11.25.2008

"What was I supposed to say? They stuck you in an insane asylum?"

"It wasn't an insane asylum, Grace. I explained to you back then that it was for exhaustion."

"Exhaustion?"

"Yes. Exhaustion."

"You haven't worked a day in your life. How could you be exhausted?"

Click the picture to read all about it:

"Why is there tape on your nose?"

"Exactly."

1.  Rushmore

2.  The Darjeeling Limited

3.  The Royal Tenenbaums

4.  The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou

5.   Bottle Rocket**

*Rushmore.  CLEARLY.
**I think Bottle Rocket is actually a better film than Life Aquatic.  For some reason, I really just enjoy watching Life Aquatic more.  I speculate it's Seu Jorge's Bowie covers that edge it up on the favorite list.

This week's great news comes from the world of DVDs.

Wes Anderson's first film, Bottle Rocket, will finally get the Criterion Collection release that has been rumored to be in the works for years. Three of Anderson's other films — Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou — have already been released by Criterion, but his debut film had been relegated to a standard release with no extras.

For those unfamiliar with the Criterion Collection, it is the standard-bearer for deluxe movie releases dating back to the laserdisc days. Their DVDs are pristine visually and chock full of smart extras (see list of Bottle Rocket extras below).

As for the film, it is rougher around the edges than Anderson's later work, but that's a large part of its charm. It features Owen Wilson's finest performance (ok, I know that might not be saying much given his later filmography, but believe me, he is brilliant here). His Dignan is among my favorite ever movie characters, a lost soul whose quest for greatness is hilariously poignant. This is also among the more quotable movies in recent years, though it's tough to find others who know what you're quoting.

So come November 25, I'll have an old copy of Bottle Rocket to unload if anyone's interested.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED DOUBLE-DISC SET SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
- New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman
- Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack
- Commentary by director/co-writer Anderson and co-writer/actor Owen Wilson
- The Making of “Bottle Rocket”: an original documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman featuring Anderson, James L. Brooks, James Caan, Temple Nash Jr., Kumar Pallana, Polly Platt, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Musgrave, Richard Sakai, David and Sandy Wasco, Andrew and Luke and Owen Wilson, and Robert Yeoman
- The original thirteen-minute black-and-white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992
- Eleven deleted scenes
- Anamorphic screen test, storyboards, location photos, and behind-the-scenes photographs by Laura Wilson
- Murita Cycles, a 1978 short film by Braverman
- The Shafrazi Lectures, no. 1: Bottle Rocket
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by executive producer James L. Brooks, an appreciation by Martin Scorsese, and original artwork by Ian Dingman

The Bejing games were good to Aaron Peirsol, he went home with two golds and a silver, in addition to two world records in the 4 x 100 medley relay team (Phelps' 8th gold medal race) and the 100 meter backstroke . But is he also the 4th Wilson brother? In our book, he's a possible ringer to be tapped into the next Wes Anderson movie.

Special Features

• - DIRECTOR-APPROVED DOUBLE-DISC SET SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
• - New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman
• - Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack
• - Commentary by director/co-writer Anderson and co-writer/actor Owen Wilson
• - The Making of “Bottle Rocket”: an original documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman featuring Anderson, James L. Brooks, James Caan, Temple Nash Jr., Kumar Pallana, Polly Platt, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Musgrave, Richard Sakai, David and Sandy Wasco, Andrew and Luke and Owen Wilson, and Robert Yeoman
• - The original thirteen-minute black-and-white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992
• - Eleven deleted scenes
• - Anamorphic screen test, storyboards, location photos, and behind-the-scenes photographs by Laura Wilson
• - Murita Cycles, a 1978 short film by Braverman
• - The Shafrazi Lectures, no. 1: Bottle Rocket
• - PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by executive producer James L. Brooks, an appreciation by Martin Scorsese, and original artwork by Ian Dingman

November 25, 2008 - (I'll replace my old copy)

a revista harper's bazzar fez uma matéria e um ensaio fotográfico com o mark ronson e suas irmãs charlotte (estilista) e samantha (dj e mais conhecida como a namorada da lindsay lohan) sob um título bem sacado: "the royal ronsons" em referência a "the royal tenenbaums" (ou "os excêntricos tenenbaums"), filme classe do wes anderson. a matéria é meia-boca, mas as fotos com figurinos como os do filme ficaram legais.

