2010: The Cultural YTD

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  • recordari,

    Damn, and here I was thinking my pre-revelat(ion) copy might become rarified, and fetch a higher price. In fact Sacha it seems more likely than ever.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    [Takes small procrastination break from preparing for TV show ...]

    It's been weird waiting for three particular albums to be officially released, because they've been so extensively leaked it's almost a spoiler.

    They are:

    Damian Marley and Nas, Distant Relatives : On leaked tracks so far, a mostly stormingly great collaboration with a couple of terrible cheesy pop songs ('My Generation' feat. Joss Stone) letting it down.

    LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening: Third and farewell album. Not quite as good as Sound of Silver but welcome in this house.

    M.I.A., /\/\/\Y/\ : Wow. So far we've heard 'Ol Dat I See' (psychedelic dub raga), 'Born Free' (full-noise clatter sampling Suicide) and 'XXXO' (like, um, Lady Gaga?). She's the most interesting and adventurous pop artist I can think of.

    And that's without her piss-off-the-record-company video for 'Born Free'. Warning: contains politics and very graphic violence.

    The kooky 3D publicity pics are cool too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Heather Gaye,

    I just bought Grayson Gilmour's new album, and it's so good that using capital letters and exclamation marks would feel tacky.

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Hi Heather.
    unrelated:

    farewell album

    wtf?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    unrelated:

    farewell album

    wtf?

    Yep. James Murphy has apparently said this will be the third and last LCD album.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Sure seems like another of those music cascade moments.

    Just got Band of Horses, The National (iTunes), Phoenix Foundation (much discussed) and Kirsten Morrell's on CD.

    For train spotters like me I also got a 180gsm release of Dead Can Dance's album The Serpent's Egg, which was one my favourite albums of 1988-89. Sold my other one before going overseas. Yes, yes, I know, get a life!!!

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Thirst is... well, disturbing!

    I may have drunk too deep at the well of dislocation/identity confusion fiction

    and who's at the bottom of your well?
    dip into the Lost Literary Links
    and here's the bucket list!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Just a wee note further to Jolisa's post too... *coughs*

    You've made something rather clear to me: Penguin's fiction list isn't closely edited any more, because all the fictive creativity goes into the press releases. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    And Dead Kennedys without Jello Biafra? Not the Dead Kennedys (takes elitist music nazi hat off)

    Well ol' Jello is musically promiscuous himself.

    Jello Biafra with NoMeansNo

    My big sister Shirl produced NoMeansNo's first single Here Come the Wormies and was a deeply unlikely fixture at many hardcore punk parties.

    I suspect John Francis Daley is going to be one of those weird people (like Matt Smith, Michael J. Fox and Matthew Broderick) who will look like a twelve year old the day he dies.

    Craig, have you ever seen the film A High Wind in Jamaica ? There are a few scenes featuring writer Martin Amis as a little kid about 7 or 8 years old.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    And Dead Kennedys without Jello Biafra? Not the Dead Kennedys

    Well, he does seem to have spent most of the last 15-odd years fighting some sort of brush war with the rest of the band (an urban guerrilla conflict?)

    Dead Can Dance's album The Serpent's Egg, which was one my favourite albums of 1988-89.

    Anyone else amused that a thread intended for discussion of 2010's culture has spun off into a discussion based around bands of the 1980's? Are we retro, ironic, or just too old to keep up?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig, have you ever seen the film A High Wind in Jamaica ? There are a few scenes featuring writer Martin Amis as a little kid about 7 or 8 years old.

    I've never been able to track it down, but after seeing the picutres in his autobiography and his father's doorstop of a biography that came out a few years back, the Amis men have the opposite problem. Even as cherubic toddlers, there was something of the night about Marty and Kingers. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    the Amis men have the opposite problem. Even as cherubic toddlers, there was something of the night about Marty and Kingers. :)

    They do indeed.

    I used to have this fascinating book of photographs of famous people as children, called As They Were and it was surprising who looked like what. Clark Gable looked exactly like Clark Gable (sans moustache) at 6. Jean-Paul Sartre looked like a Christmas card angel at 4 and like a... well, not a pretty, sweet-faced Christmas card angel.

