Dundee Media Corner

The 2012 Dundees: Our Alternative Oscars

2012-01-26T22:45:00.005-06:00

Minus the divisive Tree of Life and the critically panned Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, this year's Oscar's Best Picture nominations seem even more safe and boring than last year's, when we at least had The Social Network to root for. Worst of all, they totally snubbed my beloved Michael Fassbender. And what's up with not nominating Drive for anything besides sound editing? Does the Academy want to deny us Ryan Gosling dressed up in suit? Albert Brooks and Cliff Martinez deserved nominations at least. Oh well, at least Michelle Williams got a nomination for My Week with Marilyn (though it would have been cooler if it was for Meek's Cutoff).

Anyway, below are my highlights of the year in Film and TV. Think of it like the Oscars with 100 % more dreaminess (and 600% more Gosling)!

Best Funny Movie of the Year: The Trip. Bridesmaids is probably the most laugh-out loud funny movie, but The Trip is more profound. The movie follows British comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon on a culinary tour of England, while both men deal with disappointments in their lives and career. It's an interesting exploration of male friendship, but lest you think it's too serious it features some pretty funny sequences like Coogan and Brydon's dueling Michael Caine impressions.

Best Romantic Comedy: Friends With Benefits. I really liked the first part of this movie, which seemed like romantic comedy satire. But it eventually turns into a regular rom-com at the end. Sort of like a friend who is all cynical about love until they get a girlfriend or boyfriend and then you have tolerate their lovey-doveyness with a straight face. However, I enjoyed the performances by Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson as Kunis's hippy mom, and Woody Harrelson as Justin Timberlake's coworker (who puts a whole new spin on the "gay best friend" role) enough to recommend it.

Runner-Up: Crazy Stupid Love. If this movie had just been about Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's character, it probably would have been my favorite. Their romance seemed sweet and naturally evolving and Emma Stone is super funny. However, the Steve Carrell and Julianne Moore storyline, which is the bulk of the movie, seemed a little bit too contrived and treacly.

Most Enviable Wardrobe, Male Performance: Ryan Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love. Speaking of Crazy Stupid Love, Gosling's Lothario character Jacob Palmer has a pretty sweet wardrobe. Not quite as sweet as his abs though!

Most Enviable Wardrobe, Female Performance: Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) from Parks and Recreation. This was a close call category. I was tempted to go with Zooey Deschanel's Jess from New Girl, because I love Zooey's quirky vintage style. But let's face it, she's dressed that way forever. On the more-realistic end, I pretty much wished I owned everything Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper) wears on The Office. She has a cute and modest business wardrobe that doesn't looked picked out by a stylist. However, I had to give it to Leslie, who went from a boxy, Hilary Clinton-esque wardrobe to more a more structured and feminine look. Several times this season, I have thought to myself "I want that shirt," so well played Leslie!

Best Supporting Canine: Cosmo as Arthur in Beginners. Sorry Uggie, but I haven't seen The Artist yet. It's hard not to fall for shaggy Arthur, especially when he's proposing marriage to Ewan MacGregor in subtitles.

Most Daring Hair: Graham T. Purvis's (Paddy Considine) new age mullet in Richard Ayoade's darkly funny Submarine.

Hardest working woman in show business: Jessica Chastain, who appeared in six movies this year; almost as many as Gosling and Fassbender combined!

Hunkiest period performance: Michael Fassbender as Rochester in Jane Eyre. It's hard not to have a thing for Rochester. He's dark, brooding and rebellious. But not in a shiny vampire way, more in a smart and anachronistically enlightened about class and gender equality.

Dreamiest Performance as a Historical Figure: Corey Stroll as Ernest Hemingway in Midnight in Paris. He is almost cute enough to convince me to read The Sun Also Rises.

Don't Try This At Home Fashion: Ryan Gosling as Driver in Drive. Think you can pull off a silk Scorpion jacket? Look in the mirror, do you see Ryan Gosling's face and body staring back at you? No? You look like a dork. But maybe you can still get your money back?

Most Uncomfortable Date Movie: Shame.

Most Improved Performance: Brad Pitt. I don't think Brad Pitt was a bad actor before. In fact, he has given really good comedic performances in movies like Inglorious Basterds and Burn After Reading. But I'm usually less impressed with his dramatic work like the Curious Case of Benjamin Button or Meet Joe Black. Maybe I just don't like those movies. However, this year he gave impressive performances in both the Tree of Life and Moneyball.

Best Soundtrack: Drive. There is really only one right answer here. Awesome score. Cool new wave-y synth pop songs. I'm obsessed with "Under Your Spell" by Desire.

Most Famous People in One Movie: Ides of March. In order of their dramatic gravitas: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Jeffrey Wright, George Clooney, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood, and Max Minghella.

Cutest Movie: Our Idiot Brother. A family comedy about a down-on-luck former organic farmer (Paul Rudd) and his three sisters (Emily Mortimer, Zooey Deschanel, and Elizabeth Banks). Best of all, Adam Scott is in it!

Movie I Enjoyed Most: Drive. What can I say about this movie other than it's just cool? Director Nicholas Winding Refn does a great job of creating atmosphere. The soundtrack is awesome (as noted above). There are lots of really good performances and memorable scenes in it. If you haven't seen Drive yet, I should also point out it's pretty violent.

Beginners

2012-01-26T20:05:00.000-06:00

Based on director Mike Mills' real life relationship with his father, Beginners begins with a grown son, Oliver (Ewan McGregor), learning that his 75-year-old father, Hal (Christopher Plummer, just nominated for an Oscar), is gay. The storyline fluctuates between Oliver's present with his new French girlfriend Anna (Melanie Laurent) and the commitment issues they both face; his childhood with a playful, but dramatic mother Georgia (Mary Page Keller); and his recent past with his dying father. Soon after Hal comes out he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Hal lives it up, probably for the first time in his life, while Oliver is more practical-- a side effect of Hal's admission, and the normal role flip that occurs later in life when the child becomes the parent. Oliver is not disapproving, but cautious. He then brings this caution to his relationship with Anna, which complicates things. Oliver and Anna's courtship is quirky and sweet, but inevitably encounters some uncertainty.

As the title suggests, one can always start over. The key is to recognize the chance before it's too late. Both protagonists accomplish this, which could inspire anyone watching to do the same.

Two side notes:
1. Dogs in movies aren't my thing-- I can't think of one good movie that features a dog, but I can think of many bad ones: Beethoven 1-3, Marley & Me, Marmaduke, Beverly Hills Chihuahua 1 and 2. Rest my case. BUT, Hal's dog Arthur is alright in this bunch, keeping everybody honest. He's cute, but not intrusive.

2. Goran Visnjic, best known for his role as Dr. Luca Kovak on ER, is unlike I've ever seen him (I wasn't sure it was him at first). He plays Hal's much younger boyfriend, Andy, who is childlike and very defensive. I was glad to see Visnjic doing something a bit different and completely pulling it off.

A great movie, with great performances all around-- even the dog.
Beginners
Find it in the catalog!

Best of 2011: Hollywood Hunks

2012-01-02T13:18:00.003-06:00

Of course, we love these actors for their souls and/ or talent, but they aren't that difficult to look at either. Below we highlight our achievements in handsomeness (or more accurately, affable nerdy charm) in TV and film.

Hunk Criteria:

Made a movie or appeared in a currently running TV show (sorry, Jon Hamm!) in 2011.
Has a decent filmography (competence is sexy!)
Makes interesting role choice.
Handsomeness.
Sense of humor.

To even the playing field a bit, I'm excluding several actors that I've talked about at length before (some might say excessively). Sadly, Paul Schneider, Andrew Garfield, Sam Rockwell, Adam Scott, and Jesse Eisenberg are excluded from the list. They are all, however, totally dreamy (seriously, call me any time guys!).

Achievements in Handsomeness Television:

5). Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen from Friday Night Lights.
I pretty much have a crush on every single guy on Friday Night Lights, it's hard to just pick one (Okay, Tim Riggins, if you twist my arm). That being said, Matt got cuter in the last season. Maybe it's the whole artist thing or perhaps just Zach Gilford's increasingly floppy hair.

Check out Friday Night Lights or one of Zach's films.

4). Jake M. Johnson as Nick from New Girl.

With his relaxed hipster look (Nick loves flannel shirts and hoodies), he is adorable in a guy-next-door sort of way. Nick manages to be both a straight man to Jess (Zooey Deschanel) and Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and a jaded, neurotic mess.

Check out New Girl, Tuesday nights at 8PM on Fox.

2). Josh Charles as Will Gardner from the Good Wife.

Matt Czuchry as Cary Agos from the Good Wife (tie).
It's hard to choose between these two Good Wife guys. Will Gardner was definitely my favorite in Season 1. Partly because he's played by Josh Charles, who I've had a crush on since Sports Night, and partly because he was so sweet and lovelorn about Alicia (Julianna Margulies)- even though she was still married and he's her boss. However, his character seems to be getting increasingly shady. Still, he looks sharp in a suit.

Meanwhile, Cary seemed immature and conceited in season one. But in the following two seasons, his character has gained considerable depth. I really enjoy his relationship with Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) on the show.

Check out the Good Wife or one of Josh Charles's films.

1). Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens from Justified.
Never have cowboy hats looked so good!

Check out Justified or one of Timothy Olyphant's other work on film and TV.

Achievements in Handsomeness Film:

5). Paul Rudd:
Modern day hippie Ned in Our Idiot Brother wasn't Paul Rudd's studliest roll (too much facial hair, not enough sleeves), though the movie was really cute (and had Adam Scott in it!). But Paul Rudd is one of the few childhood crushes that I'll still admit to; only he and Joshua Jackson have that honor. So he gets the five spot.
Check out one of his films!