This video is kinda like a Wes Anderson movie. That reminds me...have you seen the Darjeeling Limited? Excellent film. Amazing soundtrack as well. If you haven't seen it, you should be ashamed of yourself. Just kidding, but seriously, rent it.

And if you are bored...take a look at this artist who excels in hibous.
His name is Matte Stephens. And he makes me happy.

Lookie:

I know...

As gay as this sounds I'm a total cat freak, I can be sometimes be found skimming through "Cat Fancy" magazine when at a book store. It's an obsession that boarders on obscene.

Film Noir Detectives

In my opinion the paramount of cool, the style is timeless and classy. The stories are wonderful in their clichés: a down-and-out private eye with nothing to lose, a femme fatale who would kill you as soon as sleep with you, and a rare and valuable artifact that links everything together. There's really nothing better.

70's Sexploitation Films

There's nothing I can say about this except see it for yourself, the charm about
"women in prison" films is that it tries to cater to everyman's desire. A fantasy of a prison filled with sex-crazed beautiful women who will rape you at a moments notice is entirely laughable. Scenes of women in bikinis double fisting machine guns is worth the money of tracking these down alone.

Long legged Asian women

If you don't like this I don't care to meet you.

80's Era Volkswagens

These have always been my favorite kinds of cars, be it a MK2 GTI, GLI, GTX, or GL there's nothing that can match the appeal this series of cars has over me.

Bicycles

A relatively new development for me but one I enjoy very much. They have a similar appeal as old Volkswagens for me. And people should cycle more anyways, though I have noticed it increasing recently. I guess we have high gas prices to thank for that.

Wes Anderson Films

A visionary director who excels in a style all his own. His films can be both "artsy" and hilarious; someone can almost instantly point out an Anderson film by his quirky soundtracks, the way his actors deliver their lines, and his use of camera angles. His style has an almost "old Hollywood" charm to them that is too rarely seen these days.

Lollapalooza 2008 in Chicago, IL has come to an end and while this post is a few weeks late, it's good to reminisce upon what happened. I'm going to review the groups that I saw entire sets of, as well as groups I photographed. A few photos have been placed in this post. You can also view selected photos of my experience at the festival here.

Day 1:

We started out the festival with Manchester Orchestra, whom I'd seen in concert twice before and thoroughly enjoyed their music. Unfortunately, the singer's voice was completely shot. Every high note turned into a blood curdling scream which was nearly the opposite of the band's sound. While it was a poor way to start out the festival, it was good to see that they are still around. 

We wandered around for a while then took a seat waiting for Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco)'s acoustic set to begin. We were more or less 10 feet from him and he played the show looking like hell as usual. He sang from the ground amongst a crowd of small children (the show was on the Kidzapalooza stage) who clearly were there with parents that enjoyed Wilco. He asked the kids for requests who would repeat whatever their parents wanted to hear and played with the same slight tinge of rock 'n roll arrogance that makes him so unique. The show was short but great. I had prime seating so vision wasn't an issue but even the spectators two rows back couldn't see anything at all.

Next up was The Black Keys. I'm not their biggest fan but I do appreciate their music and I felt that they put on a great show. I don't know much about them but they were energetic, funny, and engaging and played the dirty, dirty, rock 'n roll roots-blues like it ought to have been played.

At some point during Day 1 we saw a relatively disappointing performance from Mates of State. For any Wes Anderson fans out there, this was THE show to see of the weekend (next to DeVotchKa) and unfortunately sound technical issues made their set somewhat painful to sit through. 

