach is sensible, mannered, and highly articulate – relegated to an actor of a lesser caliber may have turned such an act into blatant award’s fodder.

Moreover, Duncan Sheik provides the delicate, nuanced score to the film. In retrospect – my attraction to both Stewart and Sheik glared my unremitting foresight that the film would be average – nothing more, nothing less. Yet, there is an underlying charm to such an effort that denies one to disparage such a film.

I presume that in Hollywood, there is the unwritten rule that fellow actor’s must, by no means, rebuff any offer from a fellow actor-turned director, for niceness’s sake - - this is Mary Stuart Masterson’s directorial debut.

'Less Than Zero 2,' The Informers

Bret Easton Ellis Finishes ‘Less Than Zero’ Sequel, Wants Robert Downey Jr. Back

Published by Larry Carroll on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 10:04 am.

First published in 1985, “Less Than Zero” defined a generation. It also helped launch the impressive careers of Robert Downey Jr., James Spader, and “American Psycho” author Bret Easton Ellis. Now, Ellis is hoping to reunite the others for a follow-up movie about what happened after the party ended.

“What I’m working on now is a sequel to ‘Less Than Zero’,” the novelist explained to us recently. “It’s coming out next year, in May of 2010.”

And just like last time, Ellis (whose latest novel-turned-film “The Informers” opens in limited release April 24th) thinks the book would make a great movie.

“The cast is still around, so it would be really funny to see [them film a sequel],” he explained of the re-visit, which will be titled “Imperial Bedrooms”. “And this book is pretty dramatic, in terms of how complicated the relationships have gotten in the last twenty years.”

As you might remember, the original “Zero” chronicled the world of a young man named Clay (Andrew McCarthy), his substance-abusing friend Julian (Downey), and a whole lot of drinking, drugs and one-night stands. But contrary to what we might have assumed, Easton Ellis revealed that all the main characters are still very much alive.

“It’s in present-day,” he explained. “You’ll find out where all the characters from the book have now ended up, for better or for worse.”

“I first thought [they’d be dead] when I started thinking about it; when I began to outline the book and figure out who’s going to be around and who’s not – some of the main people are going to be okay,” Easton Ellis laughed. “There was some supporting cast that I realized was expendable – you knew something bad was going to happen to them. But the leads? Yeah, they kind of stuck around.”

Easton Ellis is hoping that a movie would reunite Spader, McCarthy, Jamie Gertz and others – and, after Robert Downey Jr.’s well-chronicled substance-abuse difficulties and subsequent triumph over them, feels that the recent Oscar-nominee could bring something special to a second turn as Julian Wells. “His character in the book is sober,” the author explained. “Fragile, but sober.”

“[A second ‘Less Than Zero’ movie] can either be a stunt and seem really gimmicky, or it could work out. But I think it would be of interest,” he explained. “Now that I’m finally done with the book I’m thinking ‘God, what if Fox wants to do this as a film?’ Because Fox did the original and I think there’s a rights issue involved…I think it would be a great idea. We’ll see.”

Drug-dealers with pie charts

Grade: D+ The Wire - Season 3 review As far as cop procedural drama’s go, the prevailing criterion has, and always will be plagued by the awareness of spectator; censorship regulations; and/ or marketing appeal. The attraction: to satiate our tastes for cunning and skill, brought forth by both criminal and regulator. There comes a time when sound “realism,” or high drama fails to quench; becoming, rather tedious. The alternative for the literati set must be/ is: The Wire, created by David Simon – a veteran writer of the cop procedural, and a Jewish American ex-police reporter for the Baltimore Sun – such credentials, dispensed accordingly, make for bountiful creativity, when credibility or credence is concerned. Additionally, for the sort of raw, streetwise approach The Wire so ambitiously undertakes, a 50 year-old Jewish man is a precious resource when providing character sketches of impoverished, desperate, black men and women. It seems, once again, that our collective, pop-savvy conscious, has been duped… the demographic the show procures must be- and I am mindful of my ignorance in this subject - - - affluent, quasi-intellectuals, who have moralized in some sense, that by viewing The Wire - which they believe is as precise a depiction as any factual document – they can grasp the entirety of the “black struggle.” The show is a sanction of sorts, when “challenging” issues are pressed, primarily on race. Not too say the execution of the show is not an achievement in itself – an unrestricted, epic theater of cop, criminal, and legislator - or that theatrics should not be effectuated, for the sake of our viewing pleasure – but it is precisely that which is wrong with this picture. As we prosper and delight in the spectacle of the menacing black man, besieged – with brute force- by the valiant, white peace officer - all the while, challenging such behavior as despicable - appraising, from the safety of comforting environments - vouchsafing any indigent individual with our world-wise chivalry. The theory that human behavior is determined by our surrounding circumstances rather than personal qualities is the driving force behind the show - yet, most of what is depicted can be mistaken for farce, bearing in mind, that drug-dealers exhaustively rattle on about trade, industry, and the creation of wealth in conversation. When divergence and novel approaches are concerned, with time, niche functions must reconvene - which applies to the show's momentum... sooner or later, even the best show's are parallel versions of Law & Order. It is such regarded intricacies that attest to David Simon's authoritative expertise and sentiment - to all things we dare not comprehend.