4). Chris O'Dowd from Bridesmaids.
I enjoyed Chris O'Dowd's performance as hapless tech geek Roy on the IT Crowd. However, he was super cute as a scruffy, Irish police officer in Bridesmaids.
Check out one of his films!

3). Jason Segel:
It's easy to overlook Jason Segel's attractiveness. First, he's cute more in a real life than a Hollywood way. You'd probably have a crush on him if he was a bartender or a friend's brother, but he's not exactly Ryan Gosling. Also, he tends to play characters who are somewhat unappealing man-boys, though they are usually really funny. However, Segel's sense-of-humor, talent, and fearlessness make up for this (and his room full of puppets). Also, he's really tall.
Check out one of his films!

2). Ryan Gosling:
Yeah, I know...duh. Gosling is pretty much universally lusted after by women everywhere. Some women (most women) love him for the Notebook. However, not being down with Nicholas Sparks, I like him for his consistently good and edgy choices in his post-Notebook career. Gosling is a daring actor and not afraid to comprise his attractiveness. I don't always love his choices, but it's hard not to respect his boldness. Also, he can play classical jazz guitar and a baglamas, pull off a short-sleeved dress shirt, and he's not afraid to break up a street fight in NYC. He's one dreamy dude.
Check out one of his films!

1). Michael Fassbender:
It was a tough choice between Gosling and Fassbender: both are handsome, well-dressed, collectively starred in all the movies released in 2011, and were shockingly robbed of People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive by Bradley Cooper. However, there can only be one winner of the coveted Media Corner Hunk-of-the-Year and I had to go with Fassy. He's got slightly better acting chops, if you ignore Centurion and Jonah Hex (shudder). He's also smart, surprisingly funny, devastatingly handsome and has an Irish accent.
Check out one of his films!

Music Roundup: My Top 10 Albums of 2011

2011-12-17T17:01:00.001-06:00

My (Always Subjective) Top 10 List:

Apocalypse - Bill Callahan
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If Bill Callahan puts out a new record, it will be my favorite record of the year. That's not mere dedication to a songwriter I've favored for two decades, but rather an acknowledgment that he gets better with each passing year. I would argue that Apocalypse, the latest from Callahan, is as evocative and frankly spellbinding as any work in the artist's catalog.
Standout tracks: "Baby's Breath" and "Riding for the Feeling"

Undun - The Roots
A percussive, soulful concept album that somehow, impossibly, improves upon the band's prior successes. By my count, this is the tenth Roots record that is an unequivocal classic. Tenth. Can you name another contemporary group with those credentials? I can't.
Standout tracks: This is such a cohesive work, there's little point in highlighting specific tracks.

Bad as Me - Tom Waits
Arguably less ambitious than your average Tom Waits album (there's no song-cycle or high-concept narrative on this one), Bad as Me still offers just about everything you could possibly want from the artist at this stage of his career: guttural crooning, dusty blues, early R&B, rockabilly, and, yes, Keith Richards and Marc Ribot on guitar.
Standout tracks: "Raised Right Men", "Get Lost", and "Hell Broke Luce"

House of Balloons/Thursday - The Weeknd
House of Balloons is The Weeknd's proper full-length debut, and it justifiably received most of the accolades. But the mix-tape that followed it, Thursday, was a compelling listen in its own right. I'm including both in my top ten list, because I can. The lyrics on these recordings range from amusing to clumsy, but the sound is guaranteed to make you woozy. In a good way. (These two albums are only available as digital downloads from artist's Tumblr page.)
Standout tracks: "What You Need", "The Party and the After Party" and "Lonely Star"

Bon Iver - Bon Iver
This self-titled album is the proper follow-up to Justin Vernon's critically acclaimed debut, For Emma, Forever Ago. Vernon's gentle voice and impressionistic lyrics are still the focal point, but this record features a much fuller sound. I think I favor the intimacy of the earlier album, but Bon Iver has some excellent songs that benefit from the enhanced instrumentation.
Standout tracks: "Calgary" and "Minnesota, WI"

Black Up - Shabazz Palaces
Remember the '90s rap group Digable Planets? Doesn't matter. Even if you were familiar with that group, you'd probably never have guessed that Shabazz Palaces is the current project for former Digable Planets rapper Ishmael Butler. This is an astoundingly relevant and forward-looking album, particularly as it comes from an artist who has been in the business since the Clinton Administration.
Standout tracks: "A Treatease Dedicated to the Avian Airless from North East Nubis"

Demolished Thoughts - Thurston Moore
A solo outing from Sonic Youth singer/guitarist Thurston Moore, Demolished Thoughts is essentially a singer-songwriter album that sounds a lot like Sonic Youth. I find that to be a pretty irresistible combination. The songs are uniformly strong on this record, but they reach greatness thanks to the gorgeous production, courtesy of Beck.
Standout tracks: "Circulation" and "Orchard Street"

W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) - Pharoahe Monch
This may be the most focused, concise Monch album yet. His lyrical delivery is always a thing to behold, and his work on W.A.R. just might be up there with his revered solo debut.
Standout tracks: "W.A.R." and "Black Hand Side"

Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2 - Beastie Boys
I never thought I'd be including a Beastie Boys album in my top ten, but here we are. I've enjoyed Hot Sauce Committee more than any Beasties record since...the '90s? This is a record by a group of guys who know their strengths and actually sound like they're having a good time. Bonus points for collaborating with Nas on "Too Many Rappers". I would endorse an entire of album of Nas rhyming over Beastie Boys beats.
Standout tracks: "Make Some Noise" and "Too Many Rappers"

Father, Son, Holy Ghost - Girls
I'll be honest, the big over-the-top climaxes on Father, Son, Holy Ghost don't always pay off. But when they do... If you can appreciate the idea of a decidedly idiosyncratic songwriter going all out, you owe it to yourself to give this a listen.
Standout tracks: "Honey Bunny" and "Love Like a River"

Runners Up/Honorable Mentions:

The Family Sign - Atmosphere

El Camino - Black Keys

Deerhoof vs. Evil - Deerhoof

The Book of David - DJ Quik

No Kings - Doomtree

I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive - Steve Earle

Ceremonials - Florence + the Machine

Tell Me - Jessica Lea Mayfield

The Only She Chapters - Prefuse 73

Fear of God II: Let Us Pray - Pusha T

Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang - Raekwon

The Whole Love - Wilco

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Concert Review: The National, Wye Oak and Local Natives at the Aragon Ballroom, 12/6/2011

2011-12-08T10:31:00.001-06:00

Last Tuesday night, Brooklyn based indie rockers, the National, played a sold out show at Uptown's Aragon Ballroom.

Even though the National has been one of my favorite bands for about six year now, I never quite got around to seeing them live. At first, it was just pure laziness on my part, but for the last couple of years there have been some serious obstacles in my way: like only playing Chicago for Lollapalooza (port-a-potties and poor sound quality, I think not) or playing the exact same night AND time as my other favorite Ohio rock band- the Black Keys. Excuses excuses, I know, but I was getting seriously worried I'd never see them live. So when the Aragon gig was announced, I was super excited that not only were the National playing Chicago again (and indoors!), but they had two bands I liked a lot opening for them!

Baltimore duo Wye Oak started off the evening a little bit before seven. Their album, Civilian, was one of my favorite albums of this year, but I was even more impressed with their live show. Jenn Wasner's vocals really popped in a live setting and her guitar playing was phenomenal. The band had incredible sound for a two person outfit, especially considering the Aragon's barn like acoustics and that poor Wasner spent most of the set being half- electrocuted by her mike.

Next up were L.A. based indie poppers Local Natives. Out of the bands, they were probably the one I was least excited to see. I enjoyed their album, Gorilla Manor. But they are a little too upbeat and accessible for me to listen to on a regular basis. But in concert, they were adorable and the audience really enjoyed their set. Local Natives singer Taylor Rice had an easy going and affable stage presence (and looked vaguely like James Franco with a mustache). It was probably smart to have them sandwiched in between two more lugubrious acts. They were the only band that you could dance to and not look weird (though many tried and failed to prove otherwise).

Before the National set, they had a live video of the band hanging out backstage. It had a strange effect on the audience. At first we calmly watched the video, then slowly started cheering louder and louder to cajole the band out of their dressing room- like a pre-concert encore. The band took the stage around nine and played for a solid hour and a half. Singer Matt Berninger looked sharp in a suit coat, vest, tie, jeans and oxfords. Casually holding a wine glass in his hand through the evening, he looked like the dapperest man in indie rock (Hamilton Leithauser better up his game). The band opened with "Runaway" from their most recent album, High Violet. But their set drew from throughout their career, including tracks from their more obscure early records like "Murder Me Rachael" from Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers and "Son" from their self-titled debut.

Though Matt Berninger's baritone was instantly familiar, the band sounded a lot bigger in concert. They were accompanied by two horn players, who gave the National's sound an occasional gypsy flair. Thanks perhaps to all the wine, Berninger had an unrestrained stage presence, which came in handy during some of the bands early screamer songs like "Abel" and "Mr. November." The band's bigger anthems like "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and "Fake Empire" really filled the entire room with sound. However, even intimate tracks like "Green Gloves" and "About Today" sounded amazing. While I've always been impressed with the musicians in the band, Aaron and Bryce Dessner's guitar work was truly remarkable live (at one point one of the brothers broke out what looked to be a violin bow), as were Bryan Devendorf's pounding drums. Scott Devendorf's bass work gave the band's sound a real fullness.