The second to last act we saw of the day was Bloc Party who put on a great show musically and technically but just looked absolutely exhausted. Others in the audience noticed this too; it just looked like the band needed to eat a few sandwiches and take a long, long nap.

The final show of the evening was Radiohead who put on quite a phenomenal show as usual. For level of Radiohead fan, the setlist was sure to please as they played the majority of their hits, most of the new record In Rainbows, and a few rarities as well. A great way to end the first day.

Day 2:

We woke up especially early to make it down to Grant Park to see the group Does It Offend You, Yeah? While they had a fairly small drawing, they were one of the more fun bands of the weekend. Their crazy mismatched sound mixed with slightly raunchy lyrics made for a very entertaining show.

Next up was Dr. Dog, one of my favorites hailing from my future home in Philadelphia, PA. Their set was quite good and they played the majority of their hits. The show was both entertaining to watch and fun to listen to as the band stomped around stage and screamed out their lo-fi sound. I caught wind of an unfortunate rumor that one of their singers had contracted a throat illness and could not sing many of their songs which is why several big tunes were left out.

Dr. Dog had played at the same time as Mason Jennings, another show I wish I could have seen (I heard, from several people, that his set was quite great) so I went to see Mason play on the Kidzapalooza stage. It was good to see him up close and in a more intimate setting, however it was very apparent that he was tired and didn't want to be playing that show. Other than that, he sounded great.

We sprinted across the park to see the final few songs of the amazing Colorado group, DeVotchKa (who put on an incredible show) then saw the entire set of Explosions in the Sky. I'd seen Explosions before and was absolutely amazed by them and yet again, I was not let down. Their raw energy and focus while on the stage make for one of the best shows you can see today. They seldom speak to the audience but there is no need as their music makes up for the lack of words.

We took a few hour's refuge in the shade and went to see Wilco that night which was another great show. This was my fourth Wilco show and probably my least favorite, however they were under time constraints and pressure to play bigger hits. They entered the stage wearing Sgt. Pepper/Mariachi costumes which were a huge hit with the crowd. Not only were they still entertaining and funny as usual, but they revealed a new song which has yet to have a title. They only referred to it as a "WIP" or work-in-progress.

Day 3:

We started out the day with Kid Sister, an amazing Chicago local rapper who is rumored to be dating Kanye West. Her incredible lyrics and stage presence complemented the great dancers she brought on stage with her. It goes without saying that her DJs were incredible.

Next up was What Made Milwaukee Famous who, while a great band musically, just couldn't keep the crowd engaged in their show. Brazilian Girls was next followed by Chromeo who together put on two of my favorite shows of the weekend. Brazilian Girl's sex appeal was unleashed upon the dancing crowd and Chromeo's raw 80's beats made everyone groove. 

We stuck around for the first 5 songs of Girl Talk and left when people started getting naked and climbing trees. It was a fun show to watch from afar but was overcrowded and way too crazy. In the afternoon we hung out and listened to Flosstradamus spin some records then saw the beginnings of both Kanye West and Nine Inch Nails in the evening. 

Another year at Lollapalooza has come and gone and we had a blast to say the very least. Thanks to Chicago and everyone who helped in any way to help make Lollapalooza such a very special experience. Please remember to look at the rest of my photographs here. Thank you for reading.

-Alex

While the verbal wildfires continue to ravage the intelligentsia quarters of the blogosphere, sparked by our beloved Stephanie Zacharek's recent NYT rant of Richard Brody's new book, Everything is Cinema: The Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard, we would like to extend the olive branch to both sides of the debate, and save Ms. Zacharek time from googling her own name (you brought us a year's worth of hits, thanks). As you may have guessed, the man in the middle of it all isn't Brody, but his subject matter, Godard---French filmmaker, born-again Maoist, bitter recluse---and even more decidedly, between his early versus late works. I haven't read Brody's extensive study myself, but from reading the reviews and meta-reviews, the exchange has now veered off into the realm of subjective preferences, a game of defending my likes and dislikes, with critics lambasting each other for taking too seriously or too lightly Godard's post-1967 period, and this is the dividing year, sharing his detractors' sentiment, that the music died (and how slowly!).

