Songbird
Mar
1
All Time Favorite #14
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 8 Comments
I saw Punch Drunk Love on November 21, 2002 at 7:50pm I still have the ticket stub. It was the beginning of so many wonderful things that still continue to grow. One of which is my LOVE for Paul Thomas Anderson, Punch Drunk Love is in my humble opinion one of the greatest love stories of all time. If you haven’t seen it, you are missing out on something magical.
The soundtrack is by no other than Jon Brion and to say that Brion’s colorful score and PTA’s cinematic flair are a perfect match is an understatement. The music and scenes go hand and hand, flowing into one another and you no longer know which one influenced the other, they become one.
Since this is such a special film to me there are two tracks I picked from the film’s score to make this my official All Time Favorite #13.
Cheers to “us”!
mp3: Here We Go (mp3 expired) – Jon Brion
mp3: He Needs Me (mp3 expired) – Shelley Duvall (vocals), Harry Nilsson (original composition),
Jon Brion and Jonathan Karp (additional composition)
Feb
24
All Time Favorite #13
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Rushmore (1998)…Need I say more? I love this movie, another Wes Anderson creation and if you haven’t seen this movie…Then I don’t know what to say…But if you haven’t seen this movie then something needs to be done about that immediately.
As always with any Anderson film the soundtrack is fan-fucking-tastic and almost impossible to select just one track but you all know how picky I am so it is certain that I back my pick 100%
Wes Anderson is currently working on two films:
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
(2008)
This is the one I am really excited about, adapted from the children’s book by Roald Dahl
And the Academy Awards are this weekend, and I wish I was going to Mentok’s bash but alas once again I can not teleport therefor I probably won’t even watch them. But I do recommend seeing The Departed and the awesome Little Miss Sunshine. Ok now as for the soundtrack pick from Rushmore…Enjoy!
Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worrin’ Bout That Girl (mp3 expired) – The Kinks
Rushmore Soundtrack (1999)
Feb
14
All Time Favorite #12
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 7 Comments
Nothing says Happy Valentine’s Day like a little BDSM!
Secretary is really just a superb film, it is surprising actually. Directed by Steven Shainberg who I personally have never heard of nor have I seen any other films in which he directed but bravo to him for this film. Secretary also introduced me to the work of Erin Cressida Wilson who wrote the screenplay and Mary Gaitskill who wrote the short story, but regardless of the unknown this film was so well done and I applaud all who had a hand in creating it.
I am sure some were probably hesitant to see this movie because of the sadomasochistic plot but I think as long as you are not my grandma (who actually did see this film not knowing the plot outline and being the miserable closed minded person she is you can only guess what she thought of it) I recommend giving it a whirl, I think you may just be pleasantly surprised unless of course you are a miserable, bitter and closed minded person then you may not like it so much.
Leonard Cohen’s sultry I’m Your Man accompanies Gyllenhaal’s character as she crawls on her hands and knees towards her boss’s office, and with that this makes Secretary my official All Time Favorite #11 on this mushy love blah blah blah day. ;-)
I’m Your Man (mp3 expired) – Leonard Cohen
Secretary (Soundtrack) 2002 [Get it]
also available on I’m Your Man 1988 [Get it]
Feb
9
All Time Favorite #11
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 9 Comments
Dead Melodies (mp3 expired) – Beck
From Adaptation (2002)
Available on Mutations (1998) [Get it]
This All Time Favorite almost didn’t happen but then while I was requesting pip’s vote on a possible ATF contender it dawned on me and then suddenly the clouds in the sky parted and golden rays shined from the heavens and I was granted immortality…Actually wait can I change what’s granted to me because I would so much rather have the ability to teleport! That would be so rad! But I have really just gone off on a fanciful tangent that may have been exaggerated just a smidgen…
Going in to see Adaptation in the theater I don’t really remember anticipating it’s release but I loved this film! Directed by the very cool Spike Jonze who also directed Being John Malkovich, as well as numerous music videos for artists like Björk and the Beastie Boys.