The vibe for the National's set was pretty casual. The band seemed to have several family members in the audience and the onstage banter was pretty light and off-the-cuff. The stage set up included a large screen showing close ups of the band on stage, which gave the show a pretty intimate feel for such a large venue.

The evening was more or less made for me when the National played my favorite song, "Geese of Beverly Road." However, the true highlight of the evening was when Berninger staged dived during the performance of "Terrible Love" (fan girl alert: I totally touched his leg!). Somehow he didn't seem to miss a beat while being passed along in the hands of strangers. They ended the night with an unplugged version of "Vanderlyle Cry Baby Geeks", joined on stage by members of both Wye Oak and Local Natives.

It was an awesome night, I'd definitely recommend checking out the band when they return to Chicago. In the meantime, if you haven't heard one of their albums, I give my highest praises to Alligator, Boxer, and High Violet.

Wives and Daughters

2011-12-02T10:00:00.000-06:00

Wives and Daughters (based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell) brings us another ensemble cast that weaves through the mores, class distinction, gossip, and romance that defines British costume drama.

Justine Waddell portrays the central character, Molly Gibson, a sweet and innocent young woman. Her doctor father (Bill Paterson) is loving, but protective as Molly has grown up without a mother since childhood. However, as the main story begins Molly finds herself surrounded by maternal influences. In an effort to supply her with some female guidance her father proposes to Hyacinth (Francesca Annis), a local woman with ties to the Lord and Lady of the county. Molly is naturally upset at the prospect of someone new interrupting their peaceful existence, but Molly does her best to accept her new mother. Molly herself seeks out the companionship of Mrs. Hamley (Penelope Wilton), a more amiable female influence than her new step-mother (It becomes clear that Hyacinth is, to use a twentieth century term, high maintenance). In the process, Molly also becomes close to Mr. Hamley (Michael Gambon) and their sons Osbourne and Roger. Eventually, Hyacinth's daughter Cynthia (Keeley Hawes) enters the picture and adds to the list of influential women in Molly's life. Although Cynthia has a more negative impact, the two are genuinely attached to each other (not fake-friendly as many young women in that position could/would be).

This mini-series stands out for it's performances. Waddell plays Molly as pure, but not naive. Cynthia can be quite annoying at times and Hawes' performance is accurate in this regard. She is the crazy to the calm and sensible Molly. Annis captures the haughtiness of Hyacinth trying to create a household to her standards (which is really over-compensation for lack of self-confidence). And, Gambon delivers some of the best lines in the series as the crusty, but lovable Mr. Hamley.

Wives and Daughters
Find it in the catalog!

Movies showing at the library in December

2011-12-01T10:14:00.000-06:00

Come to the Dundee Public Library and watch a movie on the big screen. Movies are shown in the downstairs Meeting Room. Plus, enjoy free popcorn and beverages.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (G)
Saturday, December 3 @ 3 PM
Part of Dickens in Dundee

Crazy, Stupid, Love (PG-13)
Wednesday, December 14 @ 6 PM

Cars 2 (G)
Saturday, December 17 @ 2 PM
** We will also hold a drawing at the end of the movie for some Cars 2 movie posters. Each audience member has a chance to win! **

Elf (PG)
Wednesday, December 21 @ 6 PM

Happy birthday, Ryan Gosling!

2011-11-12T12:30:00.004-06:00

Actor Ryan Gosling turns 31 today. He stars in two films now in theaters; he plays a Hollywood stunt driver who also drives getaway cars for robberies in Drive and a political staffer to George Clooney's presidential candidate in The Ides of March.

Born November 12, 1980 in London, Ontario, Gosling first started acting on television, including The All New Mickey Mouse Club (1993-95), Breaker High (1997-98), and Young Hercules (1998-99). He broke out in film with his performance as a Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer (2001), for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. He continued to take dark roles in indies The Slaughter Rule (2002) and The United States of Leland (2003). In Murder by Numbers (2002), Gosling played a high school student who conspires with Michael Pitt to commit the perfect murder.

In 2007 he attended the Academy Awards as a Best Actor nominee for his performance as a high school teacher addicted to crack in Half Nelson (2006) and then was seen in the thriller Fracture, co-starring Anthony Hopkins. Later that year Gosling starred in Lars and the Real Girl (2007), playing a character who falls for a life-size doll. After being absent from the big screen for several years, he appeared in two movies in late 2010: All Good Things and Blue Valentine. All Good Things (2010), co-starring Kirsten Dunst, is based on the true story of the 1982 disappearance of Katie Marks (Dunst), the wife of David Marks (Gosling), who was suspected but never convicted in her assumed death. Blue Valentine (2011) is about the relationship between Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams). The movie contrasts their moments as a couple falling in love with difficult-to-watch scenes of their marriage falling apart. To call the movie depressing is an understatement; even though I’m a huge Ryan Gosling fan I put off seeing the film for months because I didn't think I could handle the emotional turmoil. But I am glad I finally watched it. One of my favorite moments is when Dean urges Cindy to tap dance in front of a store window with a heart on it. Meanwhile, he serenades her with "You Always Hurt The Ones You Love" on his ukelele. You can check out the song on the Blue Valentine Soundtrack.

I love the way Gosling completely disappears into his characters, and while he has demonstrated his talent in dark roles, I have been hoping for him to take on a comedy for years. One of my favorite movies from 2011 is the comedy-drama Crazy, Stupid, Love, about a man (Steve Carell) dealing with being single after his wife (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce. Gosling becomes his wingman, advising Carell's character on clothes, women, and how to be a man.

I look forward to more Ryan Gosling films in 2012: Gangster Squad (also starring Sean Penn) and Only God Forgives, in which he reteams with Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn.

Current Album Obsessions

2011-11-11T11:29:00.000-06:00

Five albums that have spent an unhealthy amount of time in my car stereo of late:

Have One on Me- Joanna Newsom
Call No.: CD ROCK RAP NEWSOM HAVE
Find it in the catalog!

I avoided listening to this album for almost a year after it was released. While I like Ys. initially, it wasn't a record that I wanted to listen to over and over again. And this album is three discs and over two hours long. It seemed exhausting. However, I find Have One on Me a lot more enjoyable that Ys. The songs are still super long and complicated, but they have an easygoing, seventies Joanie Mitchell vibe to them. Also, while the album works together well as a whole, it's not necessary to listen to all three discs in a row.

Track Obsessions: "In California", "Have One on Me", "Good Intentions Paving Company", "Does Not Suffice"

The Rip Tide- Beirut
Find it in the catalog!

It's been four long years since Zach Condon's last album, 2007's Flying Club Cup. Being a fan of both previous Beirut albums, this was one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Upon first listen, The Riptide seemed a little bit underwhelming. It lacks the big, orchestral punch of the previous two albums and is, instead, more an understated synth pop album (but not of the Cut Copy variety). However, after repeated listens, my appreciation for the album has grown considerably. Though Beirut's sound has evolved, The Rip Tide still has the moodiness and old-timey quality that I enjoyed on his previous albums.

Track Obsessions: I almost always hit repeat (at least once) on "East Harlem" and "the Peacock." "Payne's Bay" (especially the first two minutes) and "Santa Fe" are favorites as well.

Meadowlands- The Wrens
Call No.: CD ROCK RAP WRENS MEADOWLANDS
Find it in the catalog!

I had never really listened to the Wrens before, having had them mildly confused with late 90s Canadian folk punk (that's a real thing, apparently) outfit the Weakerthans. I listened to the Weakerthans during my short-lived emo period, which is not a musical phase I like to revisit often. Anyway, I'm glad I finally checked out the Wrens. Meadowlands is a breakup album, which always wins bonus points from me, but it also rocks pretty hard on occasion.

Track Obsessions: "Hopeless" has become a recent favorite of mine, but "Everyone Chooses Side" is still my absolute obsession here. It gets repeated at least twice per album listen.

Apocalypse- Bill Callahan
Call No: CD ROCK RAP CALLAHAN APOCALYPSE
Find it in the catalog!

I hadn't heard of Bill Callahan or Smog until his record, Sometimes I Wish I Was an Eagle, was listed on fellow blogger Jason's best of 2009 list. Because I refuse admit that there are musicians that I haven't heard of, I immediately checked him out and I have been a fan ever since. Callahan has a lo-fi sound, mixed with witty lyrics and a gloomy baritone. Apocalypse is his latest seven song EP and it ranks among his finest work.

Track Obsessions: "Drover," "Baby's Breath," and "Riding for the Feeling."

Yuck- Yuck
Call No.: CD ROCK RAP YUCK YUCK
Find it in the catalog!

The cover of this album (Google it, if you must) is one my least favorites of the year. In general, this would cause me to avoid listening to all together like Cocorosie's Grey Oceans (click on link at your own risk- you cannot un-see it!). However, I was desperate for something new to listen to and had heard good things. Yuck's sound reminded me a lot of the 90's guitar driven alternative rock like the Smashing Pumpkins that I listened to early in my high school career. In fact, with hints of the Cure and guy/ girl vocals, Yuck would have totally been my favorite band ever, if I discovered them in high school. I'm glad I checked out the album in spite of the aesthetic unpleasantness of the cover, though Grey Oceans is still gonna be a no-go.

Track Obsessions: "Get Away," "Suck," "Sunday," and closer "Rubber."

What we're listening to: Born This Way

2011-11-07T18:47:00.001-06:00

Born This Way by Lady Gaga
CD Pop/New Age Lady Born
Find it in the catalog!

