Recent readings - Then We Came to the End

Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris (2007) The office is often an inspiration for literature and movies. This novel is about a Chicago advertising company that is downsizing and the lives of each employees and work anecdotes. What makes this story interesting is how the author catches our attention with funny as well as sad stories about each characters. The totem incident is just one example of an absurdly funny sub plot that is to be found in this book. Interestingly enough, even the sad parts (ovarian cancer) can also be funny at times and simply humane as well. Anybody who has worked, or is working in an office can relate to many incidents and anecdotes in this book. The way it's written is also inclusive (use of "we") and we're drawn more easily in the story. I will stay tuned for more work from this author.

Recent Viewings - Silmido

Silmido by Woo-suk Kang (2003) Korea Back in 1968, North Korea sent a group of commando to try to assassinate S. Korea's president at the time. They failed but were not that far from the blue house when they got caught! They were known as Unit 124 back in the North. Shortly after, S. Korean government decided to create a similar unit which they called unit 684 to try to go to Pyeongyang and assassinate Kim Il-Sung. Interestingly, unit 684 was comprised only of convicts. They stayed on the island of Silmido for years before the government decided to get rid of them by killing them! Hearing of this, they try to make their way to Seoul to probably take their revenge. They got intercepted and they were killed or sentenced to death. This movie recreates the events surrouding unit 684, their training and their demise. The movie does what it should do pretty well. Training sequences are brutal, music is there to make us feel empathy for the unit, men who are at first annoyed by each other finally bound (they don't really have a choice anyways because they're stuck on this island). It's a politically charged movie although not so much in your face as it could be. Interesting to see how the S. Korean government handled this situation and never gave the green light for the assassination attempt. This movie left me wondering what if they actually went with the mission and succeed. This part of the world would be very different right now..

Listenings - Pantha du Prince, Local Natives, Memory Tapes, Love is All

	Black Noise by Pantha du Prince (2010) I've never actually listened to a full techno album before this so I'm not even sure after listening to it what to say about it. Sounds like lounge music to me and possibly dance floor material. I'm probably going to say this quite often: this is an album that can only do it's thing as background noise, at least for me. I doesn't feel appropriate for me to review this album either. No score... more info video (Stick To My Side)
	Gorilla Manor by Local Natives (2010) Fun sounding album with little hook. At least give us one or two memorable tracks so that we could have a reason to listen to the rest. I don't want to feel like it's a chore to appreciate an album (and this happens quite often indeed). I did not have a lot of patience for this album and I wanted it to end quickly. It still feels like they're having fun on this record... although it's the kind of party that I'm not sure I want to go to unless I want to get bored. 5/10 more info video (Airplane)
	Seek Magic by Memory Tapes (2009) A one-man solo album by Davye Hawk. It's a mix of different genre: dance, eletronica and a little bit of funk and rock. It's like if Hawk wanted to put in one album all the different genre that interested him. It all flows well though, it's not a compilation of random genres. The only problem is that it never actually lifts up! It's perfect music for a relaxing sunny afternoon though and for some reason I think it would play well in a cafe! There's also an extra track on another cd titled Treeship which is 22 minutes long (somebody made a 7:30 vid). While listening to this I was thinking that somebody should make a short animated movie with this track as background music. The whole song creates a narrative with only music. Something like La Planete Sauvage would be interesting. 7/10 more info video (Stop Talking - live but not a great vid)
	Ten Thousand and Ten Injuries by Love is All (2010) Great indie pop rock (yeah I know indie and pop don't really go together!) from this happy bunch of Swedes. The album sounds great (something to do with production I guess), the saxophone is an interesting addition to what we could call a punk-revival band, the length of the album is just around 34 min. which is like the perfect timing for an album in my humble opinion. If you did not know this band start with this and listen to their previous album as well (A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night). Thoroughly enjoyed this album. 8/10 more info video

Listenings - Dirty Projectors, Editors, Stereophonics, Julian Casablancas, The Horrors

	Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors (2009) The art of making unnecessarily complex music for listeners! My first listen was pretty irritating  I'll admit and for some reason, I can't stand David Longstreth's voice. Something interesting goes on in this album no doubt: beats and melodies change in the middle of almost every song: it's chaotic and unconventional that's for sure. The indie scene needs bands like this. There are many nice guitar pieces here. At some point, the 4th track (Stillness in the Move), you have this tune that out of nowhere sounds like some pop r&b song: I was wondering if my iPod shuffled the song by itself! Give it a try, maybe it'll be the best thing you've listened to in a while. It did not do it for me though. 6/10 more info video (Stillness is the Move - yo!)
	In This Light And On This Evening by Editors (2009) I was pretty disappointed by this album in the first moments of listening: where's the familiar sounding Editors? They took a different route here, going electronica with retro 80s synthesized sounds. Well it's a welcomed new direction; can't expect every band to just continue making albums like the previous ones all the time. Tom Smith's voice is just as incredible as always and ties things together. It's a good effort. Cheers! 7.5/10 more info video (Papillon - Later w/ Jools Holland)
	Keep Calm and Carry On by Stereophonics (2009) Nothing out of the ordinary from them here. They simply mix up faster tempo songs with slower ones and it works well. They did not try to re-invent themselves on this album. Do they really need to though? I'll listen to this casually nothing more nothing less! The album titles goes well with the album - stay calm people this is not an album to get too excited about! 6.5/10 more info video (Innocent)
	Phrazes for the Young by Julian Casablancas (2009) Dissimilar to anything he's done in The Strokes. Obviously there's his unmistakable voice which I think you either love or hate but there's also a lot of electronica as well. Yet another album with a retro 80s feel to it by time. He tried to mix a lot of sounds here and it worked pretty well for most songs. I just feel though that the second half is less interesting than the beginning (isn't this the case of most albums anyways?!), 11th Dimension being so much better than most other tracks. He's taken an interesting detour with this album. 7/10 more info video (11th Dimension - great vid)
	Primary Colours by The Horrors (2009) I was taken aback when I heard this album because it's very different than their previous one and I did not know what to do of it. This album is so much more experimental, yet there are familiar sounds from them in most songs, but which so much less aggression and trashiness. An interesting listen and I think that this kind of sound is what they were looking for in the first place. For some reason, I keep picturing images of monster flicks when I hear this album... and I guess that's the idea since they're called The Horrors! 7.5/10 more info video (Sea Within a Sea - long video that reminds me of a scene in Godard's Pierrot le Fou)

Listenings - Morning Benders, B.R.M.C., MGMT, Citay

Big Echo by Morning Benders, The (2010) Atmospheric, dreamy rock tunes. For some reason, and its probably because of the cover art, it feels like surfer music at times and there's also a sixties feel to this album as well. The first song is quite beautiful - watch the video and you'll know what I mean. There's definitely something going on here I'm just not sure what it is. I have a feeling of longing for something when I finished listening to the album. Random note: Chris Chu's voice is similar to Ash's singer. 7.5/10 more info video (Excuses)

Beat the Devil's Tattoo by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (2010) This album sounds heavy, and I mean heavy in the sense that it crushes you with its heavy moody sound that can be hard to carry (listen) at times. I really wished that I loved this album more than I did but I'm somewhat disappointed. It's too long in total length and many songs are also too lengthy. There's this feeling that I've heard this stuff before with little variation now. 6.5/10 more info video (Beat the Devil's Tattoo)

Congratulations by MGMT (2010) Their first album Oracular Spectacular had some very catchy tunes. Now if you're expecting something catchy from this album forget it. It's like they decided to make an album that another kind of crowd would like. Good for them for following their ideas through and doing what they like. I commend them for going in another direction with this new album. I'm left disappointed anyways. It's a somewhat pretentious album. The last song is titled Congratulation - congratulations for listening to the whole thing without skipping any songs! 5.5/10 more info

Dream Get Together by Citay (2010) The guitar work on this album is a mix of electric guitar solos and acoustic mixed in together perfectly. There are some instrumental songs which are right at home in this work. It's like listening to one big tune separated in 8 tracks (but it's not progressive rock...) I had no idea who this band was before this album and I'm pleasantly surprised. I you need to hear some good old hard rock (!) guitar tunes, this album will be just what you need do doubt. But who needs this kind of fix!? I for one did not know that I needed it for a couple of listens at least. 7.5/10 more info

Listenings - Spoon, Gorillaz

Transference by Spoon (2010) What was good about them in their previous work, namely Ga Ga Ga and Gimme fiction, is still here and more. No bs (indie) rock and roll from this this Texas band. Even when they try writing new kind of songs (for them) like The Mystery Zone or Nobody Gets Me But You, it works great in the whole ensemble. Listen to I Saw the Light - such a great rock song. After seven albums these guys are sounding better than ever and they definitely have their own unique sound. 9/10 more info video (Written in Reverse)

Plastic Beach by Gorillaz (2010) I've never really liked Gorillaz except a couple of tracks from their two previous albums (Feel Good Inc. will forever be a great track!), too many songs don't stand out. Stylo has a good, "dancy" beat and features Mr. Bobby Womack himself (Across 110th Street). For the rest of the album though, not a lot of tracks stand out. Quite frankly it was tedious to listen to it all and Sweepstakes has got to be the most annoying song ever written! The cover's nice... 5.5/10 more info video (Stylo with Bruce Willis!)