Reasonable enough, an artist tends to escape the lingering success of his meager beginnings, not surrendering to the whims of popular opinion but to grow and develop as a person, who sheds away prior interests in hopes of cultivating future passions. In this sense, Godard doesn't want to be overshadowed by his own creations, to be remembered only in the annals of history as the critic-turned-auteur who lead a string of dazzling revolutions in cinematic architecture, or what he would now deemed to be frivolous, amateurish, and infantile, the fever dreams of Hollow Men. Yet, cultural consensus always dictate otherwise, and the fond memory of the Nouvelle Vague movement has made the term nostalgia obselete, bereft of pain and politics, Godard's name only recalls the playfulness of that tumultuous era: the way how Anna Karina smiles with her eyes, the saccharine primary colors and murmuring musical cues fading in and out of scenes, and those pesky and exhilarating jump cuts. A few months ago, I attended a screening of La Chinoise (a precursor to the 1968 hoopla), alarmed by the number of hipsters in the audience, who even as they're watching a parody of their lifestyle, knew that after this exhausting experience, they will finally earn their street creds and identify the shade of tangerine on a similar looking mod blouse from Haight Street as Godardian in nature.

The branding of a filmmaker's fashion choices may seem like an informal practice, but American Express merely made it more explicit and accessible to the elitist consumer. If anything else, Godard will not be forgotten, only superficially invoked, and if we are supposed to extrapolate any residual sense of meaning from Haynes's experimental biopic I'm Not There, the artist will forever be elusive, his imprints scattered among the shards of his career, a life worth knowing in halfs, quarters and eighths. And what a legacy of fanboys to commemorate that emblematic Godard of the 60s, which includes card-carrying members like Wong Kar Wai to the oh-so-obvious Tarantino (his production company A Band Part a direct reference to Bande a Part)!

I would also add Scott Sternberg to the inspirational wishlist, whose fashion line, Band of Outsiders, is more than a cheap nod piggybacking on the cool mystique. Like Godard, Sternberg was irritated by the constraints of tradition granted upon menswear, so in 2004, he returned to the hardboiled pulp fiction of the 40s and 50s, tweaked and restitched past sensibilities for a slimmer and awkward fit, accentuating the disportions and jutted angles, and eliminating the reigning dishoveled look of the grunge rockstar or free-spirited surfer. With his new Boy collection, a Preppy girl complement to the original mensline, Sternberg further brings back that masculin femininity to the women's body, with alternating pinches of tightness and looseness, see Michelle William's tweed version of the Timberland lumberjack. It also doesn't hurt to know what all the kids are raging about these days and outfit their idols with your clothes.

Submitted for your approval: a pair of tribute videos.

Band of Outsiders Fashion Show

The Famous Dance Sequence from Bande A Part

Wu-Tang on Wikipedia

The GZA/Genius is going on tour in August. The tour is 3 months long with something like 45 shows. The Genius is going to be half-dead by the time he finishes this show. He plays just about every important festival including trinumeral. He also covers most of America and Europe. If that wasn't enough, he is usually playing a solo show where the show is solely consistent of himself and no one else. Awesomeness. Where does he get the energy?

I was originally turned on to GZA and RZA when I saw their bit on Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes. Here is a clip from the movie; don't waste your time watching the film. It's cool, but really, the whole thing boils down to a dialogue between GZA, RZA and Bill Murray.

Yeah, awesome dudes collide with another hero from an earlier generation. Of course, Bill Murray has sort of penetrated the indie culture in more ways than one. His persistent appearance in Wes Anderson films such as Rushmore, The Royal Tennenbaums, and more have given him a new fanbase of 20 year old somethings to add to his 40+ year old fanbase.