Lady Gaga's album Born This Way does not disappoint. Since its release in May this CD has been on repeat in my stereo (and in my head). My favorite songs change from week to week, because there are that many good ones. Lately my favorite is the slinky electronica-esque "Heavy Metal Lover." Just as on previous albums Fame and The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga continues to make fun dance songs filled with energy, including "Marry the Night," "Scheiße," "Judas" and "Born This Way."

Born This Way also includes several songs heavily influenced by the '80s. "Hair" and "Edge of Glory" both feature the late Clarence Clemons of The E Street Band on saxaphone, and "Bad Kids" and "Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)" sound like they could have been released 30 years ago. I think this album shows the chameleon-like abilities of Lady Gaga as a singer and songwriter. She sounds different on each song, even singing in Spanish on the mariachi-tinged "Americano" and speaking in German over the addictive track "Scheiße." And by addictive I mean, just try to play that song only once.

While Gaga can always be counted on for catchy dance songs, she also writes emotional ballads like "You and I." This song, about a lost love, is one of my favorite Gaga songs ever. I first heard this song at Gaga's February 28 concert at the United Center. Hunched over the piano attacking the keys, she was on fire singing: "It's been a long time since I came around / Been a long time, but I'm back in town / This time I'm not leaving without you." Her February concert was one of my favorite memories of the year, and this album ranks as one of the best of 2011.

Warner Bros. delaying DVD releases to libraries

2011-10-22T16:22:00.001-05:00

Warner Bros. announced last week that they will not distribute their theatrical DVD titles to libraries until 28 days after their release dates. Additionally, the copies sent to libraries will not have any extras or bonus features. Read more about these changes at Library Journal.

Here are upcoming DVDs that will be affected by this policy:

Crazy, Stupid, Love: November 1 DVD release date; available to libraries November 28.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: November 11 DVD release date; available to libraries December 9.

The Hangover Part II: December 6 DVD release date; available to libraries January 3.

Angry? Upset? Confused? Contact Warner Home Video:
Phone: 888-383-9483
Online: Warner Customer Service

Voice-over Theory

2011-10-19T18:58:00.002-05:00

I have a running discussion with a friend that many television shows we like are voiced-over. So, we've developed this completely unscientific theory that television shows with voice-overs are usually good (note that I said "usually"). I find that they add something useful to the show and they can be integral to the story. For example, Arrested Development relies heavily on Ron Howard's voice-over because quite a bit of the story is told through it and it's funny. Other times the voice-over adds to the viewers understanding of the character's psychology such as Dead Like Me, Dexter and Veronica Mars. Burn Notice does a bit of psychology mixed in with how-tos: Michael details how to make a bomb MacGuyver-style or how he will coax a villain out of hiding (you never know when this stuff might come in handy...).

This list isn't exhaustive, but what I could remember having memorable voice-overs. Please let me know in the comments of other shows that you'd put in this category.
Arrested Development Find it in the catalog!
Burn Notice Find it in the catalog!
Dead Like Me Find it in the catalog!
Dexter Find it in the catalog!
Veronica Mars Find it in the catalog!
Wonderfalls Find it in the catalog!

Dress up as your favorite pop culture character this Halloween

2011-10-18T16:22:00.006-05:00

Glee
Puck, Sue Slyvester or a Cherrio from Walmart

True Blood
Sookie Stackhouse: Merlotte's waitress uniform from hbo.com

Jason Stackhouse: Bon Temps football t-shirt from hbo.com

Eastbound & Down
Kenny Powers: mullet hat from hbo.com

The Hunger Games
bellasugar gives advice on creating your Katniss Everdeen costume. And Hunger Games fansite The Hob suggests possibilities for Katniss' "girl on fire" outfit. The Hob also includes posts on costumes for other characters, including the Tributes, Effie Trinket, and President Snow.

The Office
Dunder Mifflin warehouse employee costume and more at nbc.com.

Harry Potter
Find Harry Potter costumes for adults or Harry Potter costumes for kids at buyharrypottercostumes.com. Choose to be a character from the series, like Luna Lovegood (below), or be a Hogwarts student. You can check out Gryffindor/Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw/Slytherin house sweaters, ties, and accessories too.

The Simpsons
Homer, Marge, and Bart from Walmart

30 Rock
Liz Lemon: TGS hoodie from nbc.com.

Friday Night Lights
Panther Football or East Dillon Lions apparel from nbc.com.

Drive
Steady Clothing Inc. is producing replicas of the awesome scorpion jacket worn by Driver (Ryan Gosling) in the film, but they will not be available until November 11. You can always make your own... don't forget leather driving gloves and a toothpick for the corner of your mouth to complete your costume!

These are just a few fun costume ideas I found on the web. What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

Catch a movie at the library this week

2011-10-17T18:35:00.001-05:00

This week we are showing two movies at the Dundee Public Library. Watch the hilarious comedy Bridesmaids (R) this Wednesday, October 19 at 6 PM. Co-written by and starring Kristen Wiig of Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids also stars Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Chris O'Dowd, and scene stealer Melissa McCarthy.

And on Saturday, October 22 at 2 PM you can see the 1944 film National Velvet (G). National Velvet stars Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, and is part of our series Film Classics: Starring Elizabeth Taylor.

Both films are shown in the downstairs Meeting Room, which opens 30 minutes prior to showtime. Free popcorn and refreshments are also available at all movies.

Guilty pleasure pick: She's the Man

2011-08-25T19:43:00.000-05:00

Anytime She's the Man is on television (it was just on last weekend), I get sucked in. The modern take on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Or What You Will stars Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. When I stop and think about the how ridiculous the movie is, I somehow manage to overlook this and only see it's virtues.

If you're not familiar with the plot of Twelfth Night it is quite farcical: a woman, Viola, pretends to be a man and befriends a man, Orsino, whom she ends up falling in love with, but he likes another woman, Olivia, who in turn likes Viola (thinking she's a man). Get that? Anyway, She's the Man follows along these lines, but it is centered around teens in high school who play soccer. Bynes' character, Viola, finds that her school's girl's soccer team is cut and after trying unsuccessfully to tryout for the boy's team, she ends up transferring to a rival school and posing as her twin brother Sebastian to be on their boys team. (Why she doesn't transfer and tryout for their girl's team is never addressed, although, neither is whether a girl's team exists at this new school either...) She rooms with Duke (Tatum) and he subsequently helps her win a starting spot on the soccer team, all the while believing her to be Sebastian. Shenanigans and romance ensue.

The supporting characters and actors are appealing, most notably David Cross as the principal of the school (why he did this film I don't know, but I don't care because he's awesome). Viola's friends from her original school are likable and Julie Hagerty and John Pyper-Ferguson play Viola and Sebastian's divorced parents with an air of perfect ignorance. They have an excellent scene in the last several minutes while - SPOILER ALERT - the truth comes out about the gender of Sebastian/Viola. Pyper-Ferguson remarks "this soccer game has more nudity than most." Bynes is funny driving the film's kookyness, and last but not least, Channing Tatum is easy on the eyes.

She's the Man
Find it in the catalog!

Happy 100th birthday, Lucille Ball!

2011-08-06T15:11:00.001-05:00

Comedienne Lucille Ball would have been 100 today. She was born on this day in 1911 in Jamestown, New York. After working as a showgirl and model in her twenties Lucy started to get small movie roles, beginning with Roman Scandals in 1931. In 1940 she met future husband Desi Arnaz on the set of Too Many Girls; they married in November that same year. After several years of dealing with schedules that kept them apart, Lucy and Desi worked together on the radio show My Favorite Husband, which debuted in 1948. With the growing popularity of television, CBS decided to adapt My Favorite Husband for TV, which became I Love Lucy. The first episode aired October 15, 1951. Lucy played Lucy Ricardo, a housewife who longed to break into show business. Desi played her husband, Ricky Ricardo, a bandleader. Their friends and landlords, Ethel and Fred Mertz, were played by Vivian Vance and William Frawley.

I Love Lucy episodes demonstrate how great Lucille Ball was at physical comedy.Whether it be stomping on grapes in an Italian vineyard or reacting with her unique facial expressions, you never want to take your eyes off her. I think my favorite Lucy facial expression is when she opens her mouth really wide without making a sound and raises her eyebrows as if to say, "WHAT?!" In honor of Lucille's Balls 100th birthday check out seasons 1-9 of I Love Lucy on DVD and re-watch some of the best moments in TV history.

The Complete First Season
Find it in the catalog!
This DVD set also includes the lost pilot. Highlights from this season include "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" for the product Vitameatavegamin, which contains vitamins, meat, vegetables, minerals... and is 23% alcohol. "Do you pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular?" In "The Diet" Lucy almost starves herself in order to fit into a size 12, the size of the dress of the girl appearing with Ricky in his show.

The Complete Second Season
Find it in the catalog!
In "Job Switching" Ricky and Fred stay home to cook and clean while Lucy and Ethel get jobs in a chocolate factory. Lucy isn't able to get Ricky alone to tell her the news she is pregnant in "Lucy is Enceinte." She comes to his show at the club and writes down a song request; when Ricky walks to each table asking if they are the happy couple, he is surprised to find it's Lucy.

The Complete Third Season
Find it in the catalog!
In "Equal Rights" Lucy and Ethel wind up washing dishes at the restaurant where they just ate dinner after Ricky and Fred split the bill into four checks.

The Complete Fourth Season
Find it in the catalog!
During this season Ricky, Lucy, Fred, and Ethel visit L.A. and meet such celebrities as William Holden and Eve Arden ("L.A., At Last"), Cornel Wilde ("The Star Upstairs"), and Harpo Marx ("Harpo Marx").

