New Albums are Boring

Los Campesinos – Romance is Boring

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. After two great albums (or one album and then an extended EP, which I believe is the official story) Los Campesinos came back this January with a new album. That’s right, I’m reviewing another slightly older album that I originally didn’t want to review because I doubt you guys will give it a chance, but now I want to even though it’s not relevant or meaningful to anyone. Anyway, the group, one member switched for her sister, hopped the pond over to the States to record the third (or second) album, which came out at the end of January. And boy, something was lost in translation.

This album oozes “oh, you liked what we did last time? Let’s try to do that again.” Which is fair, let’s face it, these guys and gals are like our age. But it feels forced. Like they figured out they could make a living out of something that was never intended to make it that far. The result is a collection of mostly hollow songs. Some manage to tap into what made the earlier work great, ending up as fairly charming. Others feel like they’re just ripping themselves off. And a few are painfully stupid.

So do I hate this album? No, not really. It was a huge disappointment at the time, but I can certainly listen to it all the way through. It’s simply not that special. Los Campesinos made a couple outstanding albums, and then tripped. Whether this will be the fall that kills them or just a little stumbling is yet to be seen. But they definitely need to prove themselves next time.

Favorite Tracks: “In Medias Res,” “We’ve Got Your Back,” “A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State or, Letters from Me to Charlotte”

Work It Out

Shout Out Louds – Work

I have been hesitant to review this album, since as far as I know you guys didn’t like the other two Shout Out Louds albums. But I had been waiting for this new LP for a long time and I’ve recently started listening to it a lot again. So I’m going to review it. It’s not like we listen to each other anyway.

Released way back in late February 2010, Work is another fine example of the Shout Out Louds doing what they do best. Which I guess is sound like the Cure. Or Bright Eyes. Or Phoenix. Or America. I don’t know if it’s because they’re Swedish or because they’re really good, but when I listen to the Shout Out Louds, I don’t just hear their influences. I hear catchy songs that I enjoy listening to.

Lyrically, the band is keeping it still somewhat dark, like in Our Ill Wills. It seems like all the songs are about suicide, mistakes and rejection. But beyond the lyrics, the music is simple and catchy. This is the definition of an album that gets stuck in my head. I’d say this is probably the band’s most consistent album.

My biggest complaint with Work is that it doesn’t feel as structured as Our Ill Wills did. That album had an incredible opening and built to a spectacular climax, while this is more of a collection of great songs. It’s a little bit Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, a little Our Ill Wills and a little something new. If that sounds good to you, I really recommend checking this out.

Favorite Tracks: “Fall Hard,” “The Candle Burned Out,” “Show Me Something New”

Conan Takes Back Showtime

By now I’m sure everyone’s heard that Conan O’Brien will be returning to television on TBS this November. As George Lopez’s lead-in. I mean, I would be happier, but did anyone really not expect Conan to be back on TV by the end of the year? He was just supposed to land a pioneering new show on Fox or innovate synergy or something. TBS?

I hoped he would somehow end up on Comedy Central. We already saw what great rapport he has with Colbert and Stewart during the writer’s strike, and then I would hardly ever have to change the channel. But I guess that would probably have Conan doing a show at midnight again, which we know he hates. And it’s not like Comedy Central would tell its most popular dudes to move for another potentially more popular host. Comedy Central knows better than to pull an NBC.

Instead Conan will be another entry in the crowded 11 p.m. field. Hopefully he can find an audience and make this work. But this certainly isn’t ideal.

Drop a Dookie

Continuing me trend of not really following Rock Band enough, I guess the final track list for Green Day: Rock Band is out. As they promised, the six songs from the last album that are already out as Rock Band DLC are playable in this game.

What is interesting is that Harmonix has no plans to release additional tracks for the game. I guess they feel like they’ve addressed everything the band has to offer. What do you think? Personally, this reinforces my belief that this is a game that probably should not have been made. So, are vocal harmonies and these tracks enough to justify your $60 this June?

Dookie (1994)
“Burnout”
“Having a Blast”
“Chump”
“Longview”
“Welcome to Paradise”
“Pulling Teeth”
“Basket Case”
“She”
“Sassafrass Roots”
“When I Come Around”
“Coming Clean”
“Emenius Sleepus”
“In the End”
“F.O.D.”

Insomniac (1995)
“Brain Stew”
“Jaded”
“Geek Stink Breath”

Nimrod (1997)
“Hitchin’ a Ride”
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”
“Nice Guys Finish Last”

Warning (2000)
“Minority”
“Warning”

American Idiot (2004)
“American Idiot”
“Jesus of Suburbia”
“Holiday”
“Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
“Are We the Waiting”
“St. Jimmy”
“Give Me Novacaine”
“She’s a Rebel”
“Extraordinary Girl”
“Letterbomb”
“Wake Me Up When September Ends”
“Homecoming”
“Whatsername”

21st Century Breakdown (2009)
“Song of the Century”
“21st Century Breakdown”
“Before the Lobotomy”
“Last Night on Earth”
“Peacemaker”
“Murder City”
“¿Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl)”
“Restless Heart Syndrome”
“Horseshoes and Handgrenades”
“The Static Age”
“American Eulogy”
“See the Light”

DLC
“21 Guns”
“Know Your Enemy”
“East Jesus Nowhere”
“Last of the American Girls”
“¡Viva La Gloria!”
“Christian’s Inferno”

Anything missing? Personally, I’m just pumped about Smash Mouth’s “All Star” coming out as DLC this week.