Listenings - Frightened Rabbit, Passion Pit, Gil Scott-Heron, Slow Club, Broken Bells, Gonjasufi

I'm going to do this new thing where I'll comment quickly on an album which I've listened to once. Usually I don't like anything on the first listen... should be an interesting experiment.

	Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit (2010) Decent pop rock, I usually prefer something heavier with drums that ask for you to dance but nonetheless it's good music to play as you meander through a crowded subway in Seoul (!) Beats listening to Coldplay... 7/10 more info video
	Manners by Passion Pit (2009) Wow! I had this in my iPod for a while without actually listening to it. I've missed out on one of the best albums of 2009! Catchy beats and man are the 80s back or what! Listen to the track Little Secrets and tell me if this should be playing in clubs or not! 8.5/10 more info video
	I'm New Here by Gil Scott-Heron (2010) This guy has been around the music business for 40 years now! Never heard of him before. I probably would know him if I listened to R&B and rap. Never too late though! At something like 28 minutes and mostly spoken words with low key funky beats (and some acoustic guitar), I wasn't expecting anything, listened to it all and found it was very interesting. Short and lyrically charged. 7.5/10 more info video
	Yeah So by Slow Club (2010) Ok yet another duo consisting of Charles Watson on guitar and Rebecca Taylor on drums. Pretty relaxed music (warm?). Perfect for rainy days or a very relaxed evening. They are a great singing duo. Make me think of The Swell Season. I felt bored listening to this once though... 6.5/10 more info video
	Broken Bells by Broken Bells (2010) Thoroughly enjoyed this album. Love James Mercer's voice. Feels like each track is different. Nothing heavy or slow here, just the right amount of funky beat and melody! Funny how I can't really describe this album but I liked it. 8/10 more info video
	A Sufi and a Killer by Gonjasufi (2010) Wackiest thing I've listened to in a while. This album is all over the place but in a good way. Overall it sounds like really trippy hip hop with rock, punk, electronica, 60s revival of some kind, eastern music, spacy...wow! Gonjasufi's voice is almost dreamlike and rarely goes up a notch or two. He and his collaborators must have been on some heavy drugs while making this! Impossible to categorize but really fun to listen to. This will definitely bring you to a trippy place, high or not! 8.5/10 more info video (just the song Holidays with no actual video)

Recent listenings - Blood Red Shoes, Massive Attack

Fire Like This by Blood Red Shoes (2010) Pretty good follow up to their 2008 effort Box of Secrets. Drums and vocals (Steven Ansell), guitars and vocals (Laura-Mary Carter). Angsty catchy tunes! I prefer their first album but nonetheless this one has some familiar arrangements and some new beats for them as well! Love their voices and the "dancy" drumming from Ansell. 7/10 allmusic: link

Heligoland by Massive Attack (2010) Took them 7 years to come out with a new album. Well it's here and it sounds like it's 2003 again. It's not a bad thing but I was wondering how all this time did not make them change a bit their sound or try something new. In the end though, it's electronic trip-hop at its best. A very moody and atmospheric record with some great beats. Feels like one track with different moods. I think it's great music to play in the background while relaxing or reading a book! 7.5/10 allmusic: link

Recent viewings - Goemon, President's Last Bang, Fish Story

	Goemon by Kazuaki Kiriya (2009) Japan This movie is from the same guy that directed Casshern which was, as I recall, a pretty average movie but with a unique presentation (lots of CG) and one hell of a crazy fight scene! Basically he did the same kind of movie here with a big difference: this time the story is much more interesting (in comparison to Casshern's long and winded story). Goemon is basically a Japanese Robin Hood and of course he's an awesome fighter! It's his story intertwined with  Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Hattori Hanzo. The fight scenes in this movie are incredible and like his previous work the look of the movie is unique. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. And yeah the soldiers at the end really really look like stormtroopers! 7/10 imdb: link
	President's Last Bang, The by Im-Sang-soo (2005) Korea Historical drama, with some humor, about the last moments of S.Korean dictator Park Chung-hee who was killed by his own staff during a late dinner party. Even if I'm not well versed in Korean history, this movie was interesting for it's very dark sense of humor and historical sense. I loved seeing how characters reacted to this sudden event and how the perpetrators played it cool until the end. They all knew they'd get caught but they were convinced that their action was for the greater cause, which arguably it was. Park Chung-hee was S. Korea's dictator from 1961 to 1979. Interesting quote from the assassin (Kim Jae-Kyu) who was subsequently hanged after trial: "I shot the heart of Yusin Constitution like a beast. I did that for democracy of this country. Nothing more nothing less." 7/10 imdb: link
	Fish Story by Yoshihiro Nakamura (2009) Japan Incredibly absurd story spanning a couple of generations with a band, behind a song called Fish Story, as common thread. Basically a comet will hit earth in the present time and a record shop owner plays the Fish Story album. The story is so crazy you have to just see it! One of the weirdest movies I've seen in a while; but weird in a good way! There are some slow moments (like in all Japanese movies it seems these days) but it's quite entertaining. 8/10 imdb: link