Getting back to the Wu, RZA just released a new video a few weeks ago which is fairly entertaining. It may be low-key, but I think given that Hip-Hop has "reached it's tipping point" (to quote several music critics), chiller, low-key hip-hop feels far more appealing. Laid-back, relaxed hip hop feels like a walk into a beautiful orange-pink sunset.

GZA also just released a great new album called "Pro Tools" from my record company, Babygrande Records. I heard it already, while doing overdubs for it, and it's freaking incredible. It has the simplicity and tightness of Beck's new album (which I keep mentioning) Modern Guilt. Have a good day.

The two editors (there are just the two of them) suggested giving the magazine a read either online or buying a copy. I went through the table of contents for one issue and clicked on the Spring 2008 issue and began reading a story. Wow. He's good. I'm in over my head. Another one! I can't stop.

Proceding down the page for another read, I read an introduction to Love. Amazing. From there I perused the authors' names, bylined by their story's links. No way. Here are Ethan Coen (O, Brother Where Art Thou?), Wes Anderson, Margaret Atwood,  Tim Roth, and Woody Allen!

And the publisher? Francis Ford Coppola. No less.

This is big. I read Coppola's mission statement. Inspiring. Various essays and reprints from well-known writers (Vonnegut, Dick) are there, too, along with impressive cover design. But it's not another anthology of college text collections. Plenty of unknowns are published here, too.

Writers can enter the contest, submit a story, or join the virtual studio where "thousands" of writers critique each other. Or just read. The publication is Zoetrope: All Story.

I love stories, having been introduced to fairy tales and myth as a child. In the fourth grade I read A Midsummer Night's Dream from an old yellowed copy, some relative's school Signet Edition.  In third grade my teacher read us Bible stories, and I fell in love with Moses and David. (I never liked ghost stories, however; still don't.)

After getting a master's in English, I knew I was forever tied to the story, whatever its form. Talk to me, Do it well. Tell me a story. Use your imagination and we'll be friends forever. You, me, Francis.

Rian Johnson, the man that did Brick, the modern day-teen noir film from a few years ago, has put forth a exciting film that's sure to garner just as many good reviews and happy viewers. The Brothers Bloom looks like a mash of the quirky side of Wes Anderson, the action side of the Coen Brothers, and the mystery that Rian is known for from Brick.

WHAT I'M WATCHING ON DVD:

"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou"

Read my review HERE.

Between movies and TV commercials The Kinks are rolling in dough. Since 2007 alone they have been featured in 7 TV spots and 7 movies. When will these Directors get over this Kinks craze? It appears that The Kinks are quickly losing their edge (just as The Beatles, Stones, and The Who) while these posing, retro - hipsters continue to overplay them.

So please, Wes and Wes Wannabes, get over your slow-motion Kinks montages. What band are they going to anoint next? Herman's Hermits?

KINKS' TV SPOTS

IBM - "I'm Not Like Everybody Else"

HP  - "Picture Book"

Converse and Target - "Everybody's a Star"

Alka-Seltzer - "Tired of Waiting for you"

Gap Kids - "Your Really Got Me"

La La - "Lola"

Coke - "Lola"

Abbott Labs - "Everybody's Gonna be Happy"

Joes Superstore - "Everybody's Gonna be Happy"

Tide - "All the Day and All of the Night"

Starburst - "All the Day and All of the Night"

Kohls - "All the Day and All of the Night"

Saab - "All the Day and All of the Night"

GM - "All the Day and All of the Night"

Kinks find a 6m glow in advertising.

KINKS' FEATURES

2008

The Bank Job - "Lola"

2007

Rakkauden nalka - "Waterloo Sunset"

Smother - "Better Things"

The Darjeeling Limited - "This Time Tomorrow," "Strangers," "Powerman"

Juno - "Well Respected Man"

Hot Fuzz - "Village Green Preservation Society,"  "Village Green"

The Savages - "Riverside"

2006

School for Scoundrels - "Set Me Free"

Click - "Do It Again"

Doogal - "You Really Got Me"

Kinks' Filmography.