L.A. Story

Greenberg

One convenient thing about living in the city is that you don’t have to go as far out of your way to find those smaller movies that the general movie-going audience doesn’t really care about. Greenberg, the latest offering from writer-director Noah Baumbach seems to be one of those films. It’s kind of an odd little gem, as one might expect from Baumbach, and it’s a film I’d recommend seeking out if you have the chance.

Ben Stiller stars as Roger Greenberg, a former musician who’s been recently released from a mental institution. The film shows Greenberg returning to his hometown of Los Angeles after spending some years living in New York, as he’s been asked to housesit for his successful brother while he’s on vacation. He strikes up an awkward romantic relationship with Florence (played by Greta Gerwig) and from there the plot unfolds in a pretty loose and leisurely way, as the characters are really what make the film compelling.

This movie seems to be getting the reputation as Ben Stiller’s “Punch Drunk Love”, and I guess that’s a fair comparison as this is probably the most well-rounded performance Stiller has ever given. Stiller is pretty much free of his usual comedic tendencies, and yet he still manages to pull off some very funny scenes as this character that is more or less a self-centered prick. Also, Greta Gerwig serves as an interesting romantic foil to Stiller while giving a very charming, naturalistic performance that I’m sure will bring the actress more attention.

One thing I really liked about the film was how “real” Baumbach has managed to make these characters feel. Usually in indie dramedies of this nature, the dialogue can often feel really mannered and overtly quirky, but here the characters have an added depth to them that makes the film a real pleasure to watch. So if this leads to Ben Stiller exploring more demanding roles like this one, I really wouldn’t mind, as I’ve rarely found him as funny, complicated, and altogether engaging as he is in Greenberg.

Did You Know Jimi Rocked?

It was a big deal a couple years ago when Activision locked up Jimi Hendrix for the Guitar Hero games. But that sucked and I guess the Hendrix family agreed, because The Experience’s second album, Axis: Bold as Love, has been available for download in Rock Band since last week.

Did you know this? Do you still stay up-to-date with DLC announcements and still play the game regularly? I know I don’t. Every once in a while I check out what’s available, but I don’t buy new content as frequently as I used to. And all the while I’m getting worse at the game.

This is sad. You see, when Rock Band 2 came out, what I liked about it was that it could sustain itself as a platform. At the time, I thought it was pretty much as good as a rhythm game could get, and I was happy to see Harmonix wanted to keep the game as a platform for new musical releases, instead of perpetually putting out new games, like Guitar Hero. That’s why I’ve been so resistant to games like Lego Rock Band and especially Green Day: Rock Band. I like having everything in its right place, which is to say in one game.

But after a couple years, it seems like Harmonix will have to put out a new game to get me playing like I used to. The Beatles: Rock Band was a lot of fun for a while, but I’m talking about a Rock Band 3. And they seem to understand that, as there have been hints of the game coming out this year. All we really know is that it probably supports vocal harmonies. It’s just kind of a shame even something as exciting as Rock Band Network isn’t enough.

Super Clash Bros.

Clash of the Titans

Why see Clash of the Titans at this point? It got terrible reviews, the 3D version was trashed and it’s a Hollywood remake of a so-so fantasy film? I don’t know, maybe I’m just dumb. I love going to the movies and even though this was panned I still had to see it with my love of Greek Mythology and Monsters. Now I’m glad I uphold that kind of spirit because I actually liked this.

First off I’m not a big fan of the original. Naturally I loved the legendary stop-motion effects of Ray Harryhausen but the 1981 Clash of the Titans is cheesy, simplistic and has become fairly dated. So I can see where a remake might be justified. I doubt this was made for any other reason but money but I was surprised to find the care and detail put into certain nooks and crannies.

The plot is fairly basic, a half man/half god Perseus (Sam Worthington) seeks vengeance against Hades (Ralph Fiennes) for killing his family blah blah, he’s the chosen one, must save the Princess Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) from the Kraken yadda yadda. It’s all overly familiar but if you’re willing to have fun you will.

The effects are solid, some creatures better than others but it’s still marvelous eye candy. The sets looked great mixing and matching CGI with all natural backgrounds and traditional sets. Surprisingly I never felt like I was watching a bunch of actors in front of a green screen. Speaking of actors, all the performances were suitable enough for the subject. Pete Postlethwaite was my favorite as Perseus’ human father though he doesn’t have much screen-time. Ralph Fiennes is also fun to watch as the whispery and ghoul-like Hades though nothing will ever beat Sean’s performance as Hades in The 12 Labours of Heracles. Liam Neeson is “ehh” I was too distracted by his blindingly shiny armor.

Most importantly it gave me characters I cared about in exciting situations. I’m not sure that it had to be made but they could of done much worse. The only thing I ponder now is “Why doesn’t anyone want to make a movie about any other Greek Heroes?” I mean there’s more than Perseus. What about Bellerophon who actually rode the pegasus (not Perseus) and killed the chimera? Or Theseus who went into the labyrinth and fought the Minotaur? Never seen that in a movie but I guess that requires too much thought and research. Anyhow this is probably one of those rare occasions where I have to “clash” against the general consensus

P.S. I didn’t see it in 3D, maybe that’s key in not hating it.