Recent readings - Curious Incident, Beat the Reaper

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2003) We follow Christopher a seemingly 15 year-old autistic boy (it's never actually mentioned in the novel if he's autistic or not). He discovers the dead body of a dog and he wants to investigate how this happened. His parents are divorced and he's a maths genius. The story in itself is not that fascinating; it's how this boy handles and lives through it that is genius. The story is pretty much told through his point of view and it makes us see the world differently in ways we are not accustomed to.

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell (2009) Randomly bought at Kyobo bookstore in Seoul and read it in 2 days! Fast-paced, vulgar, filled with crazy situations and unforgettable quotes. It's basically about Peter Brown, a doctor and ex-mafia hitman. He's telling us in flashbacks about his past life while in the present he's working on 48 hours shift as a doctor (on drugs to stay awake!). It's like reading a Tarantino script. Apparently if you like the tv show House you would love this book - but I haven't seen this show so I'm just quoting critics for this one! Quotes that I have to share: 1) p.110: Calling a tongue piercing "cosmetic" is a bit of a stretch, since you don't get one because it makes you look better. You get one because you're so desperate for affection that you're willing to gruesomely harm yourself to advertise how well you suck dick. 2)p.189: [During a hitman mission with a first-timer] [...] I started to feel a bit embarrassed. Like I had some office job that sounded glamorous but really wasn't, and now my kid had come to visit and I had to show him how Daddy waits all day and night in the mud and then sneaks into people's houses to shoot them in the head.

Recent readings - Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami - what a discovery! He was probably read a lot in Asia and before coming here I had no idea who this man was. I've read two novels recently and both were page turners. His descriptions of things are so vivid, there's suspense, sex, science-fiction, sheep men, Johnny Walker and so much more weird yet interesting elements. Also very interesting is how he always mentions music in his books; if you're familiar with the songs (classical or pop) it adds an element to the reading. There is symbolism to be found that is for once not annoying to me. It's pop literature at its best - and you don't need to be Japanese to appreciate it either!

	Kafka on the Shore (2002) Kafka, 15 years old, leaves his father's place to find his mother and sister. Nakata, whom we follow in the even chapters, is an old man that talks to cats and sets himself a mission to find lost cats. Both souls will somehow connect / converge as the novel progresses and we are not sure if any of it is real. Surprisingly enough, it's those moments of unreality that makes the novel so interesting. We are constantly wondering what the message is (if any!) while being entertained.
	Dance Dance Dance (1988) A commercial writer, a sheep man, a one-armed poet, a thirteen year old girl with the gift of clairvoyance, lots of sex and murder as well! Really a novel about alienation, finding love and human connection. Enjoyed it and I felt that Murakami had fun writing it too!
	Norwegian Wood (1987) Toru Watanabe hears the song Norwegian Wood (Beatles song by the way) and reminisce about the 60s and his university days. He befriended two girls, both very different from each other. One, Naoko, ends up in a sanatorium following the suicide of one of their close friend, while the other, Midori, is this girl that has no inhibitions whatsoever! A novel about finding love and the meaning of it, about alienation and sticking to your principles. There are many references to music and literature in this novel. I often felt the need to either find the song and listen to it (and believe me there are many) and also learn about some books that I've never read (like The Great Gatsby).

Grammatics - Self-titled

Mellow, heavy and melodic. Owen Brinley's falsetto's voice fits the music perfectly. There's melancholy in their songs and it stays in me a long time after the song is over. At the very least it does what music should do: induce in us feelings - whatever they are. Essential tracks: D.i.l.e.m.m.a and Polar Swelling. 8/10 Youtube: D.i.l.e.m.m.a clip