Atmospheric Conditions (superior tastes of the day)

• Lily Allen: “The Fear,” – sizable stand-in, in the course of Winehouse’s absence… inventive video, supplemented, with an effortless conveyance of idealism – what proper pop should be.

Lily Allen - New Music - More Music Videos

• Eminem: “We Made You” – seems like a tame effort, at first glance – yet, once K. Kardashian is wedged into the shredder, one can’t help humming along… incendiary, infectious, and composed to seem considerably easy.

Eminem - New Music - More Music Videos

• Britney Spears: “If You Seek Amy” – teeters any persuasion of common decency – Spears is incensed, brutal, and sharp as a tack - – denigrating herself to a consumable commodity, while promoting poise and grace (if one fancies keeping up appearances)

Britney Spears - New Music - More Music Videos

• Neko Case: "People Got A Lotta Nerve" - the adult-alternative appeal, nature blather, or even the artists' age, cannot undermine this beautiful tune...

Neko Case - New Music - More Music Videos

• Silversun Pickups: "Panic Switch" - decent at best, terribly bland at worst ... competent musicianship.

Silversun Pickups - New Music - More Music Videos

• Death Cab for Cutie: "Grapevine Fires" - melancholic gem, sadly understated by generic "indie" animation... a nice surprise, conveying genuine misplacement, loneliness, (or something or other).

Death Cab For Cutie - New Music - More Music Videos

• PJ Harvey: "Black Hearted Love" - always grant Ms.Harvey the benefit of the doubt - at 39, following the narcolepsy inducing White Chalk, she bounces back with this modest alternative pop song - minimalist, easy to consume, clean, simple... (w/ John Parish).

"Generation X," page 151

"Generation X," page 132

R.E.M. - New Adventure's in Hi-Fi (review)

Grade: A Who else, but Michael Stipe, could bestow us with the most concise treatise on the bittersweet, golden age of alternative rock. Actually, the album plays more like a comprehensive thesis on the state of the world in general, I think (I hope). Appropriately timed and executed – all bet’s are off! Following the ultra-cynical, emotionally repressed Monster – Stipe atones with the band’s finest achievement – a culmination of projected tenderness, pain, and glee… a self-imposed conclusion, humbly stated. To reduce such a “statement” into a review seems criminal, yet, to Stipe’s credit, assuming such a vulnerable status in the realm of pop music, must be validated, as often as one can. This is the definitive catharses of an entire era - encapsulated in measured breathes, tonal quality. As fierce as any work by any alternative band of that era – along with Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness . . . more than enough sustenance for any rightfully disheartened teenager. [Justice is due: play with candle lit, afterhours...]