I recently netflix'd both of their first movies (She's Gotta Have It and Bottle Rocket, Lee and Anderson respectively) and its very inspirational to see their approach to film-making and to see where they both came from. I really enjoyed seeing how they started, and one day I hope to accomplish a fraction of what they have. And if I ever decide to make a foray into movie making, I will always look to these to for my inspiration of how it should be done.

Innovators...

Salaam.

Today's classic trailer is another great one from the recent past. I'm a big Wes Anderson fan and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is one of my favorite movies, so I originally watched the Darjeeling Limited trailer with notable excitement.

INTRO

"I think we have a chance to make this kind of a life changing experience and I think we need it."

Trailers for Wes Anderson movies are some of the best, and one of the main reasons is the music. His movies always have fantastic soundtracks, and you'll always get a taste of it in the trailer. Right after Owen Wilson delivers the opening line we get music from Satyajit Ray, and we're introduced to the three main characters: Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman using a nice rotating shot cut into three parts.

We're clued in on their relationship with voice overs and on-screen quotes such as:

"I want us to become brothers again like we used to be."

"You're the two most important people in the world to me."

"Why haven't we spoken in a year?"

"Because we don't trust each other."

End it with a joke, and we hit turn #1.

ACT I

We get a song change to "This Time Tomorrow" by the Kinks, and title cards for the actors, with some nice shots to back them up. Not quite Pineapple Express level of name shots, but these are pretty good:

Follow that up with my favorite joke of the trailer - about the train being lost - and some more action shots before turn #2. My favorite aspect of these shots is how Anderson captures the movement. Here on TrailerBlog I've already looked at a lot of action movie trailers and they all have the flurry of fast cutting action clips to excite the viewer. The flurry of clips in this trailer are just a touch longer than that of an action film, long enough to show some kind of movement in each one. Here's the stills, but rewatch the trailer to get the full effect.

Running together (smiles all around!):

Moving train/smoking shot:

Throwing cards into the air:

Self-explanatory:

ACT II

Another music change brings us to Act II (and another Kinks song, "Strangers"). The song is more somber and so is the first line we get, the quintessential "Wes Anderson movie theme summed up in one exchange":

"What's wrong with you?"

(Pause) "Let me think about that."

It's a meaningless line with more depth than a lot of traditionally meaningful movie quotes - it also barely makes sense (much like this sentence).

Like the final act of a Wes Anderson movie, the final act of the trailer is a number of wide-ranging clips emotionally, enough to throw you off if you're trying to place the movie into a specific genre. Try and group these clips together mentally:

Have any idea what's going on? Neither do I! (SPOILER ALERT: I saw this movie earlier this summer and still haven't figured out what's going on)

Finally we have some excellently done comedic-editing to finish up, splicing in scenes of the three brothers fighting in between Owen Wilson telling a man they were there for a "spiritual journey".

Despite its scattered nature, I really liked this trailer when I first saw it. I still do, but since seeing the movie and being a bit disappointed, the trailer lost some of its luster (could you imagine if There Will Be Blood wasn't as good as it looked?). But film anything with the cinematography and music of a Wes Anderson movie and I'll be interested.

Y uno de los artistas fundamentales de los últimos tiempos que logro revalorizar esta tradición es el gran Seu Jorge.

Nuestro amigo comenzó su paso por la música con el grupo Farofa Carioca allá a finales del siglo XX, luego publicó sus primeros discos solistas, "Samba esporte Fino" y "Cru", con estos trabajos logro llegar tanto al público como a la crítica. Pero yo (y muchos otros mas) llegamos a su arte gracias al cine. Lo conocí como uno de los protagonistas de la tremenda película "Ciudad de Dios", una especie de Pulp Fiction ambientado en las fabelas de Rio de Janeiro, pero su consagración en la gran pantalla llego con su personaje en la película de Wes Anderson "Life Acuatic" donde sentado solo con su guitarra acústica interpretaba versiones libres de clásicos de David Bowie en la cubierta del barco, todos nos enamoramos del personaje y posteriormente de su trabajo "The Life Aquatic - Studio Sessions", que es sencillamente memorable.

