Being Renewed Day by Day

I can still remember my dear friend & musical guru, Charis, sitting me down in her room on our hall, 3rd North, to show me a video of the multi-talented musician, Andrew Bird.

We were crouched in front of her little lap-top (most likely around 1am) and were suddenly captured by this pro-whistling, guitar-slinging, violin-plucking, glockenspiel-tapping, perfect-pitch-singing wonder of a musician.

That night stirred me into an admiration for musicians who really PLAY music. I mean PLAY. Not only does he prove his musical talent for instruments, but I would argue that his ability comes out most when he’s on stage putting it all together – a wonderful sort of plalying. That first year of listening to Andrew Bird’s music I saw him play live three times in three different cities: First was June 2005 in St. Louis for a PACKED house at Off Broadway, second in Atlanta that fall at The Eyedrum (again a packed house), and third in Nashville on my way home to St. Louis at The Mercy Lounge that same fall. All three awesome shows. Since then I’ve seen him on a few late shows showing off his newest album: Noble Beast.

If you aren’t familiar with Bird’s music, your first listen will NOT disappoint. And let me tell you, it is no lie when Paste Magazine’s Kate Kiefer warns you to grab a dictionary before trying to decipher the lyrics!

A sampling of A.Bird lyrics:
palindrome
plasticities
radiolarian
aubergine
fratricide
rheostat
machinations
cosmonaut
incandescent
proto-Sanskrit
Cypriot
Uralic
troglobite
plecostomus
anthurium
pleurisy
valerian
dermestid

About a year ago, Bird started a blog on The New York Times website called : Measure for Measure. It is here that he explains how he chooses the words that fill his songs saying, “…writing lyrics becomes like running multiple code-breaking programs in your head until just the right word with just the right number of syllables, tone of vowel and finally some semblance of meaning all snap into place.”

So you can see that not only is he giving plenty of thought and practice to the melodies, harmonies, and parts of each instrument, but the words – both their combination & rhymes – are just as important to the wholeness of the songs.

“That’s part of the fun with Andrew Bird, the songs are so well-crafted, music and words so inextricably connected, that the songs are both beautiful objects to be admired as well as puzzles to be unlocked.” -Gavin Breeden

The release of Noble Beast and the kick-off to the album’s tour started with a concert at the historic Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 28th. Bob Boilen at NPR gave me my first listen to the new album while I waited for my download on iTunes. It’s a great album. Lives up to his last release, but involves a little more creativity in the percussion department. I would also agree with the compliments on his vocals which are all rich and lilting throughout the album. Three stand-out tracks to me are: “Fitz and the Dizzyspells,” “Tenuousness,” and “Not a Robot, But a Ghost.” His imagination is as deep and wide as any 8-year-old, but his years of training as a musician give way to sound maturity. Comparing the sound of this album with the previous, I would say that it’s a fuller sound – more production in what feels like a larger space. Armchair Apocrypha, to me, has a more intimate production quality. There may even be less whistling & glockenspiel in this new album – more guitar & violin. Maybe “Effigy” is the most characteristic to me on Noble Beast of that layering process that Bird uses in his live shows -the transitions from one melody to the next and then the connection in the end. The key is that Bird is growing as an artist and yet stays true to his own style; one that I haven’t heard repeated.

**Check out the A.mazhing Archive.org for some FREE Downloads of Andrew Bird’s music. click here for my favorite show**

Next Time: On the Big Screen: The Class – This film, nominated for this year’s Academy Awards as Best Foreign Film, is playing at the AFI and as soon as I see it, I’ll let you know how I like it!

American Idol is shaping up to give another great season of performances!

Hollywood weeks held extreme drama, Simon threatened immediate dismissal for those who forgot the lyrics, and we were left with the top 36 – all who were given the opportunity to perform LIVE – on stage for America to choose.