Rationale #2 (Golden Years of Pop)

Nü Thermals

The Thermals - Now We Can See (2009)

Rationale # 1 (Golden Years of Pop)

Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock (circa '93 on Mtv Europe)

Rob Pattison's Nü feature

Happy-Go-Lucky film review

Resigning and giggling, for the sake of survival Grade: B- One rarely preoccupies themselves with the slight, intricate horrors lingering just beneath the surface, of what otherwise, may be, an overbearing existence. For survival’s sake, a “natural response,” would upset what may be known as the rhythm of all things. “Integration,” must be endured, at all costs- although, every individual must preoccupy oneself . . . with oneself. Naturally. This is where Poppy comes in, our lead female heroine of sorts - a 30-year-old schoolteacher who's extra- cheery: her offering to the world around her. She acquits herself of any judgment, acumen, or motive - an all-inclusive agenda, you might say, pertinent to strangers and acquaintances alike. She believes (I think) that with good intentions, whether brought on sincerely or not, is always granted with preternatural good sense - (with the addition of a giggle for good measure). Such blatant optimism is detected as shameful misgivings, or just downright absurd; yet, for Poppy, there’s always a smile to spare, even when burden is at play. To her unease - all interaction Poppy involves herself in is brought about thru scheduled appointments (with the exception of her flat mate). Concerning this, one can reason that our cautionary attitude has reached a boiling point, where one must employ a discriminate hesitation when assessing the relationship we will have with a forthcoming stranger. There is obviously a perceptive core in Poppy, yet, it is contained, as a sacrifice to her fellow brethren– what “good” comes about reveling in a negative state… which may be her one and only agenda.

Twilight - film review

Life and death (in black and white)... Grade: A "Death is peaceful - easy. Life is harder. " - Bella (Kristen Stewart) in Twilight The appeal of any American teenage tragedy rests on the awareness of it’s star-crossed leads – be it James Dean and Natalie Wood, River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves or – in this case, Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattison. It’s founding properties lie in the supposed extrasensory perception - to realize one another’s subtle complexity with ease, in almost sentient fashion. Delineated to a typified, cliché ridden romance, Twilight is anything but –rather a conceptualized, subversive, highly involved drama imparting valuable good sense to the demographic it so eagerly draws in: the characterless, developing teen, willing to condition to such things as ascetic practices; the balancing act of processing one’s share of pain and happiness; life or death devotion in return for unabashed adoration. It is the willingness to toss away any lack of inhibition – whether for the sake of urgent contempt, or to live through something oh, “so very,” as a Heather once said. Or reasoning that all provided, in context, would provide more than a sturdy foundation for a very exciting adolescence.

'Adventureland' - film review (redux)

Global teenage purgatory Grade: A- Drawing upon said demographics’ sensibilities, one can plainly realize that an admission to Adventureland is a solemn, deprived, cynical encounter with the post-teenager, pre-Gen-X counter-culture that would burgeon into the oh-so invigorating 1990’s. Sorrowfully, we begin in 1987 – with an assortment of prototypical, featureless youths brandishing frowns, with slight to zero pretext… this until the much-welcomed entrance of Kristen Stewart. As silly as it may sound, that there is something much too comforting to Stewart presence. Em, as her character is niftily named is the stimulus behind every characters thin objective - Stewart is thoughtful beyond what is required from her character. A foreseer of pain - Em balances tenderness and displacement, while anxiously awaiting disappointment at every turn (with urgency for its conclusion) - simply, “healthier” circumstances. The role is claimed with a vigorous committal to pestilence and discomfort - while treasuring those scant moments of pure glee. Not once is there anything less than pure, unadulterated sincerity. Without Stewart's explicit influence on the setting, and what would be utterly baseless supporting characters, the movie's somewhat hackneyed construct would be all too invisible. As for the movie’s much-anticipated soundtrack, it barely skims the surface of American underground/ alternative music – with R.E.M. tragically omitted. With the exception of The Cure and Hüsker Dü, there is an otherwise heavy rotation of Lou Reed and the Replacements. Said screenwriter/director, Greg Mottola is well into his 40's - which makes this more than a laudable stab at a very appropriate subject for the mild 2000's - the recurring 80's (with more than a hint of sweet spirited nostalgia). Bottom line: A cued-in gem, with an "accelerated" awareness - with its share of flaws displaced "casually" (in consideration of rigid film goers apt to following undemanding storytelling.) Such is the ending, which panders to every steeped in testosterone male anticipating sexual defilement, wretchedly aimed at Kristen Stewart, no less. Not completely insulting, at least...