June 21st, 2005 2:39pm
Goldfrapp “Ooh La La” (Removed 6/24) -...
When Your Loneliness Is Cooking
Goldfrapp “Ooh La La” (Removed 6/24) - The first single from Goldfrapp’s forthcoming Supernature LP does not stray too far from the sound of their previous album, but rather builds on the foundation of songs like “Strict Machine” and “Train.” Or more specifically, the remixes of those songs - this is a lot more like the Ewan Pearson mix of “Train” than anything else. Good for them. This is rather exciting; I’m very much looking forward to hearing the full album. (Click here to visit the official Goldfrapp site.)
Drexel “Monolithic Beast” - Dayton, Ohio’s Drexel is truly one of a kind. Tom Waits is the most reasonable touchstone, but there’s a severity to their whimsical flamboyance that makes Waits seem almost mundane in comparison. “Monolithic Beast” starts out as a soulful lounge ballad in deep space, but eventually transforms into something roughly akin to lo-fi show tune. The band is an acquired taste, but totally worth the effort. (Click here to visit the Drexel Myspace page or buy it from the band by emailing mutantauctions @ yahoo.com)
Batman Begins - One of the great strengths of Batman as a character is his incredible versatility. Over the past seven decades, several hundred writers, artists, and filmmakers have used the character in a myriad of ways, ranging from the relentlessly grim and “realistic” stories that came mostly in the wake of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns to the most absurd camp imaginable (trust me, the Adam West tv series has nothing on the most outlandish stuff DC put out in the Silver Age.) Batman Begins errs on the side of the grim, but it’s probably more accurate to claim that the film succeeds in capturing the immutable essence of the character and his mythos. There’s nothing wrong with wacky Batman stories, but the timing is right to reestablish the central themes of the Batman mythology, and leave the pop art to the Marvel franchises. In contrast to other recent films based on famous superheroes, Batman Begins is almost entirely devoid of irony and selfdeprecation, and it’s all the better for it. The film takes its mythology and subtext very seriously, and commits itself to being something more thoughtful and fulfilling than a standard popcorn movie without ever surrendering to humorlessness. I’m very fond of its structure, particularly in how it gradually reveals the insidious corruption on nearly every level of Gotham City over the course of the first two acts. The film makes a point of showing that Batman isn’t up against one crazy villain in a costume, but rather fighting a futile war against a sick system with only a handful of allies. Batman Begins grapples with idealism and complicity in corrupt institutions like a flamboyant, crowd-pleasing version of The Wire.
6/21/05 5:00 pm
Hi,
Your music reviews are much better than your film reviews, both in accuracy and relavancy. Although maybe that’s just because I’m - oh forget it.
Bye!
6/21/05 5:03 pm
I think the movie review was on.
I thought the new batman is the best comic movie out there.
Vinnie Vincent Invasion!
Way to go Matt
6/21/05 5:20 pm
Goldfrapp! Woo! I’ve been waiting for this one for a while.
6/21/05 5:26 pm
Thanks Matthew, I almost always appreciate your picks… The Goldfrapp track is not clicking right now, but thanks anyway!
6/21/05 6:09 pm
The Goldfrapp track is solid but I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed. All the buzz I’d heard about the new material was: “Eno-era Roxy Music blah blah blah.” And–as you pointed out–”Ooh La La” sounds more like a remix of “Train.” I guess I was hoping for another dramatic leap in direction/sound (i.e. from the electro-loungey “Felt Mountain” to the dirty new wave of “Black Cherry”). But I’ll take what I can get. Thanks, Matthew.
6/21/05 6:35 pm
Sounds like Electrochemie LK’s “Schall”
6/21/05 7:29 pm
thanks for the goldfrapp. love them.
i CAN’T WAIT to see batman begins
6/21/05 9:15 pm
Sorry but Goldfrapp’s Oh La La reminds me too much of Canned Heat’s 1968 hit ‘On the Road Again’…
6/22/05 1:05 am
I haven’t seen the movie, but it looks like they put him in a similar costume as the ones from the Tim Burton movies.
I never liked those, they look like a suit of armor made out of really stiff rubber. Seems like he should have something a bit more sleek and breathable.
and I was kind of thinking that all his gear would be a bit more rudimentary in this one, since he’s just starting out.
6/22/05 2:03 am
Michael, they actually do a really excellent job of explaining away his costume and his various batgear in the film. Very plausible in context.