The Complete Fifth Season
Find it in the catalog!
At the start of this season the gang is still in L.A. I always liked the episode "Lucy Visits Grauman's" where Lucy and Ethel steal the slab of cement of John Wayne's footprints. Later in the season the group leaves for Europe, visiting London, Scotland, Paris, the Swiss Alps, and Italy, which features the classic episode "Lucy's Italian Movie."

The Complete Sixth Season
Find it in the catalog!
In "Lucy and Superman" Lucy asks Ricky to invite Superman (George Reeves), who is in town to sign autographs, to Little Ricky's birthday party. When Ricky tells Lucy that Superman cannot make it, Lucy dresses as Superman and goes out on the ledge outside their apartment in preparation to surprise Little Ricky and his guests. And when Superman changes his plans and does show up to the party, Lucy can't join in on the fun as she gets locked out on the ledge in the rain.

The Final Seasons 7, 8 & 9
Find it in the catalog!
These seasons were called The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, or The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.

Remembering Amy Winehouse

2011-08-01T19:52:00.113-05:00

We only said goodbyes with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to black.
- "Back to Black"

Grammy-winner singer Amy Winehouse died at the age of 27 on Saturday, July 23 in her London home. While she had struggled with drugs and alcohol these past few years, a cause of death has yet to be determined. Family and friends gathered for her funeral last Tuesday. During her career Winehouse released the albums Frank (2003) and Back to Black (2006). Many celebrities from around the world have used Twitter and other social media outlets to respond to Winehouse's death. I think the words shared by comedian Russell Brand and singer Adele are very touching. As a fan of her small but powerful collection of work, I was devastated to hear the news of her death, and in a way it is still hard for me to fathom she is no longer here.

I have been a fan of Amy's from the first note of "Rehab" I heard her sing on the radio in 2007. After buying my own copy of Back to Black the album followed me everywhere. Her lyrics reached straight for my heart and I played the songs over and over. I never get sick of her voice. Ever since those first listens of her songs I still feel Amy's longing and loneliness whenever I listen to her songs, especially "Love is Losing Game" and "Wake Up Alone," as if I were hearing them for the first time. When I feel down, I put on Back to Black because, and maybe it's weird to put it this way, Amy Winehouse knows those dark feelings, too. She dug so far inside herself on her songs, and in my opinion she was in a class of her own in the music world. No one can take her place. It's heartbreaking that someone so young, and so full of talent, can be gone at the age of 27. Amy Winehouse, you will be missed.

From EW.com:
Amy Winehouse on video: Five classic moments from her career
One of the moments featured is her 2007 set at Lollapolooza

Listen to music by Amy Winehouse:
Frank
Back to Black
"Valerie" on Version by Mark Ronson
"Cupid" on the Valentine's Day soundtrack
"It's My Party" on Quincy Jones' Q: Soul Bossa Nostra
"Fool's Gold" on Sex and the City. Volume 2 soundtrack
"Monkey Man" on the Run, Fat Boy, Fun soundtrack

"Lightning has struck!": Midnight screening of final Harry Potter film

2011-07-21T17:30:00.007-05:00

The final installment in the Harry Potter film series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, opened at midnight last week on July 15. While I have attended other midnight screenings and have been a Harry Potter fan for years, this is the first time I bought a ticket for a midnight Harry screening. I am so glad I did because it was a wonderful experience.

A small group of friends and I were the first group in line for the midnight screening at the CineMark in Melrose Park just after 8 PM. Several of the ushers asked us if we knew what time it was, and you could tell they thought we were out of our minds, but we didn't care. We played Uno to pass the time and were also able to see some unique Harry Potter outfits, notably a guy dressed in a decorated t-shirt that read: "Real men don't sparkle. Team Wizard." We were allowed into the theater around 10 PM, which left us with more time to check out the costumes of the other Harry Potter fans. Some made their own shirts touting the end of the series with the symbol of the deathly hallows, and others wore the colors and uniforms of the Hogwarts Houses -- Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. I myself wore a Harry Potter quidditch shirt, and brought along my illuminating Hermione wand. I was most impressed by fans dressed as characters from the series -- I saw Harry, Hagrid, Dobby, Bellatrix, Narcisa, Professor Trelawney, and Luna.

As it came closer for the previews to start, the audience started to clap and chant and I could literally feel the excitement from everyone around me. They were vocal in response to the trailers (lots of excitement for Sherlock Holmes) but became silent once the movie started. Part 2 picks up right where Part 1 left off, with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) taking the Elder Wand from the hands of the dead Dumbledore. While Part 1 set the scene for Part 2, with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) searching for and destroying horacruxes (a horacrux is an item that Voldemort infused with part of his soul, and hid, in order to insure his immortality), the much more action-packed Part 2 focuses on their return to Hogwarts and the fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Some observations, without being too much of a spoiler:

I enjoyed the scene where Hermione poses as the mad Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) in Gringotts after taking Polyjuice Potion. Watching Bonham Carter play Hermione trying to be evil and horrible (and failing) was fun.
I loved seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts and re-join the other characters we've met throughout the series, like Neville (Matthew Lewis), and Luna (Evanna Lynch). While the characters have spent seven years at Hogwarts as students, the actors filming these eight movies have been together even longer. Seeing all the students and teachers back together again, ready to face Death Eaters, Voldemort, and risk their lives, was very powerful.
Ralph Fiennes is disturbing as ever as Voldemort, and I thought the army of Death Eaters waiting to begin their attack on Hogwarts was a very creepy sight.
The shot of Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) looking out a window at Hogwarts. It's early in the movie, and at first we only see him from behind, but I found it to be a moving visual, already knowing Snape's secrets from reading the book.
I knew the deaths of certain characters were coming, but it was still shocking to see in the movie.
The audience in my theater was awesome. They cheered and clapped at moments like Ron and Hermione's first kiss, Neville's taunts of the Death Eaters, and Molly Weasley's duel with Bellatrix, just to name a few moments. The audience went wild for Neville, especially.

I loved the movie and had a great time seeing it with a packed theater of devoted fans. Throughout the course of the movie I clapped, laughed, gasped, held my breath, and cried. I was filled with so much excitement that when I returned home at 3:30 AM I could not fall asleep. I look forward to watching Part 2 on the big screen again. I saw the 2D version and I would like to see if/how 3D changes the experience. All in all, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is a brilliant, epic conclusion to the film series that started in 2001, and not only does the film do the book justice, it reaffirms the quality and magic found in J.K. Rowling's books.

My summer road trip playlist

2011-07-07T18:50:00.000-05:00

My list is mostly about a good driving beat and is just a sampling, because frankly, this list would only last about an hour, and that would be one lame road trip!

"One Big Holiday" by My Morning Jacket. This track if off of their 2003 disc It Still Moves and is the perfect opener with it's pulsing guitar

"Bloodbuzz Ohio" by The National from their 2010 disc High Violet, a favorite of the Media Corner crew

"My Girls" from Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective

"Paper Planes" from M.I.A's second major release Kala

"Milk" by Kings of Leon, a more mellow, but beaticious track from their best album Aha Shake Heartbreak

"I Wanna Be Adored" by the Stone Roses, the late '80s band with merit, from their eponymous debut

"Around the World" by Daft Punk from their album Homework. If we're talking about beats, we gotta have a little electronica on the list

"There Goes the Fear" by one of my favorite British bands, The Doves. In fact, just check out the entire Best of Doves CD

"Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + the Machine from their debut disc Lungs. This has been overplayed a bit, but it's nonetheless a great one for driving

"Boy With a Coin" from The Shepherd's Dog by Iron and Wine

"The Influence" by Jurassic 5 from their 2000 disc Quality Control. I love this old-school sounding hip-hop track

"Someone Great" by LCD Soundsystem. There are several songs on Sound of Silver that I could pick, but this one won

"Second Chance" from Gimme Some by Peter Bjorn and John; it has a catchy hook and, be warned: it will get stuck in your head

"Higher Ground," a rocking cover of the Stevie Wonder song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Find it on What Hits!?

"1901" by Phoenix (Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix) was in a car commercial after all

"Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap from the 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack

"Kanske är jag kär i dig" found on Night Falls of Koretdala by Jens Lekman, which ends most excellently and is already a favorite of mine

Got any tracks that are essential to your road trip playlist? Let's hear 'em!

What we're listening to: Circuital by My Morning Jacket

2011-06-29T18:10:00.000-05:00

My Morning Jacket have recently released Circuital and it's a bit of a return to the sound that MMJ fans know and love (although, I will go on record as saying that I didn't have a problem with their last disc, Evil Urges). Upon first listen I was drawn to the title track Circuital. It has a good beat and builds slowly. Now, I'm in the midst of digging (and repeating) track four, Wonderful (The Way I Feel). The song features the MMJ tradition of infusing a bit of country sound into their rock and according to the A.V. Club the lyrics are "sweetly sappy," but I just plain like the sentiment:

I'm going where there ain't no fear
I'm going where the spirit is near
I'm going where the living is easy
And people are kind
A new state of mind

I'm going where there ain't no police
I'm going where there ain't no disease
I'm going where there ain't no need
To escape from what is
Only spirits at ease

Track five, Outta My System has a chorus that will get stuck in your head and Holdin' on to Black Metal (track six) has a rollicking feel, complete with a small backing chorus. Ultimately, I dig Jim James and his voice. His normal signing voice almost sounds lazy and a little disconnected, but his falsetto is just so careful and, well, soulful. I'm fascinated by the contrast and this disc showcases it once again.

Circuital by My Morning Jacket
Find it in the catalog!

Happy birthday, Natalie Portman!