Publicó recientemente su último disco "América Brasil O Disco", un trabajo realmente recomendable que continua en la idea de profundizar en las raíces y la tradición de la música de su país.

Pero el que me gustaría destacar es el disco en vivo que grabo junto a Ana Carolina, se titúla "Ana & Jorge Ao Vivo" este es un trabajo de amor, una combinación perfecta entre ambos artistas, la sensación que me transmite es como si los estuviera escuchando mientras se enamoran el uno del otro, altamente disfrutable.

Y los voy a dejar con una de las canciones de este trabajo, una versión de un tema de Damien Rice, personalmente opino que supera con creces a la original, y la frase, "Eu não sei parar de te olhar" (no puedo dejar de mirarte) se convirtió en un mantra dentro de mi cabeza.

Este post esta dedicado a mi amigo Oliver, otra víctima de Ana & Jorge Ao Vivo.

el video va con traducción de la letra, enjoy!!!

Rules:

1. Entire library of 3,695 songs are fair game for the shuffle.
2. We must listen to each song (no matter how dorky, or embarrassing it is to me).
3. We comment.

Commence!

Song 1

"Sugar Lee" by Donny Hathaway

Holden: This song always puts me in a good mood.

Jack: I liked it. I can see why it puts you in a good mood.

Song 2

"Rocks Off" by the Rolling Stones

Holden: Makes me think of summer in Chicago.

Jack: That album [Exile on Main Street] is one of the greatest albums ever made. And it makes me think of creating a Top Five list of Bands I Wish I Could Have Seen. What year is that album from, do you know?

Holden: 1972

Jack: I like this. This is fun.

Song 3

"We Have All The Time in the World" by Louis Armstrong

Holden: I think it's funny I have this song because the album it's on is called "The Best of James Bond".

Jack: This isn't such a "James Bond" song, is it? Especially that riff. The trumpet riff, that is.

Holden: Well I like this song because it reminds me to slow down.

Jack lights Holden's cigarette

Holden: It's very 70s.

Song 4

"Five on the Five" by The Raconteurs

Holden: This song makes me want to rock out. And there's a cowbell!

Jack: More cowbell. Sorry for the obvious but it was necessary.

Holden kisses Jack on the cheek

Jack: I love breakdowns. I love breakdowns. I do love breakdowns.

Holden: Would you consider this song "rock n roll"?

Jack: Yes of course. It's uptempo, it's got a poppy drumbeat not poppy, the drums lift it up and the guitar smashes it down.

Holden: That's a very professional-sounding assertion.

Jack: I wrote music reviews once. Maybe I'll show 'em to you. Did you know that about me?

Holden: I was not aware of that.

Song 5

"12 Variations pour piano en do majeur KV 265" Mozart

Jack: Is that French for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?

Holden: This song reminds me of ballet class.

Jack: Mozart or Beethoven?

Holden: Mozart, no question. You?

Jack: I don't know. But one of my favorite classical songs is Beethoven? From a "Band of Brothers" episode.

Jack relights his pipe

Jack: I think there's nothing more satisfying than a perfect score to a movie.

Holden: What movie do you think has a perfect score?

Jack: Rushmore. Any of the Wes Anderson films. Who is that guy, Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo?

Holden: Yes.

Jack: And you?

Holden: The Red Shoes.

Jack: What about Amelie?

Holden: That's a damn good score.

Jack: Is that the same cigarette? It went out?

Holden: Yeah, they do that because they don't have gunpowder in them.

Jack: I love gunpowder. That's one of my favorite green teas. But don't oversteep it, it gets bitter.