Each round of 12 produced predictable enough results. At least predictable until the Wild Card round when Anoop was left hanging & then, OF COURSE, they changed the top 12 to the top 13 which I SHOULD have predicted. A plot twist. This week he was, once again, left as the LAST contestant saved. Poor guy – I believe this is the 3rd time he’s been scared & then saved (Chosen as a wild card, chosen as #13, and tonight’s scare). Personally, I like the guy a LOT – he’s got a great voice, he’s got a great face/smile & he connects with the audience. Let’s hope his song choice improves!

Tonight’s results leave us with:
Michael Sarver
Allison Iraheta
Matt Giraud
Kris Allen
Megan Corkrey
Scott MacIntyre
Alexis Grace
Danny Gokey
Anoop Desai
Adam Lambert
Lil Rounds

Both Jasmine Murray and Jorge Nunez were sent home. I am satisfied with America’s choices even though I think Jorge brought some diversity to the stage

As for the extra performances, I missed Kanye’s, but I would say A.mazing choice to bring back Kelly Clarkson! Really, for all the Idol fans out there, who doesn’t remember her winning night performance? The song, the emotions, the tears – wow. Just wonderful.

On the side, a word about Ryan Seacrest: He’s always trying to get the inside scoop on national television! I’ve heard him on all the Red Carpets this spring – Grammy’s, Golden Globes, & Academy Awards asking all sorts of personal questions as if he can catch someone off guard and get a straight answer. He’s good at his job as the most overworked entertainment corespondent aka “wrangler.”

According to Idol Tracker
These are the top 3 from a few weeks ago, and they continue to be some of my faves.

In my Top 3 I’d replace Danny (even though I like him) with Allison:

I guess Danny is just plain pop while Allison has more spice & life to her – I love her rocker chick look & sound. And I’m a huge fan of the young ones (she’s 16). There are some like Paris Bennett (16) from Season 5 who are told they are still too young and to come back in a few years, but then there are the ones like Season 7 runner up David Archaletta (16) and Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks (17).

Links:
Thanks to Bob Payne for some Live blogging of tonight’s show! If you missed it, just read about it.

Also, don’t forget! On iTunes you can download both the videos & the audio recordings of each of the top 13’s performances. $1.49 per video & $.99 per song. As the weeks go on, download your faves!
Enjoy & let me know what you think!

With a stack of magazines and a dozen open tabs in Firefox I’m sitting down to tell you about the film, Rachel Getting Married. I finally saw it last weekend at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MD with friends Michelle & Aaron. Since I work at AFI-Silver several days a week as an unpaid intern, my perks include free passes to movies at the theater, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see this highly regarded film. It came out in limited release on October 3, 2008 and blew away most reviewers who saw it. You’re sure to have heard about this film if a) you’re a fan of Anne Hathaway b) you listen to NPR’s Movie Podcast or c) you like “artsy” films, otherwise because of its limited release, you may not have heard about it.

The IMDB rundown:
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Written by: Jenny Lumet
Featuring:
Anne Hathaway … Kym
Rosemarie DeWitt … Rachel
Mather Zickel … Kieran
Bill Irwin … Paul
Anna Deavere Smith … Carol
Anisa George … Emma
Tunde Adebimpe … Sidney
Debra Winger … Abby

At first I was surprised by the documentary style of the film. I hadn’t read many reviews concerning the style, but rather concerning the actors and artists involved. Then again, Jonathan Demme at the time he read the screenplay, considered himself “deeply in the world of documentaries.” So, it was a surprise that turned into understanding just how the raw camera work best displayed the raw emotions and constantly moving action – literally moving with the characters from room to room and house to car, place to place. The story centers around Kym who comes out of drug rehab to join family and friends for her older sister, Rachel’s preparations for the wedding and the spectacular event. Emotions run high during most family events, but weddings symbolize a giving and taking of new members and new love which, in this case especially, causes each person to examine themselves in the light of love. Kym believes she can’t love (forgive) herself because of her role in the family and has a hard time accepting the concern of her family (ie. her father’s watchful eye) as love. Rachel is in love and wants to celebrate for one day without the antics of her dysfunctional family – who she truly loves.

