Buzz – The Listening

A brand new single is available from the indie rock quartet called The Listening (band site). Animals Part 1 (Criminals and Submarine Dwellings) was released 10-10-10, and consists of a single and a corresponding shortfilm six-and-a-half-minutes long.

An under-promoted act, The Listening acts like a combo of Pink Floyd and Radiohead, theologically and philosophically digging deep into some sick drum loops and strange moog-y sounds. They glisten with introspective lyrics and sparkle with shiny guitar licks.

If you’re a Listening fan, you already know all that. Let me say that the new single continues the dreamy psychedelic sound featured on the recent Transmission 1 EP. This song on its own pretty much their most depressing work yet. However, it is just a Part 1. Animals may yet turn out another adventure into the hopeful fare this band is known for. See for yourself:

Review – The Social Network

Ok, so: not indie. But worthwhile.

The Social Network is the dramatic rendering of the origins of the social networking site Facebook that at opening held the #1 slot at the box office. More than that, it currently holds a 97% rating from Rotten Tomatoes and a 95% from Metacritic, both sites that give films scores based on reviews by top movie critics.

Henry Blodget of the San Francisco Chronicle calls the film “the latest incarnation of the American Dream.” Ann Hornaday of The Washington post calls it “a vital, engaging, even urgent parable for our age.” So what makes this technology-driven legal drama seem to so many people a not only entertaining, but socially relevant commentary on our digitally driven society?

Troubled People With Computers
The film opens with Harvard programmer Mark Zuckerberg chatting it up with a girl in a bar. Obviously very eccentric and virtually obsessed with advancing in Harvard’s harsh social strata. He’s able to successfully keep two topics of conversation going simultaneously, with almost shocking verbal dexterity.

He’s also an asshole, which the girl he’s with makes painfully clear while breaking up with him in the bar. Mark runs home and gets considerably more intoxicated before hacking five or six mainframes and creating Facemash, a site which he uses to compare pictures of his female classmates to each other to see who’s hotter.

The results are heroically disastrous. Mark’s site receives enough traffic overnight to crash the Harvard server, and he is placed on academic probation for hacking and sexism. He realizes he’s really onto something, however, and soon starts work on his new project, originally titled “The Facebook.”

Flash forward and Zuckerberg is facing two lawsuits – both from people with claims to part of the Facebook franchise. The now-billionaire seems completely disaffected, as he toys with their rhetoric and spouts off sarcastically. The film continues to tell his story in narrative-style flashbacks.

A (Mostly) True Story
The film is based on the Ben Mezrich novel The Accidental Billionaires, which claims to be an accurate record of how Zuckerberg and company struck gold and created the world’s largest and most popular social networking website.

The Social Network, however, does not claim to be accurate in its tellings and showings. The girlfriend who drops Mark Zuckerberg in the opening scene is apparently completely fictional. Rumor is that the real Mark Zuckerberg won’t comment on the film.

Scene Cuts and Cross Words
Fight Club director David Fincher is fresh off his work on 2008′s Oscar-magnet Benjamin Button, and, judging from Social Network‘s critical reception so far, he’s up to his neck in another. This project was something distinctly difficult to manage, however, compared with his past successes.

It takes a lot to make a story based on a legal drama work, especially while incorporating so many diverse characters. In spite of the challenge, the transitions in this film are well-done, and the story flows along without a hitch – screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, Charlie Wilson’s War) makes sure of that.

The dialogue is rich and often technically advanced; my roommate, who’s a programmer, assures me that the technical jargon is not fabricated either. There is so much going on, and so fast that I often found myself staring at the big-screen in wonder, trying to stay caught-up. The story is told in a very engaging fashion.

An Unconventionally Classy Cast
Jesse Eisenberg has been riding the Michael Cera wave lately. ‘Til recently, most every film aimed at an under-30 audience featured at least one semi-macho male protagonist who’s secretly unsure of himself, and learns to achieve as a means of eliminating his adolescent insecurities.

