August 25th, 2006 1:10pm
With Verbs I’ll Attack
Stephen Malkmus "Kindling For The Master (Major Swellings mix)" - There are many strange things about this double 12" of "Kindling For The Master" remixes, but chief among them is the fact that it seems to be released on a random whim quite some time after Face The Truth came out last year, and that all of the remixers somehow agreed to make sure that SM's original recording was still the perkiest and most danceable version available. I am fairly certain that "Kindling" (easily one of my favorites from FTT, by the way) would make for much peppier remixes than what's on offer -- was MSTRKRFT too busy, too expensive, or too '00s to deal with the Malk? The Major Swellings mix by Prins Thomas does alright by the song by keeping the structure and key instrumental components intact and extends the track into a bleak, sinister groove that kills a lot of the fun in the song, but at least sounds pretty cool. (Click here to buy it from Domino.)
Young and Restless "Satan" - This cut may not be long on ideas, but is a nearly perfect specimen of a particular sort of punk song from this period, and may actually sound better in a few years when no one is doing this sort of thing, or doing it quite like this, anymore. The screamo bits are a nice touch, but the singer doesn't go too overboard, or maybe I just say that because I've been giving that new Blood Brothers record a shot a few times recently, and I find myself really going for the songs until I invariably reach the moment when I just can't take the gratuitous shrieking that comes up in every single song. Is it a total lack of imagination on their part, or are they just trying to please their audience, or are they actively attempting to devalue their own currency? (Click here for Young & Restless' official page.)
Young and Restless "Satan" - This cut may not be long on ideas, but is a nearly perfect specimen of a particular sort of punk song from this period, and may actually sound better in a few years when no one is doing this sort of thing, or doing it quite like this, anymore. The screamo bits are a nice touch, but the singer doesn't go too overboard, or maybe I just say that because I've been giving that new Blood Brothers record a shot a few times recently, and I find myself really going for the songs until I invariably reach the moment when I just can't take the gratuitous shrieking that comes up in every single song. Is it a total lack of imagination on their part, or are they just trying to please their audience, or are they actively attempting to devalue their own currency? (Click here for Young & Restless' official page.)
8/25/06 5:35 pm
Young and Restless = Daisy Chainsaw
8/25/06 5:43 pm
Matt, I just read your review of Accepted and I don’t understand why you have such beef with Garden State. That movie has gone from one of the better reviewed movies of the year that it came out to practically everyone hating it, some haters taking back their opinion after they initially liked it. Could this have to do with middle schoolers and people that know nothing about film swearing by it? Or the success of its soundtrack? Because judged on its own terms it really is a good movie. Sure it has a couple of cliches, but it was his debut film. It captured the feeling of being a youth at the crossroads, one who is perpetually stagnant in nearly all aspects of his life. There were some funny scenes in it as well, and the scene where they are in the quarry with Simon & Garfunkel playing in the background is great, almost life-affirming. Can you elaborate a bit more on why you hate the movie so much, and please try not to regard my opinion with half as much repulsion as you regard Garden State?
8/25/06 6:28 pm
Well, there’s a lot of things I hate about Garden State, but I suppose it comes down to disliking its overwhelming preciousness and sorta loathing the way that it portrays depression. I’m also not a fan of its soundtrack/music curation, and even less of a fan of the way the music is included in the film.
I do think it’s the sort of thing that if I saw it at a different, more miserable and immature part of my life, I may have really liked it and by saying that I don’t necessarily mean it in a bad way. Some movies are really excellent for a specific mindset, and if you’re not in it, you’re probably going to hate it and be reminded of some embarassing part of yourself.
Also, I completely hate Zach Braff.
8/26/06 3:02 am
Garden State is pretty awful.
By the way, “wrongsauce” is one word.
8/27/06 1:05 pm
Garden State is one of those good (not great) movies that anyone who be totally justified in either loving or hating. I like the soundtrack, but there a little bit of a Starbucks/KCRW vibe to it.
As for the screamo, it’s like anything else in music. Moderation, kids! If you always smash your guitar, it loses the shock value. Try lovingly packing it into its case next time, as a real showstopper.
8/28/06 12:31 am
Good to see Young and Restless featuresd here - but you might want to fix up the link to their website.
http://youngandrestless.org/
8/29/06 1:38 pm
I’ve had this track for a while and i still rock it on iTunes almost daily….swell post
2/11/09 12:41 am
I hate garden state but looooooooooove malkmus. you are a genius, sir.