6/22/05 2:45 am
Do they do a good job of explaining that ridiculous military looking Batmobile thing?
6/22/05 2:57 am
Yes, of course: it was built for the miltary. Most of his equipment is repurposed prototypes built for the military by WayneTech.
6/22/05 10:29 am
I saw “Batman Begins” Sunday and really liked it a lot, though I disagree with the comment in the review that it didn’t come off humorless. For the most part, it was completely devoid of any sense of humor; the funniest bits involved his life as Bruce Wayne. But thankfully, it didn’t come off as undeserved stoicism. I do agree that his gear, despite coming out of a multibillion-dollar corporations R&D division, was perhaps a touch too hi-tech; I’d have preferred a guy in grey flannel, a street-level brawler, who has to be all the more sharp to avoid bullets, rather than someone who can just take them.
When I’m on a faster connection I’ll d/l the Goldfrapp; Allison’s voice makes me all squishy.
6/22/05 1:51 pm
i,for one, completely loved your review and totally agree. i LOVED “Batman Begins” on every level, and I usually don’t enjoy that kind of film. so, mad props!
+ thanks for the goldfrapp!
6/22/05 4:17 pm
Yo, Matt, I cannot believe you have a post about Drexel. How obscure are they? When I wrote album reviews for my student newspaper at the University of Dayton, I basically slammed Drexel (three years ago), when they were little more than a local band (are they still? Guess not.) Anyway, I got a hilarious threatening, retaliatory letter from the lead singer warning me to never show my face at one of his shows and even refering to Catholic priests raping little boys. It was so bizarre. I still have it.
6/22/05 4:27 pm
This is actually the second time that I’ve posted Drexel! But yeah, they are pretty much a “local band” still, though I usually use that term as a slam for really mundane stuff that people see because there’s nothing else around.
6/23/05 12:01 am
okay, I was thinking that this was supposed to be the movie version of “Batman: Year One”, but I don’t think it really is. is it?
6/23/05 12:08 am
Well, it’s certainly not an adaptation of the Miller comic, but in terms of showing how Bruce Wayne becomes Batman and showing him in action as he starts out, yeah, it’s more or less Year One.
6/23/05 5:18 am
I thought BB was a very fine film on many levels. I do think Nolan would have done well to include a few iconic moments alongside the blur of the action scenes. Ted Williams used to say he could read the signature on a fastball coming at him - time slows down AS WELL AS speeds up in violent situations. A little of this, if done intelligently (and how could the cerebral Nolan do otherwise) would please crowds while not disturbing the quiet central core of the film.
I have an offbeat review comparing Batman to Darth Vader here: http://mistersnitch.blogspot.com/2005/03/men-in-black-capes.html
6/23/05 6:53 am
(Apologies in advance for this bitterness, Matt, I love your music picks, your site and your writing.)
Maybe I mismanaged my expectations, but Batman Begins was terrible. The plot was crazy and Nolan had to rush to get through the story. I know I’m supposed to think the Batmobile is cool b/c the characters keep telling me it’s cool, but really, who cares? Zero chemistry w/ the lead lady, or even any attempt at a romantic storyline. Bale’s face looked doughy in the mask. The action was incomprehensible.
Typical Hollywood borefest. Too bad Burton jumped the shark long ago and can’t repeat his former genius. At least I’ll be ready when FF disappoints.
6/23/05 1:41 pm
You know, I think there’s a very very strong argument in favor of Batman never having any chemistry with his leading lady. First, I think it’s best to stick with the traditional Bruce-is-gay subtext, and more than that, he’s supposed to be monastic and totally obsessed with his life as Batman. There’s a reason why the only times Batman ever has any chemistry with a woman, it’s Catwoman. He’s totally Batman and she’s in a costume too.
6/23/05 7:30 pm
Solid film, solid review. I am in love with you.
6/24/05 1:18 am
I take that back, you are a guy. I admire you.
6/28/05 8:55 am
Weve got to ask, why is this man [bin Laden] so popular around the world? Why are people so supportive of him in many countries that are riddled with poverty? Hes been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health-care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. — Democratic Senator Patty Murray
6/29/05 4:28 pm
very much looking forward to Supernature too!
cheers to that
7/4/05 8:53 pm
I’m looking forward to the Goldfrapp album too. Too bad Mute isn’t going to release it in the US till next year.
This is why people download…
9/6/05 8:19 pm
Found another link for the new Goldfrapp song:
http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2TJR604VRJQ8I10YW9166B596X