The recent Michael Cera flicks (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Juno, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), however, have been pretty much pushing in the opposite direction – with unprecedented success. They make the protagonist an geeky semi-sociovertic who’s personal battle is coming to terms with himself, not striving to achieve the cultural stereotype for a successful male. Eisenberg played a similar role to Cera’s typecast persona in 2009′s Zombieland.

Social Network adds a little twist to that scenario by making Eisenberg’s character… well… a bad person. A 19-year-old genius-level alcoholic, Zuckerburg virtually ignores the sex, drugs and fame offered him, only pushing to expand. He wants two things – revenge on the social elitist world of Harvard and the approval of quasi-mentor and Napster creator Sean Parker (played by a wheelin’, dealin’, cavalier Justin Timberlake).

Also: Justin Timberlake
I’ll just say this once: I’ll watch any movie that casts JT as a smooth-talking, cocaine-sniffing homeless celebrity. The 31-year-old recording artist had a field day with Social Network, portraying a carefree hyper-social celebrity (wonder where he got the inspiration for that role?).

Andrew Garfield knocked ‘em dead as this half-legal billion-dollar technology scheme’s straight man and Zuckerburg’s CFO Eduardo Saverin. Suprise! He’s suing a cold-hearted back-stabbing Zuckerberg, after being scammed out of a few hundred mil by the greedy son of a bitch.

Disney actress Brenda Song plays one of the first Facebook groupies, turned Savarin’s girlfriend. She subsequently turns psycho, doing more than her share to add to the drama, even lighting things on fire in Saverin’s apartment (definitely a highlight).

Song’s inclusion in the film, however, represents one of the few casting mistakes, as she is not quite as believable on the big screen as she is pulling slap-stick stunts on the Saturday morning sit-coms (nice try Mickey Mouse).

A Sick (and Slimy!) Soundtrack
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor (in collaboration with British composer Atticus Ross) breaks out the keys for this eccentrically eclectic soundtrack. Highlights include the opening sequence (entitled Hand Covers Bruise) and an oddly rendered re-mix of romantic composer Edvard Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King. Reznor and co. are offering a five-song sampler of the soundtrack online for free on the Nullco site.

So, Really…
The take-home? We have fundamentally changed as a culture. Cliché as it may sound, this movie is more than just a sign of the times. The Social Network‘s Mark Zuckerburg exhibited a genius only rivaled by his propensity for social apathy and his thirst for a twisted form of revenge on society.

This movie really does provide a contemporarily accurate presentation of the new face of the American dream. Opportunity really didn’t die with the tech boom, the job crisis or the recession. Every American is free to succeed in whatever ways they can dream up and drum up some capital for. We are all free to achieve.

However, what made The Social Network so great was its depiction of success – in the last scene a lonely and bitter 20-year-old billionaire is seen staring down the screen of his laptop, awash in the emptiness. He won.

Buzz: The Black Keys’ Brothers

The two-part blues rock combination known as The Black Keys released album number 6 this May, a gritty, filthy, White-Stripes-esque stumbling of a rock n’ roll record called “Brothers.” This is new-world Southern rock – if Johnny Cash was steady like a train, then The Black Keys are persistently jolty like a greyhound bus.

Watch out for singles like “Next Girl” and “Tighten Up,” as the boys from Akron, OH smash the “Southern” right out of Southern Rock. As front-man Dan Auerbach tells AP Magazine, “We make music for hipster strippers.”

Also, check out their Youtube page here.

All Delighted People (Sufjan Stevens)

Indie phenom Sufjan Stevens comes up empty with his newest philanthropically marketed EP “All Delighted People.” The record was elf-released on his very own Asthmatic Kitty Records today (Aug. 20th, 2010), and is available for a $5 download.