    Getting back to Brandon Cruz - he is still very recognisable as cute little Eddie except now he's a huge muscled dude, covered in tats and his black hair is now a grey crewcut. He looks like Eddie with Henry Rollins superimposed over him.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Are we retro, ironic, or just too old to keep up?

    I object. Now, could someone remind me what I'm objecting to.

    In my defence, it was in conjunction with some brand spanking new music that is pretty much hot off the press. Anyway, we should always honour our forebears, especially as we rapidly become someone else's.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Huh, well you just have to look at the faces, Marilyn Manson and that kid don't look much alike.

    I think the urban myth was about Kevin's best friend from The Wonder Years, that kid who looks like Milhouse. He *does* look rather like Marilyn Manson.

    Now the kid from Freaks and Geeks is instantly recognisable, despite being so much larger

    OMG, I just searched as I haven't seen him since: it's Giant, Terrifying Sam! And I was just watching the 'Parisian night suit' episode of F&G this past weekend...

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Parker,

    Probably the best thing musically to happen over the past year here in Napier has been the re-emergence of the Cabana hotel as a live music venue. It doesn't have the distractions of other bars (pokies/big screens) and is dedicated to live music. Lots of local bands are now getting a chance to play and there are some good ones. For me the best at the moment being Devils Elbow- a country punk rock band that lets me play bass for them sometime. The Cabana also has good tours coming through (no Phoenix Foundation this time though) including recently Lloyd Cole and Grant Hart. The bar has changed hands recently with the new owner still dedicated to keeping it a music venue.
    Movie wise I have to say Gaelene Preston's Home By Christmas is something that grabbed me recently. It has a very local connection though which adds to it's appeal.

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    @Craig - "Penguin's fiction list isnt closely edited any more"-
    nor is it's non-fiction list...well, I assume gardening is still non-fiction-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Movie wise I have to say Gaelene Preston's Home By Christmas is something that grabbed me recently. It has a very local connection though which adds to it's appeal.

    I'm a hopeless moviegoer but must get to this. I loved War Stories: Our Mothers Never Told Us and I am grateful that these stories are being told so well.

    I'm also privileged to have made Gaylene's acquaintance several years ago. Last year, I found an industry soiree a bit hard work and drifted out to the garden of Park Road Post to find Gaylene and a few other good souls to yarn with in the Wellington chill. It was good. She's a very solid person.

    (Also: she knew Syd Barrett!)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I respect, admire, and really like Gaelene (got to know her when she & crew stayed in Okarito for 3 or so days making "Kaipurakau" - Chelsea was just a bub then.) Solid, indeedy, and an excellent film-maker to boot.( Just incidentally, the Oamaru Probis group - which includes my mother - will be watching this - "Home By Christmas"- apopo-)

    Quite a few years after that, Jonathan Crayford called in: half the back of his van was - a full-sized piano! And, bless him, he played for nearly an hour, there on the road-verge, just outside my house...

    sometimes I've been so lucky that -words fail, tui takes over...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Jonathan Crayford is a terrific pianist, and mighty good composer, too. Heard him play once, more than 20 years ago, and haven't forgotten it :)
    And Gaylene seems one of those rare truly generous big-spirited people. And tough, too!

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    (Apologies to Gaylene for mis-spelling name - I had the y originally - looked at the post above and thought, Gah! Senescence is taking over, and...changed it...))

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    isnt closely edited any more

    they really need to fully get with the times and crowdsource that part, wider than book reviewers

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I fully agree Sacha - but that whistling sound?
    The last remaining real editors just sucked from their desks into a black hole...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    we are the editors...

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I'm a hopeless moviegoer but must get to this. I loved War Stories: Our Mothers Never Told Us and I am grateful that these stories are being told so well.

    Indeed -- along with Titless Wonders, I'm amazed at the very high level of intimacy and trust Preston has with her subjects, that allows them to put some really intimate and painful shit out there. But there's the other side, where some things are far too serious not to laugh at.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    I think the urban myth was about Kevin's best friend from The Wonder Years, that kid who looks like Milhouse. He *does* look rather like Marilyn Manson.

    Yes, my mistake. It was Kevin's best mate Paul who is/was the subject of the urban myth.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

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