You’ll see all the dynamics of family, but also the dynamics of culture. The wedding party is a mix of ethnicities, personalities, and stories. One stand-out scene is the rehearsal dinner when friends and family tell stories and toast the love and admiration they have for the couple. It is also in that scene that Kym gives a toast/speech which brings tension to the evening of laughter. However, it leads into a pivotal revelation back home after the party. Things spiral seemingly out of control from there and you simply must watch the movie to see the ending, cause I’m NOT giving it away.

Related News:
The Golden Globes results came Sunday night and answered the question about who would be the winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama. Kate Winslet took the stage leaving four talented performers in their seats, including Anne Hathaway. While Hathaway didn’t go home a winner, it was her first nomination and she has much to look forward to in her somewhat young career. Her brilliant performance in Rachel Getting Married also nominated her for Film Independent’s 2009 Independent Spirit Awards – Best Female Lead.

If you love lists, like I do, you can check out these top 10 lists of movies for 2008 and see that Rachel Getting Married hit #9, #8, #7 all the way to #1 on approximately 24 critics lists. – Oh and as I was writing my last post I considered prematurely sticking it somewhere in my top 10 just based on what I heard.

Paste Magazine gave it a #14 spot in its top 20 films of 2008 and calls Anne Hathaway’s performance “fierce” and “quivering.” Early on in the hype, PasteMagazine.com also recognizes the diverse cultures represented in this film and in response to critique says, “The interracial nature of [Rachel & Sidney's] relationship goes unremarked upon throughout the entire film, and [that fact is] vexing several film critics, who dismiss such a notion as a fantasy.” My comments about this supposed “elephant in the room” topic are influenced by the conversation I had after the movie with my two friends (I didn’t ask their permission to mention this, but it might be “ironic” to note that I am white, Michelle is African-American, and Aaron is Asian…) We discussed the reality of the diversity in that wedding situation, and in life (um, us?). However I also noticed that the music business seemed to be the common thread in many of the on-screen relationships. Clearly America is a diverse nation and how dare we call such films “a fantasy” which broach that diversity in a positive light.

Hathaway also posed for the cover of Vogue’s January issue. Inside, her story was titled “The Awakening” and the stunning photography displays a “solid, Golden Girl.” While the article talked about her break-up with her boyfriend of four years, it included a quote from Director, Jonathan Demme: “She’s like a human lava lamp. She makes you stay in touch with what’s in her mind by what’s on her face.”
(Find out more at Vogue Diaries)

Rosemarie DeWitt is another notable talent in the film. She brings an attractive familial and familiar presence to the screen with her bright smile and eyes comparable to Jennifer Garner’s.

Her character – older sis, Rachel – brings balance to the off-tempo Kym and DeWitt does a fabulous job. You may recognize her for her roles on TV series – “Mad Men,” “Standoff” or the new “The United States of Tara.” Hopefully after this performance, we’ll see more of Rosemarie DeWitt on the big screen.

Watch the Movie Trailer

Once again, my goal for this blog is to cover media in a 3 week cycle – Movies, TV, Music. That means, next week, you should let me help you indulge in the show that’s on “The Search for a Superstar” – that’s right, American Idol! In my 5th year as a constant viewer and in its 8th Season as a top reality show on FOX, AI has a new judge – hit songwriter Kara DioGuardi- and has made several other changes that prove the producers will do what it takes to keep ratings up and America watching!

Thanks for reading my first official review/report and I hope you’ll be back next week for more!
Peace_Sarah_

So, I have a resolution for 2009. Yes, I am joining the multitudes of people making promises I am bound to break. Bound. My written words tend to be plans for the future. I am goal oriented and thrive on lists that I write down so I can cross them off. If you look in my paper recycling bin right now (yes, I am also going to recycle the 650 pounds of paper I use this year) I guarantee you will find 1/4 of the papers have some sort of list on them and 1/2 of those lists are unfinished for one reason or another. That serves as the preface for this resolution and all resolutions I ever make.