The title track is an 11 minute and thirty eight second epic that deals an orchestrally shaking and vocally shrill blow to the ears. Sufjan is very bold to go with a sound like that, and it works. But the tracks following it will likely hold little appeal for the general public.
Still, i got to hand it to him: apocalyptically driven  semi-classically-instrumented folk-rock is definitely one of the most out-of-style genres. In general, whatever is most strange and unpopular is more accepted by Sufjan’s fans. This may prove to be no exception, but that still doesn’t make this album any more bearable.

Don’t believe that the relatively un-proclaimed king of indiefolk has dropped one? Have a listen. The entire record is streaming here.

Pomplamoose (Quite tight, Not a might trite)

… Grapefruit?
The phenom Youtube duo dubbed “Pomplamoose” was still at large at press time tonight (3 AM Pacific). Trendy, classy, cute and creative, this band has everything going for it image-wise.
Contrary to my first impressions,  the term “pomplamoose” does not refer to a large and pompous caribou-like creature, but instead denotes a loose translation of the french word pamplemousse, which means grapefruit.

WYSIWYH
The band has released music mainly through a series of youtube fims, where classic cover songs and the occasional original are showcased. These videos are meticulously edited such that What You See Is What You Hear. Lip-sync-less and perfectly edited, both covers and originals shine spotlessly with golden tones from the duo’s relative Midas touch. They even make Lady Gaga sound good!

Moosen?
Those classy cats who make up the pomplamoose collaboration are actually two very prolific solo artists. Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte. Both have side projects featured on separate youtube channels, and Nataly is half of the indiepop duo known as “My Terrible Friend.” But enough talk… give Pomplamoose a listen!

Wish You Were Here/British

Have you heard The xx? This indie brit-rock phenom debuted with a self-titled album last year. As of yet, however, they seem not to have caught on in the States much. I was lucky enough to be introduced to them last weekend, and I just can’t get enough of their music. Here’s why:

The first thing you notice about The xx is their mellowed-out electronic groove. Even though the rhythms are played on a 6×4 electronic drumpad, “xx” (the album) doesn’t come across as club music at all. Think Mazzy Star with a touch of Radiohead; it’s slick like The Gorillaz and mellow like The Dandy Warhols.

The merits of this post-shoegaze gem are implorable – a stripped-down sound features two lead vocalists – a guy and a girl. Each singer takes turns, and they often arrange the vocals to loop and overlap in an outright brilliant fashion. What results is two tracks of stunningly expressed vulnerability, stitched together at the chorus and given a bassline.

The bass and guitars make additional melody, and give liberally what much of modern rock is missing – space! Lightly strumming and turning the rhythm guitar down allows the listener to breathe a little while they listen. It’s this space that allows you to really enter the song, to really begin to identify with the singers.

Lyrically, the album is simplistic and seemingly heartfelt. There are times when the band could stand to add more variety to their lyrics, but other than that, they do alright. I really like the love story lyrics of their single “VCR.” Neither rocket-science nor elegant prose, it sounds very beautiful nonetheless, “I think we’re superstars./ You say you think we are the best thing,/ but you…/ you just know.”

Though self-released, “xx” has met some enthusiastic critical acclaim (Chicago Tribune, Pitchfork.com). Many people around the world have found it enlightening and aesthetically pleasing. You should definitely check it out. It might make a perfect addition to your music collection.

“Shoegaze” is a genre from days gone by characterized by multiple dissonantly raucous rhythm guitars and the use of vocals as an instrument. In the British rock scene in the 1980′s, people noticed that many of these bands barely moved while performing onstage. It appeared to onlookers as if the musicians were string at their own shoes shoes.

While The xx doesn’t fit into the “shoebox,” they do display some slight remnants of it, as seen in this video:

Also, I created a mix of shoegaze artists, and later artists that seem as if they are influenced by the shoegaze movement.

