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October 03, 2005
Pre-France Music Rant
(Well, actually not a rant, just some "shout outs" for cds I've recently liked.)
In exactly a week, Michael and I are off to France, for a week (Michael), and a little more than a week (me). Au Diable Vauvert is publishing the French translation of Mysterious Skin this month, timed to arrive simultaneously with the French DVD. So far I've learned about three French phrases (I was such a numbskull to take German in college instead of French). Thankfully the wonderful guy who translated the book, Christophe Grosdidier, will be along to help me out with the press & publicity duties.
(By the way--the US DVD will be released on October 25th. Please, if you haven't seen the film yet, make sure you watch the UNRATED edition instead of the R-rated!!!)
I'll have my final French schedule later this week, so if I have time I'll post information about the book signings or press schedulings. One place I'm supposed to appear is the Thierry Ardisson television show, about which I'm admittedly a little nervous.
In the meantime, I've been working steadily, still, on We Disappear, and listening to a lot of new music. Of course I've been listening nonstop to TAKK... by gods Sigur Rós . I ADORE the album "Heat" by Colder... sorta like the ghosts of early Factory Records bands, suddenly resurrected for a new CD. Also, one of my favorite bands, Elbow, just released "Leaders of the Free World"--I love it, but it's a bit of a disappointment; their other two records were this incredible mix of prog and "Spirit of Eden" period Talk Talk, and this new one is a little more mainstream than I would have liked. Also, I like, but don't quite love, the new Broadcast disc. And yes, I think it's still cool to like Franz Ferdinand. The new Calla, "Collisions," ain't bad. Ummm... also, if you're a fan of the Arcade Fire, you'll likely love "Apologies To the Queen Mary" by Wolf Parade (a 9.2 from the always pretentious Pitchfork!) and "Birds Make Good Neighbors" by The Rosebuds. I can't stop listening to that latter band's song "Boxcar".
The trio of upcoming CDs I'm most excited to hear are the new Mogwai, "Aerial" by the world's biggest recluse Kate Bush, and "The Campfire Headphase," by the always sublime Boards of Canada. Hopefully these won't "slightly disappoint" like some others recently have.
More as France approaches. Since this entry was about music, I'll leave you with a few photographs of the reason, apparently, why SOME people think I have weird taste: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, f@#$ing great guitarist for The Mars Volta and my current vote for the most beautiful human being on the planet.
Posted by at October 3, 2005 12:03 AM
Comments
Awesome to hear the news that you think you might make ur dead line. go scott! ive been wondering how that has been going since i got the e-mail from you. By the way good choice in the tunes by the way. one of these days i long to get a ipod.
Posted by: Chad watson at October 5, 2005 03:46 AM
hmmm Ardisson usually asks very good questions (when he wants to). Contrary to most popular French interviewers, he knows his literature. So it should be be an interesting experience.
Well, if you don't come up to Bordeaux, at least I'll be able to watch this ! ;-)
cheers
f.
Posted by: Fabrice at October 4, 2005 01:23 PM
thanks for all the good music -- i am heading to Paris on Thurs...for 3 weeks.....have a safe journey as well.
Posted by: turlie at October 3, 2005 09:12 PM
Quick last-minute note: I definitely plan on getting a copy of Mysterious Skin on DVD when it is released. I need to add it to my Araki collection, although I have all his other films only on VHS. I think I would only get Doom Generation and Nowhere on DVD to update, maybe Living End if it is ever released on DVD. I can see myself watching Mysterious Skin often if I owned it.
Posted by: Robert at October 3, 2005 01:17 PM
I don't think you have odd taste, I think that dude from Mars Volta is a cutie as well. His lips are incredible, and I love thin boys. My boyfriend is a stick, and obviously I think he's hot. Anyway, I've never listened to Mars Volta; I guess I should check them out. Thanks for the CD list. I got my copy of Takk from Sigur Ros and have no complaints about it. It's just what I would expect from such an amazing band. I like that they use more piano in this CD, or at least it seems like there is more piano. I think this might be their most tangible album yet, which makes me wonder what the next step will be.
As for your other suggestions and critiques, I listened to some of the new Broadcast CD in Virgin Records and decided that I should buy it at some point in time. Ha Ha Sound is a favorite of mine, and from the few songs I listened to, I thought the new CD was comparable. I almost liked what I heard better, but I guess I need to listen to the whole thing before I make such a comment. I don't think I'll be buying the new Elbow. I like the last CD (title escapes me), but I just never found myself listening to it that often. I'm curious to listen to some of the new Calla CD. I only own Televise from them, which I love, so I think I need to give it a listen online or at Virgin before I just pick it up. From your comment about it, it sounds kind of mediocre--nothing mind-altering. I recently read an article about Wolf Parade in Spin and became curious to hear them. Now I will definitely seek them out. Oh, and as for the new Franz Ferdinand, I expect that my boyfriend will pick that one up, being he likes them more than I do, so I'll give that a listen when he buys it. I never heard of the Rosebuds; I'll check them out as well.
I didn't even know that Mogwai had a new CD coming out; I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. I also want to hear the new Fiona Apple CD. I loved Tidal, back whenever that was first released, so I want to see what she's done with all her time between CDs. I wasn't as thrilled with When the Pawn, but hey, maybe the new one will top it and be a keeper.
Other than Takk, other CDs I've recently purchased have been The French Kicks first full-length CD One Time Bells, which is terrific. I like it better than their more recent release (2004 I think), Trial of the Century. I also bought Twin Cinema from The New Pornographers. It's good listening and catchy, but I don't find myself wanting to listen to it often. Oh, like a month or so ago, I bought Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (self-titled release), and it is one of my favorite CDs of 2005. It's just great indie rock, makes you want to move and bop your head while tapping your foot. Oh, Grandaddy has a new EP out, which I must buy. I am an insane Grandaddy fan so I'm sure I'll like it. I recommend listening to them if you haven't before.
robert
Posted by: Robert at October 3, 2005 01:12 PM
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