This specific resolution also refers to the fact that this blog is dusty. No. Worse than just dusty – it is so sparsely used that it’s at the risk of foreclosure in a bottomed-out economy of unread blogs. It’s time for a cleaning, a polishing, and to keep with the house analogy – time for a blog flip…. oh yeah, I’m gonna sell it… to you!

My blog-refurb starts with a new goal for my writing. Instead of giving you all the details of my ever-exciting-post-student phase of life, I want to do some reviews and commentary on the media that is impacting my life and hopefully the lives of those who will be reading. The three big media types that impact my life and give me cause to interact with my culture are films, music, and TV programs. For each of these three categories, I partake using several venues including movie theaters, the local Library, Concert Venues, magazines, my fave television stations, iTunes, and of course the all-knowing, all-inclusive World Wide Web.

Instead of overwhelming myself with a daily post of quick info, I’m going to aim for a bit more in-depth research and then offer a weekly post. If I find myself with more time/words, I may up it twice a week…

For now, I’m going to follow the year-end trends and give you my top 10 in each category that I mentioned. If I had a billion years, I’d link each one to myspace or something… just use the ‘ole highlight, right-click “search for in google“…

Top 10 Songs I listened to in 2008
10. “Why Did You Let Me Stay Here?”- She & Him
9. “Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year” – Rosie Thomas
8. “Hologram” – Katie Herzig
7. “Lose You” – Sandra McCracken
6. “Good Night Girl” – Nadas
5. “Honey Will You Sing Me a Song” – Matt Hires
4. “Bleeding Love” – Leona Lewis
3. “When Water Comes to Life” – Cloud Cult
2. “Mercy”- Duffy
1. “Buildings & Mountains” – The Republic Tigers

Top 10 Artists I listened to in 2008 (with a little help from last.fm)
10. The Weepies
9. Anberlin
8. Andrew Bird
7. Sufjan Stevens
6. Jennifer Knapp
5. Hem
4. Over the Rhine
3. Sara Groves
2. Rosie Thomas
1. Sandra McCracken & Derek Webb (counting them as 1)

Top 10 Movies of 2008
10. High School Musical 3 (October)
9. Kung Fu Panda (June)
8. Be Kind, Rewind (February)
7. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (May)
6. Taxi to the Dark Side (January)
5. Synecdoche, NY (October)
4. Burn After Reading (September)
3. Man on Wire (July)
2. The Dark Knight (July)
1. Slumdog Millionaire (December)

Top Concerts/Live Performances of 2008
10. Shane & Shane with Bethany Dillon (St. Louis, MO)
9. Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken (St. Louis, MO)
8. Katie Myers (Lookout Mountain, GA)
7. Michael Rhodes (Lookout Mountain, GA)
6. Ingrid Michaelson (Alexandria, VA)
5. Over the Rhine & Garrison Star (Birmingham, AL)
4. Rosie Thomas (Vienna, VA)
3. So You Think You Can Dance (Norfolk, VA)
2. Iron & Wine (St. Louis, MO)
1. Art. Music. Justice. With Sara Groves, Brandon Heath, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, & Charlie Peacock (Messiah College, PA)

Top 10 TV Programs of 2008
10. L.A. Ink (TLC)
9. Soup (E!)
8. John & Kate + 8 (TLC)
7. What Not To Wear (TLC)
6. American Idol (FOX)
5. 30 Rock (NBC)
4. True Hollywood Story (E!)
3. So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
2. Pushing Daisies (ABC)
1. The Office (NBC)

Please feel free to comment on my top 10 lists! I am not holding myself to standards besides honesty about what I was able to “consume” this year. I admit I left out several movies that I should have seen/will see and several artists/songs that I should have listened to/will listen to in the coming year! Thanks for reading!

Peace_Sarah_