I Can See My Shoes From Here (2010)

1. VCR – The xx
2. Ocean Colored Days – The Arctic Flow
3. No New Kinda Story – Starflyer 59
4. You Were the Last High – The Dandy Warhols
5. Thursday – Asobi Seksu
6. Sometimes – My Bloody Valentine
7. Breather – Chapterhouse
8. Just Like Honey – The Jesus and Mary Chain
9. Kisspeach – Astrobrite
10. Skies You Climb – Highspire
11. Allison – Slowdive
12. Pie in the Sky – Dear Ephesus

On Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=148B116876E5EF00

Ike Box Magic

“Welcome to the funeral home.”

A chilled-out crowd of thirty twenty-somethings glance up at the stage in amusement, and as the chatter dies down, a couple of them reach for their coffees. Smiling back at them from the stage is 27-year-old Emily Wells, a hip hop/soul/classical performer who’s out making a tour of the Western US with neo-folk luminary Timmy Straw. The “funeral home” she speaks of is the Ike Box, one of Salem, Oregon’s most unique concert venues.

The Ike Box, which does indeed have a history of hosting funerals, is now a very artsy looking coffee shop and concert hall. Photography and paintings by local artists hang from the walls and classy and comfortable furniture adorns every room. Music drifts through the cavernous hallways and bonus rooms, reverbing off the high celings and coming out crisp in the chill atmosphere. This is a great place for a concert.

While the Ike doesn’t usually attract big names or huge crowds, what they do have is ambience. You can walk in and feel at home while enjoying the sounds of some pretty incredible bands that you’ve probably never heard of before. And there’s also coffee, which is almost always a plus for a concert venue.

Some local bands that do make regular appearances at the Ike Box are the acoustic act For Charles, the Corvallis rock group Norman and the indie rock band Symmetry/Symmetry. Each time that I’ve gone to the Ike Box for a concert I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the quality and/or diversity of the music being performed. This venue really contributes to the great scene that we have here in the Willamette valley.

So, if you’re bored this weekend, and you want to head out and hear some exciting music for cheap, go ahead and check out who’s playing the Ike at myspace.com/ikeboxmusic. For affordable entertainment on the valley floor, don’t miss a chance to spend a night out at the Ike Box.

The Ike Box, 299 Cottage St. SE Salem, OR
What: Weekend concerts (and many during the week). All ages.
Who: Lots of local artists and the occasional touring indie act.
How Much: Usually $5
Website: myspace.com/ikeboxmusic
Next Up: The Slants, Hosannas, Massive Moth, The Madrigals (Rock)
Friday, May 7th, 7:00 PM

Gabriel Wilson’s Lovely is Death

This was 2006′s best record. Period.
Gabriel Wilson is the frontman for the indie rock group “The Listening,” which originated out of Longview, Washington. Their music, which is basically what would happen if the Beatles and Radiohead were to jam in a wine cellar, is fantastic.

But this is something else entirely.

I’m not so sure I could accurately describe to you the brilliant undertones that make Gabriel Wilson’s “Lovely Is Death” so unforgettably sharp. Wilson painfully showcases his unique ability to beautifully express brokenness with a sense of abandon in each song. He talks about the pain and remembers the good times in equal measures.

This is the record that talks about his divorce.

“Lovely is Death” stands out as one of the most moving pieces of art that I have ever experienced. The lyrics visceral, the music simply aching and the vocals calm with a hint of sorrow, this must-hear likely won’t offend, but might inspire or describe the inner workings of the listener.

You can hear two songs on Wilson’s Myspace page ( myspace.com/lovelyisdeath ), or look at ordering it on his self-operated record label, l-town ( ltownmusic.com ).

Geek Out With The Guild

Are you a WOW addict feeling a bit of a disconnect from the world’s 11.5 million other Warcraft junkies? Do you have a few online gaming friends, and wonder what they’re like in real life? Then this show is for you.