2011-06-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

Oscar winning actress Natalie Portman celebrates her 30th birthday today. This past year has been a busy one in her career. Portman portrayed a ballet dancer consumed by the idea of perfection in Black Swan, for which she was nominated for and won countless awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress. Portman also starred as a medical resident looking for only a physical relationship with friend Ashton Kutcher in the comedy No Strings Attached. And don't forget her role as a warrior who joins princes James Franco and Danny McBride in the David Gordon Green-directed tale of chivalry Your Highness (out on DVD in August). Or maybe you've watched her as Jane Foster in the summer blockbuster Thor.

Drama, comedy, superhero-action flick, she can do it all. But what about writing and directing, you say? Well, Portman did both for a segment in 2009's New York, I Love You. Okay. She sings, writes, and directs. But she doesn't sing, right? I don't know about singing, but she does rap; check out the track "Natalie's Rap" from The Lonely Island's 2008 album Incredibad and hear a completely different side of the actress. Portman has accomplished quite a bit for someone who has only just turned 30. I'm sure her career will become even more eclectic in the years to come.

Fortress of Bookitude

2011-06-07T09:43:00.001-05:00

In accordance of this year's summer reading theme, A Midsummer Knight's Read, two of our library's gentry, Sir Readsalot and Lady Lorelai, assembled a castle tower made of library books. Be sure to check it out in person and enter our contest to guess the number of books it contains!

Second Annual Beardys: Hollywood edition

2011-06-06T12:16:00.006-05:00

Last year, we compiled a list of the best facial hair in music. While, the beard trend continues to grow, even invading the once clean cut J. Crew catalogs, the facial hair landscape in music hasn't really changed that much since last year (minus Dan Auerbach retiring the gingerbeard!). So, instead this year's beardys will focus more on the bewhiskered in film and television.

First, we do have three musical award updates first though:

Best Ginger Beard (Issued in memory of Dan Auerbach's Beard): Robin Pecknold from the Fleet Foxes.
On a non-facial hair related note, I'm totally digging the Fleet Foxes' new album, Helplessness Blues.

Best Creepy Uncle Mustache: George Lewis Jr., Twin Shadow. He also wins the Steven Patrick Morrissey Award for best pompadour in popular music.

Check out Twin Shadow's excellent debut album, Forget!

Best Beard in Rap: Rick Ross
Check out one of his albums!

Fret not, for more discussion of beards in music, check out New York Mag's excellent Beard Symposium.

Now, the Beardys go to Hollywood:

Most Swoon-worthy beard: Ryan Gosling.
I'm not saying that Ryan Gosling has a face that launched a million beards, but how many dudes under the age of forty had a beard before Half Nelson? And now every hipster in the city of Chicago is happily bewhiskered...hmmm... But Gosling does know how to wear a beard right. Without a beard, he looks too clean-cut and boyish, but with stubble, he's just the right amount of rugged.
Check out the dreaminess in one of his films!

Best Brooding Beard: Michael Fassbender, Jane Eyre.
Most of the time, Rochester just rocks the mutton chops, but when the going gets tough, he channels his inner mountain man. Sadly, I could not find a picture of Rochester with a beard, but below is my mock up. You'll have to see the movie to get the real deal:

Check out one of his films!

Best Mustache, Female Performance: Tina Fey in 30 Rock. Liz Lemon's "Tom Selleck."
Catch an episode of 30 Rock!

Worst Mustache Drift (Where the hair on your head drifts down to your mustache): Ryan Gosling as Old Dean in Blue Valentine.
Seriously how disappointing would it be to marry a dude who looks like Ryan Gosling, and then morph into this five years down the line? Are the glasses and eagle shirt even ironic anymore? What happened to my trophy hipster husband?!

Least Offensive Neck Beard: Matthew Goode, Leap Year. In general, I think a gentleman's beard should stop just below his chin. But it looks scruffily appealing on Matthew Goode. Don't try at home, dudes!
Check out one of his films!

Best Comedic Beard: Aziz Ansari.
Aziz's beard isn't inherently funny. It's pretty standard actually, but he's good at making it the punch line of jokes.
"Come on, man, I got a full beard!" From: Human Giant
"He left you alone with a grown man with a full beard at Walking with Dinosaurs." From: Intimate Moments from a Sensual Evening.

Best Comedic Mustache: Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation.
Yes, I'm clearly biased towards Parks and Rec, but no one makes the mustache look manlier than Ron Swanson. Also, that thing has been through quite the turmoil in the last season!
Find Parks and Recreation in the catalog!

Most Professorial Beard: Michael Sheen.
I feel smarter just looking at it! But seriously is that Wayne Coyne?
Check out one of his films!

Dreamiest Half Beard: Josh Holloway as Black Rider on Community.

His dreamy semi-beard can also be seen on Lost.

Best performance as Annie by a person with a full beard: Zach Galifianakis on SNL.
Underneath that burly beard is the soul of a curly red-haired little orphan girl!
Check out one of his films!

Better Without Beard: Andrew Garfield.
Look Andrew, just because it worked for Ryan Gosling, doesn't mean it will work for you. You're both still totally dreamy, but you are handsomer sans facial hair. First off, you've never really made any effort towards a full beard. Hair wisps just look sad. Secondly, you look a little bit like Justin Bateman (that's good). But any attempts at full beard might come off as a little Teen Wolf Too.
Check out one of his films!

Most Sculpted Facial Hair: Robert Downey Jr.
I love RDJ, but seriously, does he have a stencil he puts over his face every morning?
Check out RDJ's complex goatee in one of his films!

Best Side Burns: Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Concords.

Lifetime Achievement of Facial Hair: Sam Rockwell
This dude is not afraid to embrace dramatic facial hair stylings, on screen or off.
Check out his facial hair in one of his fine films!

Gil Scott-Heron: 1949-2011

2011-05-31T19:00:00.001-05:00

Gil Scott-Heron died Friday, May 27th, at the age of 62. He was a fiercely engaged vocalist and lyricist whose work incorporated blues, jazz, soul, and stream of consciousness poetry. Best known for his fiery spoken-word performances of the 1970s, Scott-Heron's lyrics consistently explored themes of social justice, poverty, urban violence, and race. He is frequently cited as a formative influence on the evolution of hip-hop, and his work has been sampled by such notable artists as Mos Def and De La Soul. Most recently, Kanye West built a track around Scott-Heron's voice on the chart-topping album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. He addressed his elder statesman status with both pride and chagrin on the 1994 album Spirits: "We got respect for you rappers and the way you be free-weighin', but if you're gon' be teachin' folks things, make sure you know what you're sayin' ." The compilation The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is an essential sampler of his work, but his is a legacy more varied and rewarding than a single disc can afford. (My personal favorite is the 1971 album Pieces of a Man.) Scott-Heron was experiencing something of a renaissance of late, with his 2010 album I'm New Here and its 2011 remix We're New Here garnering considerable critical acclaim. As engaging and insightful as both those records are, there isn't really a better introduction to this artist's work than the pointed media critique "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised":

Clockbusters: Name that movie

2011-05-27T17:01:00.002-05:00

Are you a big film buff? Try your hand at the game Clockbusters from Veer. Three photo clues appear on the screen and you have 60 seconds to type in the name of the correct film. You are able to skip a clue and go on to the next if you don't know the answer. I played the original game and scored 43 out of 50 for my first run. I then tried the clues I skipped and figured out five more.

I still have no idea which movie the following images represent: sword handle, headless doll, and lightning.

My Music Year: Trapped in 2007

2011-05-25T15:37:00.006-05:00

Following in the footsteps of fellow Media Corner Blogger Jason and the AV Club before him, I highlight one of my favorite years in music.

There is a certain type of people who seem trapped in a period of their life—for instance, people who relieve their high school glory days well into adulthood. Similarly, I think some people have a musical peak; they get fixated on a particular period in music and never quite move on. Their musical taste slowly atrophies into unhipness. I had a neighbor in college who seemingly only listened to music which was popular circa 1996. This would have been less annoying, if say he was really into Weezer’s Pinkerton or Belle and Sebastian’s If Your Feeling Sinister. Instead, I had to wake up every morning to sounds of the Cranberries’ “Salvation” and Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta” blaring from his dorm room. The kid must have musically peaked at the age of 12. How sad, I thought, be in your very early 20s and already nostalgic.

However, when I was attempting to compile my best of the 00's album list (a task I still haven't finished), I realized a disconcerting trend. Save for Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) and Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006), all of my favorite albums were from 2007. I wondered if this was my own musical heyday…soon I’d be the annoying neighbor blaring LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends” and saying stuff like, “2007, that was when music was music! Not like the rubbish kids listen to these days.”

Thankfully, my music geekery is insatiable, so it's hard for me to get stuck in one year for too long. Even if I’m still really obsessed with Person Pitch and Jens Lekman.

My Top Five of 2007:

5). Cryptograms- Deerhunter
Find it in the catalog!
It took me a while to discover this album. Deerhunter had kind of a notorious reputation at the time, thanks in part to front man Bradford Cox's sometimes erratic behavior and provocative blog posting. The first time I heard most of the songs off of Cryptograms was when I saw the band live in 2008. The eerie moodiness of the album, as well as the spare psychedelia make Cryptograms a classic.

Stand-Out Tracks: Spring Hall Convert, Strange Lights, Heatherwood

4). Night Falls Over Kortedala- Jens Lekman
Find it in the catalog!
Though he had garnered some fame for his singles "You are the Light" and "Maple Leaves," I somehow missed Lekman until 2007. I saw him described on a music blog as being a combination of Jonathan Richman and Frank Sinatra. As a big Jonathan Richman, I immediately checked out his single "Postcard to Nina" and I was hooked. Night Falls Over Kortedala is a funny, quirky, but sincere effort.