The screenplay was written by the Kaufman brothers and I think it is Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman who really deserve the gold stars for how well this film turned out.
I must add that I think it might just be my favorite Nicholas Cage film who is actually playing Charlie and Donald Kaufman in the film. (He was unbelievable in Leaving Las Vegas but I mean you don’t feel like celebrating much of anything after watching that film)
And of course Beck’s, Dead Melodies makes Adaptation an official All Time Favorite. Happy day! It’s Friday! Next up I’ll rewind the week…
Last little query of the day…Is it wrong of me to find this just a bit ridiculous? The headline reads, What made us care about Nicole?
Seriously? I care about the baby she supposedly had a few months ago, I mean does anyone care about that? (sorry there is my gossipy two cents on a bit of Hollywood star soap opera crazy talk)
Jan
30
All Time Favorite #10
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 9 Comments
Rob: I get by because of the people who make a special effort to shop here – mostly young men – who spend all their time looking for deleted Smith singles, and original – not re released, underlined – Frank Zappa albums. Fetish properties are not unlike porn. I’d feel guilty taking their money, if I wasn’t…well…kinda one of them.
High Fidelity as one of my All Time Favs? What a cliché, but a damn good cliché! I think I have watched this movie like 52 million times, maybe that’s an exaggeration, it might be more like 51 million. My copy isn’t in it’s box and I have no idea where it is but that’s alright because it was a VHS and after watching it 51 million times it only really had one or two more viewings before it went to VHS heaven right along side my VHS copy of Kicking and Screaming (1995). But I digress…
John Cusack is a cutie patooty and he can make me a mix tape any day…This movie appeals to both men and women and that is rare. The soundtrack really just completes the package nicely with gift wrap and a big giant red bow.
Selecting one song to include this pick as an All Time Fav was not an easy task…Stereolab, The Beta Band, The Velvet Underground and then some appear on this soundtrack and if you don’t own this soundtrack…Go buy it right now. Seriously stop what you are doing and go to your nearest record store and pick up a copy ASAP.
After careful consideration…
Cold Blooded Old Times (mp3 expired) – Smog
High Fidelity Soundtrack (2000) [Get it]
also available on Knock Knock (1999) [Get it]
Smog is awesome, Bill Callahan is brilliant…
the type of memories
that turn your bones
turn your bones to glassand though you were
just a little squirrel
you understood every wordand in this way
they gave you clarity
a cold-blooded clarityCold-blooded old times
Cold-blooded old times
Cold-blooded old timesthough how can I stand
and laugh with the man
who redefined your body?…-Smog (Bill Callahan)
Fucking chilling it’s so good.
Jan
19
All Time Favorite #9
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 6 Comments
V for Vendetta (2006 World Release)
When the trailers first started coming out for this movie, I immediately deemed it unworthy and vowed not to see it…Then I saw it and well…I felt like a complete ass.
I couldn’t stop talking about, I recommended it to everyone I came in contact with. And maybe it was the mysterious rebel V or the bad ass action sequences, which won me over. Most likely it was combination of both and then some but whatever it was this film kicks some major revolution ass and at the same time makes your heart go pitter-patter in that girlie girl flick kind of way.
And to top it all off the soundtrack is just some of the best jukebox loving I have heard in a long time. There are a few songs I could pick from this album but since I have previously mentioned the Cat Power’s cover of I Found a Reason and Julie London’s version of Cry Me a River I thought for my All Time Fav #9 it was time to turn the spotlight on Antony & The Johnson’s, Bird Gerhl
Bird Gerhl (mp3 expired)
Antony & The Johnsons (mp3 expired)
V for Vendetta (original soundtrack) [Get it]
Jan
10
All Time Favorite #8
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 10 Comments
I am going to go ahead and make a bold statement here, so do prepare yourselves:
Best opening shot ever is in Kill Bill Vol. 1, the black and white shadows along with Nancy Sinatra’s beautiful haunting voice made this shot easier to take in and take in I did. I just think it is really well done in every way, if it doesn’t grab you and suck you into this film, I honestly don’t think anything would.I am one of those oddities who preferred Volume 1 over Volume 2, I mean in my opinion it is really no contest:
1. Best opening shot
2. Favorite Nancy Sinatra song
3. A chick who is out for revenge kicks ass
4. And probably one of the greatest of great bad ass speeches ever:
O-Ren Ishii: [after she cuts off Tanaka’s head, in Japanese] So you all will know the seriousness of my warning, I shall say this in English.