Actress Felicia Day (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) created “The Guild,” a free online sitcom with 3-5 minute episodes, as a way of redeeming the time that’s she’s spent online participating in MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). Started in 2007 with a small crew and a tiny budget, the series has proved capable of attracting not only much critic acclaim and many awards, but also quite a few viewers – the third season pilot has racked up more than 200,000 views on the Youtube platform alone.

The show follows a group of unemployed adult gamers as they tune out the real world so they can quest and loot in their virtual world. Early on in the plot, circumstances force them all to meet up in real life. they actually begin bonding together in a real-life context, and turning to each other for help with their issues. This, of course, is super awkward.

The quirks and phobias that surface as the characters begin to interact with each other in real life are most of what makes the show funny. Vork, the forty-year-old guild leader, wears his dead grandfather’s suit and refuses to leave his house; Tink, a teenage drama queen is intensely bored, yet does only what’s convenient and/or necessary; and Codex (played by Felicia Day herself) insecurities that she only dreams of facing in an online context.

Currently rolling through its third season exclusively online, this bite-sized Youtube sitcom has enough awkward moments to make you squirm and enough hilarious situations to make you chuckle. If you like, you can check out their website at watchtheguild.com, or watch watch episode 1, hosted by Youtube.

The Arts?

LOVE – Or You Might Just Like It

Angels and Airwaves is back. Now with more post-punk power! The late-model side project headed up by time-tested rockstar Tom DeLonge (of Blink 182 fame) released its third studio album this February. LOVE, the eleven-track follow-up to 2007′s I-Empire, finds the band electing to backtrack on a lot of geound they’ve already covered. This electronically-fueled alt rock record features loops and sounds that are a bit too familiar for a third realease. Too add to the blight, the lyricism, never quite that brilliant, has lost more of its shine as DeLonge’s songwriting becomes more self-indulgent.
That being said, the album is not a complete waste of time. Some tracks are worth the download, as they would mix well into playlists. On the bright side, this album is available for free download directly from the band at modlife.com/angelsandairwaves. So maybe eccentrically emotional concept albums are your thing; If you do take the time to download and listen to LOVE, then make sure to check out “The Flight of Apollo” (track 2) and “Letters to God, Part II” (track 10). You also might want to check out “LOVE” the film, slotted for release later this year (and indie space film from a space rock band).

Julian Smith – He Made this For You!

Youtube maverick and aspiring director Julian Smith now has his own official website (juliansmith.tv) to compliment his fervently updated Youtube channel (juliansmith87). There you can find commercial-free depictions of his outrageously eccentric comedy sketches by this zany actor, composer, musician and film editor. Complete with superb acting and all-original scores, Julian and co.’s productions are some of the best comedy that I’ve seen on the web. You can find a new video on on his Youtube channel every Friday.
A bit wary of trendy Youtube phenoms? There are a few must-sees before you can rule out Julian Smith as a passing fad. Check out Malk, a super-intensely hilarious feature about the pitfalls of mispronouncing dairy products. You should also see Hot Kool Aid, in which Julian’s beverage experimentation is rejected by his brother. “Brother!” he screams with conviction, “I made this for you!”

Latte America – Six Shots of Creative Energy

Featured in the experimental block at this year’s Da Vinci Film Festival in Corvallis was a film that caught me off gaurd. This creative video short was done in one take. Backwards. Naked. Ok, so there was no nudity involved, but the creative rendering of a satirical message is seldom so stunning as in “Latte America.”
In the post-apocalyptic United States, junkies ambling through the streets are in search of the most elusive drug of all – they need there latte fix. We meet our hero shivering and writhing inside his apartment, waiting for a delivery to arrive. When it gets there, the cops aren’t far behind. He and the delivery girl, both still squirming for a fix, have to make a run for it and try to out-manuever both the authourities and the other junkies on the street, using only their decaffeinated brains and wielding only a stove pot. Everything is slow-motion and painfully bright, to make the viewer think that they too are in need of a caffeine fix. A trailer and more info about Embargo Productions at latteamericafilm.com.