Holden: This is a fun game.

They have decided to do 10 songs instead of just five.

Jack: You know I was in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart.

Holden: Oh, rlly. This song is kind-of a review of lots of songs put into one. Where are your glasses?

Jack: In my backpack.

Holden puts on her reading glasses

Jack: Yeah, you're the one who's supposed to wear them when you're on the computer.

Jack leaves, opens the fridge and finds ice cream.

Jack: Yesss.

Jack feeds Holden a spoonful. She feels special. They are fourteen minutes into the song, briefly discuss breaking rule #2 but decide to follow the rules "this time". Holden is happy. She lights another cigarette. Jack begins having a discussion with her dog. He gets more ice cream and continues feeding Holden by the spoonful.

Song 6

"halfworld" by Splashdown

Holden: If it wasn't for those damn rules I made, I would have skipped this song.

Jack: Skip it.

Song 7

"Guinnivere" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Holden: This song reminds me of when I went through my hippie phase in high school.

Jack: Did your dad listen to CSN&Y? Mine did.

Holden: Yeah...but I think this record was my mom's.

Jack: My mom hated Neil Young. I never understood.

Holden: I never knew there was a...what do you call that "magic" shit with the pentagrams?

Jack: Black Magic? Wiccan? Free Masonry?

Holden: Are there pentagrams involved in Free Masonry?

Jack: That's a good question. The Order of the Eastern Star, their main symbol is a pentagram? The Catholic Church tried to associate Free Masonry with devil worship, which of course is false.

Holden: I'm kinna done with this song.

Jack: Skip it, baby.

Song 8

"Loose Fit (12" Oakenfold/Osborne remix)" by the Happy Mondays

Holden: This can't be good. Ew, this is terrible. Why do I have this?

Jack: Don't ask me.

Holden: We're skipping. And I'm deleting this. It's taking up hard-drive space.

Song 9

"In This Home on Ice" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Jack: How appropriate.

Holden: Why is it appropriate?

Jack: I listened to this album over and over and over when I was in Austria, and thought of you every time.

Holden blushes

Jack: There are some great lyrics in this song. Like that. "All that we have salvaged from the fire was a waste of time". See this is opposite of a breakdown?

Holden: It's a build-up?

Jack: No, it's a...what do they call it--

Holden: A crescendo?

Jack: No.

Jack plays air-drums

Holden: This is a great song.

Jack: Such a good song. It just keeps going and gets better. I love how he pulls a "David Byrne" and his voice becomes an instrument.

Holden: I love David Byrne.

Jack: I'm really happy that song played.

Song 10

"You're My Best Friend" by Queen

Holden: Damn, what was I just thinking? This is a great love song.

Jack: It makes me think of [REDACTED].

Holden: {REDACTED]?

Jack: Yeah, I went to high school with him. And it's my 15-year reunion right now! I wonder if he's there! Right now it's happening! (laughs)

Holden: I don't think I will go to any reunions. My generation has Facebook. My curiosities have been satisfied already.

Jack: What, I'm not in your generation?

Holden: Well, you are, but you're too old for Facebook, kind-of. That's the end of the game!

Jack: Too bad though! Come on! It's Wesley Willis!

Holden: Okay, this is the bonus round.

Song 11

"Harmony Joy Bus Ride" by Wesley Willis

Jack: What are you favorite Wesley Willis lyrics?

Holden: Hmm. Maybe "Take this job and shove it!"

Jack: Mine is "I whopped Batman's ass. I knocked him to the ground! He got up and knocked me to the ground!" Is that a Casio "sitar"?

Holden: I think so.

Jack: In the breakdown! What's the sign-off gonna be in this song, I can't remember.

Holden: I'm putting my money on Meineke.

Jack: I'm putting my money on "McDonalds! Breakfast of champions!"

Wesley Willis: "Ford!" something unitelligible

Jack: Well that was anticlimactic.