Stand-Out Tracks: Opposite of Hallelujah, A Postcard to Nina, Into Eternity, Kanske Ar Jag Kar i Dig

3). Sound of Silver- LCD Soundsystem
Find it in the catalog!
Having spent much of 2006 listening to the Talking Heads, New Order, and Gang of Four (thanks Marie Antoinette), meaning I was in the perfect frame of mind to love this album. While all of James Murphy and Co.'s albums are great, Sound of Silver is probably the most consistently awesome. Best three song stretch of the Aughts?: "North American Scum," "Someone Great" and "All My Friends."

Stand-Out Tracks: The aforementioned three, "Get Innocuous!" and "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down."

2). Boxer- The National
Find it in the catalog!
Alligator, the 2005 release by the National, had been in heavy rotation in my stereo for about two years when Boxer came out. It was one of my most hotly anticipated albums of the year and it exceeded my expectations. Most National albums have to grow on you, but my love for Boxer was immediate. They just do melancholy so well. This is an album full of slowly building tension and brooding. Lyrically, the album focuses on the theme of reluctantly growing up. Being 23 at the time, I could definitely relate to the early adulthood ambivalence.

Stand-Out Tracks: Fake Empire, Mistaken for Strangers, Slow Show, Apartment Story, Start a War

1). Person Pitch- Panda Bear
Find it in the catalog!
If there was one album that was the zeitgeist of 2007, it was probably the solo album of Animal Collective member Noah Lennox aka. Panda Bear. Person Pitch was named the best album of the year by Tiny Mix Tapes, Gorilla Vs. Bear, and Pitchfork. It has an upbeat sound and is unabashedly Beach Boys-esque. It definitely is a pick-me up record. When I listen to it, my mood usually improves and I feel more relaxed. Person Pitch is like a trip to Portugal for your ears! This album is definitely recommended for fans of the Animal Collective album Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009).

Stand-Out Tracks: Comfy in Nautica, Bros, Good Girl/ Carrots, Ponytail.

Runners-up:

The Flying Club Cup- Beirut
Find in it in the catalog!
Beirut front man Zach Condon was sort of the indie rock it boy from 2006 to 2007. He collaborated with Grizzly Bears' Ed Droste, won the heart of La Blogotheque, and released two stellar albums: Gulag Orkestar (2006) and Flying Club Cup. I fell in love with the band's Eastern European/gypsy influenced sound when I saw them live in support of Gulag Orkestar. They sort of reminded me of a more accessible version of Neutral Milk Hotel. Flying Club Cup had more of a turn-of-last-century French vibe. I haven't heard too much from Beirut in recent years, though they released another album in 2009 and are apparently huge in Brazil. My fingers are crossed for a comeback. Stand-Out Tracks: A Sunday Smile, Guyamas Sonora, Forks and Knives, Cherbourg.

Armchair Apocrypha- Andrew Bird
Find it in the catalog!
I've kind of fallen out of touch with this album in the following years, but I was obsessed with it in 2007. It's still probably my favorite Bird work and the only one of his albums to have anything remotely resembling a "head-banging" track ("Dark Matter"). Most of it is delicate, complicated, and hyper-literary, as one would expect from an Andrew Bird album. Stand-out tracks: Plasticities, Armchairs, Simple X and Cataracts.

Friend or Foe- Menomena
Find it in the catalog!
There's a little bit of novelty in this album as Menomena's tracks are composed with the aid of a computer program called Digital Looping Recorder, or Deeler for short. Still, the record manages to be whimsical, fun, and poignant experimental rock.
Stand-Out Tracks: The Pelican, Wet and Rusting, and Rotten Hell.

Kala- MIA
Find it in the catalog!
Since 2007, my love for MIA has kind of declined, probably due to a mixture of her growing popularity and the diminishing returns of hearing "Paper Planes" in constant rotation. But I couldn't get enough of this record when it was released. It's a super danceable combination of world music, feminism, politics and pop culture. Stand-Out Tracks: Boyz, Bamboo Banga, Jimmy, and "Paper Planes" is a good song, though overexposed.

Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer- Of Montreal
Find in the catalog!
Of Montreal was always one of those bands I was aware of, but not really a fan per-se. I've seen them live a few times and thought they put on a pretty good show (as long as you don't mind waiting an hour for them to set up the stage...not that I'm bitter), but their albums were a little bit too twee for me. But this Hissing Fauna won two automatic points from me for being dark and a breakup album. It's a catchy mix of pop, glam rock, and electronica.
Stand-Out Tracks: Hemsidalsgate Like a Promethean Curse, The Past is a Grotesque Animal, and She's a Rejector.

In Rainbows- Radiohead
Find it in the catalog!
This album is primarily revolutionary for the way it was distributed. Radiohead allowed fans to pay whatever they thought the album was worth and download the album from the band's website. I kind of lost touch with Radiohead after the phenomenal Kid A (2000), but I enjoyed this album quite a lot. Stand-Out Tracks: include Nude, All I Need, and Reckoner.

Early warnings:

The singles from Robyn's self-titled album started getting heavily buzzed about by music blogs, though it wouldn't officially be released in the United States until 2008.

Justin Vernon (aka. Bon Iver) self-released For Emma, Forever Ago, which would see wide release on Jagiaguwar Records in 2008.

Haley Reinhart leaves American Idol with a bang

2011-05-23T19:49:00.002-05:00

Haley is joined by her father Harry Reinhart during "What Is and What Should Never Be."

With season 10 contestants cheering for her, Haley lets loose on her farewell performance of "Bennie and the Jets" on last Thursday's results show.

Wheeling's Haley Reinhart, a top 3 contestant on American Idol, was sent home last week. Haley brought a mix of jazz, soul, and rock to her songs, and had some of my favorite moments of the season, including "Bennie and the Jets," her duet on "Moanin'" with Casey Abrams, "You and I," "House of the Rising Sun," "I Who Have Nothing" and "What Is and What Should Never Be." Fans of Haley (and I'm one of them) hoped she would continue her rise from underdog to the next American Idol, but the vote for teenage country singers Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina pushed them through to this week's finale.

I thought Haley got better with each week's performances. She owns the stage and has an amazing range. Plus she makes interesting song choices and is not afraid to take risks. After she was eliminated from the competition on Thursday's show she ripped into "Bennie and the Jets" for her farewell performance, ending up in the audience next to the rest of the top 13.

Here's how Haley did the previous two weeks:

Wednesday, May 18: Top Three perform three songs each
The first round of songs where those chosen by the contestants. Haley sang "What Is and What Should Never Be" by Led Zeppelin. According to AI vocal coach Debra Byrd, Haley is only the second contestant since Adam Lambert in season 8 to be cleared to sing a Zeppelin song. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant gave permission for her to perform the song after they received a clip of her singing. Haley's performance of "What Is and What Should Never Be" was my favorite performance of the night and one of Haley's best. Her father Harry Reinhart joined her on stage on electric guitar. Haley had fun with the song and didn't let a fall on the stairs get to her. I love how she started the song very tender, as if she were caressing the notes, and then brought out the rock side to her voice.

The Reinharts rock out.

Her second song was picked by mentor Jimmy Iovine. He chose Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon." I enjoyed Haley's haunting interpretation of the song and thought it was a good fit with her voice.

The judges picked "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morrisette for Haley's third song. She did a good job with the chorus but had trouble hitting all the words leading up to the chorus. Many AI bloggers wrote that had Haley performed her Zeppelin cover last, she probably would have stayed in the competition.I agree that it would have been better to end on a high note, but I don't think the producers of the show allowed the contestants any input in the order of the song selections.

On May 14 Haley returned to her hometown of Wheeling for a parade and concert at Arlington Park. You can view photos from Haley's hometown visit from the Daily Herald. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend because I was out of town, so I missed all the fun of waiting to watch Haley perform in the rain. I was in the audience last year for Lee DeWyze's concert at Arlington Park, and I wanted to be part of the craziness again!

Wednesday, May 11: Top 4 perform
In the first half of the show the contestants sang "Songs That Inspire." In the second half they sang songs from the Leiber and Stoller songbook and were mentored by Lady Gaga. For her first performance of the night Haley chose to sing Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" because it is very inspirational to her. She really felt the lyrics of the song and you could tell the song is meaningful to her. But judges Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson criticized her song choice and felt she should have picked something else. Not only that, but after all the contestants sang, Randy declared the first round as a tie between James Durbin, Lauren Alaina, and Scotty McCreery, leaving Haley as the only one who had to improve. I was really upset after hearing their comments, mostly because of how they have avoided bringing up other contestants' problems throughout the season but will go on and on about what they didn't like about Haley's performances and song choices.

Haley brings some "psycho" to her performance of "I Who Have Nothing."

Haley picked "I Who Have Nothing" from the Leiber and Stoller songbook for her second song. I liked the advice Lady Gaga gave to Haley, which was to be a little psycho in her performance. Taking that different approach to the song, coupled with the fact that Haley was mad after the judges' comments, helped Haley give the performance of the night.

I definitely think this week's finale will be a little less interesting and more predictable without Haley in the competition.

Modern Family

2011-05-15T15:02:00.000-05:00

If you haven't yet enjoyed the laugh-out-loud stylings of Modern Family, one of the best comedies on television outside of the NBC block, check out season one. The focus is on three families that are related. There's Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill) and his second, younger Colombian wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara) and her son Manny (Rico Rodriguez). The more traditional family is made up of Claire (Julie Bowen), who is Jay's daughter from his first marriage, and Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) and their children Hayley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter), and Luke (Nolan Gould). And last, but not least, there's Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), Jay's son from his first marriage and Claire's brother, his partner Cameron Tucker (Eris Stonestreet), and their adopted baby daughter Lily.