O-Ren Ishii: [in English] As your leader, I encourage you from time to time, and always in a respectful manner, to question my logic. If you’re unconvinced that a particular plan of action I’ve decided is the wisest, tell me so, but allow me to convince you and I promise you right here and now, no subject will ever be taboo. Except, of course, the subject that was just under discussion. The price you pay for bringing up either my Chinese or American heritage as a negative is… I collect your fucking head. Just like this fucker here. Now, if any of you sons of bitches got anything else to say, now’s the fucking time!
[pause]
O-Ren Ishii: I didn’t think so.
O-Ren Ishii: [calmly, in Japanese] Gentlemen, this meeting is adjourned.
Like I said no contest really, my All Time Favorite #8:
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (mp3 expired) – Nancy Sinatra
Kill Bill: Volume 1 Soundtrack [Get it]
Also, check out the Contrast Podcast #41 as they blast off to space.
And I want to send good thoughts and love over to Chad and his wife as they get ready to welcome their first child into this world. Cheer them on over at Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands!
Jan
1
All Time Favorite #7
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 5 Comments
Steve Zissou: You really think it’s cool for you to hit the sauce with a bun in the oven?
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
Directed by Wes Anderson and written by both Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach (two of my favorite film makers ) this is a fantastic film and although a bit messy in some parts Bill Murray seems to help hold it down.
But the primary reason for this All Time Favorite feature is of course the music, and Life Aquatic being a Wes Anderson film you know it has an amazing soundtrack. Selecting just one song from any of Wes Anderson’s original motion picture soundtracks is not an easy task and although my pick for All Time Favorite #7 is not included on the soundtrack CD it is part of the original score and it is an amazing song.
Starálfur (mp3 expired)
Sigur Rós
also available on their 1999 album ágætis byrjun [Get it]
Dec
14
All Time Favorite #6
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 5 Comments
Will: I wanna move up to Nashua, get a nice little spread, get some sheep and tend to them.Oh yes, the famous Good Will Hunting. When this film came out I was obsessed, watched it all the time…Still do. Although, I do believe all the hype about this movie has affected me a bit, but that is with most things and if I ignore it I can still find myself lost in the dialogue of this film, especially the conversations of Robin Williams and Matt Damon’s characters.
I have to admit though I think I enjoyed the soundtrack of this film most of all. An Elliott Smith dominated soundtrack with tracks by Al Green, The Dandy Warhols and an original score by Danny Elfman make this film and soundtrack my All Time Favorite #6.
Angeles (mp3 expired) – Elliott Smith
Good Will Hunting Soundtrack
also available on
Either/Or
Dec
6
All Time Favorite #5
Filed Under All Time Favorite | 12 Comments
This is a personal favorite for many reasons…One of which being PTA (aka Paul Thomas Anderson) has become one of my favorite director’s right up there with the amazing Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach and Woody Allen, ok I could go on and on here so I will stop there.But this film will always remind me of the very special person who suggested it. This film marks a time in my life in which I found myself having many realizations, it was about a year after my dad died and my current relationship had gone south about 2 years prior maybe even more than that but I was still holding on out of fear. This film helped me to realize that where I was in my life was not where I wanted to be. A brilliant film that is so very well done in so many ways. If you have yet to see it I urge you to rent it, you won’t be disappointed.
As for the song…Well I do believe it speaks for itself, PTA also has very good musical taste.
Wise Up (mp3 expired) – Aimee Mann
Magnolia (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
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Music found on this blog is for sampling only. If you like what you hear then support the artist. Buy their music, attend a show and spread the word. If you own the rights to any of the music featured here and you would like me to remove it contact me and I will remove the link immediately.
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