I read someone compare Modern Family to a cross between Arrested Development (AD) and The Office and I would agree. It does owe a bit to these two shows. The kooky-family premise is similar to AD, whereas the style of the show is similar to The Office: cameras follow the characters and they often talk to the camera in confession-mode.

All of the characters are drawn funny in their own way. Jay and Gloria are great foils for each other and Manny is a fifty-year-old in a twelve-year-old's body. Claire tries to rein everyone in, especially Phil, who is trying to be the cool dad, but often isn't. Hayley is an exasperated teenager (although she probably doesn't know what "exasperated" means); her sister Alex is whip-smart and sarcastic and the youngest, Luke, is clueless. Mitchell is a bit tightly wound and Cameron, probably my favorite character, is very expressive and dramatic. (Read up more on Michell and Cameron's relationship from this older post, Favorite TV Couples.)

My two favorite episodes from the first season are "En Garde" and "Moon Landing." The first follows Manny in his quest to become a fencing champion and Claire and Mitchell revisit their days as an ice skating pair, even as far as performing their routine in the parking lot of the fencing tournament. Comedy gold! "Moon Landing" includes a hilarious scene in the men's locker room between Jay and Cameron, who are trying to find some common ground by playing racketball together. I cannot describe the scene here and do it justice ... let's just say that it takes advantage of Jay being uncomfortable around a gay man.

Modern Family, Season 1
Find it in the catalog!

Haley gives the performance of the season, makes Top 4 on American Idol

2011-05-11T13:24:00.002-05:00

Entertainment Weekly has already added Haley Reinhart's performance of "House of the Rising Sun" to their 30 All-Time Best Performances on American Idol.

Last Wednesday's episode of American Idol featured the theme "Now and Then," which had the Top 5 singing a current hit and then a song from the past. Sheryl Crow acted as guest mentor for the singers while Jimmy Iovine appeared to have a strong influence in their song choices. For Wheeling native Haley Reinhart's current song, Iovine picked the unreleased "You and I" by Lady Gaga, which she's performed on her Monster Ball Tour and is on her upcoming album Born This Way. Haley was unsure about singing a lesser known song but decided to take the risk after speaking to Lady Gaga herself, who gave Haley her blessing. "You and I" was a great fit for Haley's bluesy growl and I thought she sang it like it was her song. Iovine noted that on this performance Haley "shows you where she could go" in the music industry, and I agree. Judges Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson were not supportive of the decision to sing an unknown song. But in my opinion, just because songs are released and available to listeners, that doesn't mean everyone knows the words and connects with them. I wasn't familiar with "Gone," performed by Scotty McCreery, and to be honest I did not know several of the metal songs tackled by James throughout the season. I love when a contestant sings a more obscure song and makes me say, "Where has that song been hiding?" Judge Steven Tyler shared this same sentiment, calling the ability to make an unknown song work on stage "a beautiful thing."

Haley's "in it to win it."

For her second song Haley sang "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals. Sheryl Crow suggested Haley start the song a cappella, which I thought was great advice. Intimate moments with just the singer and her voice on stage are moments I wait for each season on Idol. Haley's interpretation of the song made me feel I was hearing the lyrics for the first time, and hands down, her performance is now my favorite from any singer this season. She took her time with the opening of the song, lingering on the notes and holding the audience's attention in the palm of her hand. When the band joined her, she moved around the stage with confidence and belted out notes while not over-singing. She ended the performance with her fist up into the air, as if saying, "Take that!" back to the judges or any naysayers.

On both her performances last week Haley proved she is a star and willing to take risks. Thinking back to her earlier performances of "Fallin" and "I'm Your Baby Tonight," you can tell how much Haley has matured on stage. Tonight the Top 4 will sing songs from the Lieber and Stoller songbook and they will be mentored by Lady Gaga. The Top 3 contestants will be revealed on Thursday's results show. If Haley makes the Top 3, Wheeling will throw her a hometown welcome and celebration concert just like Mount Prospect held last year for eventual winner Lee DeWyze. According to the Daily Herald article "Wheeling ready to host new 'Idol' party," the events will take place this Saturday, with a parade ending at Wheeling Village Hall and a concert at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights. I know I will be voting for Haley tonight!

Haley Reinhart on American Idol: Will a Chicago native win American Idol two years in a row?

2011-05-01T16:54:00.001-05:00

Haley Reinhart, of Wheeling, has made it to the top 5 on this season of American Idol, and is one of only two females remaining in the competition. Haley has arguably been this season's underdog, both because of the audience preferring to vote male contestants through while ignoring awesome female singers (Pia Toscano!) and because it seems judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson are often harsher on her than the other contestants, whose flat or off-key notes they ignore.

During the first few weeks of competition Haley received criticism for "not knowing who she is an artist," as she tackled songs by Alicia Keys, LeAnn Rimes, and Whitney Houston, singing them with her distinctive growl. I'm not sure what the judges expect on a show that has the contestants participating in theme weeks. I love the fact that Haley is versatile enough to sing R&B, soul, country, jazz, and rock. I think she brought those diverse influences to her performance of "Benny and the Jets" during Elton John week, which is one of my favorites from any singer this season. She started the song slow with only piano accompaniment and once she hit the chorus let loose with some very rockin' riffs.

"Moanin'": Scat-Off between Haley and Casey! (Haley won.)

Apart from her singing, I admire Haley's fighting attitude on AI. When Haley was the only contestant to receive negative comments during Songs from the Movies week for her performance of Blondie's "Call Me," she came back the next night for the results show and not only redeemed herself but blew everyone away on the duet "Moanin'" with fellow contestant Casey Abrams. During that performance you could hear the softer jazzy side of her voice; she sounded like she stepped straight out of a 1940s jazz club or something. And, of course, her scatting was fun and just seemed effortless for her. Another highlight, even though she may have struggled with a few notes, was her cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" for Songs of the 21st Century week. She definitely had guts to cover such a current song, and even though it's impossible to outsing Adele, I again enjoyed the jazzy throwback sound to Haley's voice, and thought she would sound great on the radio singing songs in that same style.

I think Haley deserves to make it to the Top 3, but that may be difficult with the large followings for contestants Scotty McCreery, James Durbin, and Lauren Alaina. Right now I think both Scotty and James are locks for two of the spots, which leaves the third spot to either Haley, Lauren, or Jacob Lusk, who I am guessing is the next to go. With Mount Prospect native Lee DeWyze winning AI last year, I think it would be amazing for another Chicago-area native to win the show this year. Go Haley!

Movies playing in May at the Dundee Library

2011-05-01T14:53:00.001-05:00

At the library we show free movies each month in our downstairs Meeting Room. Popcorn and refreshments are also available. I could be biased, but I think it's fun to be able to sit and watch a movie on the big screen and eat popcorn, all for free! I especially enjoy seeing the classics, as I'm used to watching them on a TV at home. The Sting is our last selection in our Paul Newman Films classic film series, so if you were dying to see Paul Newman's face on the big screen, this is your last chance!

Morning Glory (PG-13)
Wednesday, May 4 at 6 PM

The Sting (PG)
Wednesday, May 18 at 6 PM
Paul Newman film classic

Tangled (PG)
Saturday, May 21 at 2 PM

My Music Year: 1978

2011-04-27T16:00:00.002-05:00

The Onion AV Club’s ongoing series My Music Year is a fairly straightforward concept ("In My Favorite Music Year, A.V. Club music writers choose the years that speak to them most deeply, however fresh in memory or far in the past."), but it's given me a lot to think about. While I’m intrigued by the idea of highlighting a particular year in music that has personal resonance, I'm having trouble committing to a specific year. It seems like every year has its riches and its dross, and I can't help feeling that to choose one year is to overlook another. As a means of bypassing this indecisiveness, I have decided to review my birth-year. I'm not sure how I hit on the idea, but I'm excited about exploring the year I was born for hints at my musical sensibilities. How much of the music released the year I was born would end up being a part of my life in one way or another? We shall see.

First, let’s address the music that most people were actually listening to in 1978. Things were pretty dire, if we’re to judge by this Billboard compilation. This was the era of Saturday Night Fever, and I'm afraid disco has had minimal impact on my musical experience. (Unless we're taking into account disco's formative influence on early rap music, but still.) The soundtrack to Grease was a monster hit. Critics were raving about Billy Joel’s "classic" The Stranger. Foreigner, Kansas, Barry Manilow... It's pretty easy for me write all of this off as pop dross symptomatic of its age. But beneath the surface of 1978, there were darker and far more interesting things to be heard.

The CBGB's crowd were making outstanding music: Television released Adventure, an intricate recording that only disappoints if compared to its majestic predecessor, Marquee Moon; The Ramones were going strong; The Patti Smith Group was back in action following Smith's recovery from a serious back injury; Talking Heads released More Songs About Buildings and Food; and Blondie released what is almost certainly their finest album, Parallel Lines. Overseas, the new music - read: punk - was becoming ever more jagged, abrasive, and...arty. At the vanguard were the band Wire, who followed up their epochal Pink Flag with Chairs Missing. Johnny Rotten, finding himself without a band, hooked up with Keith Levene and Jah Wobble to form Public Image Ltd., releasing a debut record very much in keeping with this dynamic shift. Joy Division released their debut EP, An Ideal for Living, which seems to perfectly exemplify the dissonance of punk energy and cold detachment. It might be tempting to view ‘78 as the year punk rock transitioned to Post-punk and New Wave, but that explanation is far too neat to be borne out by history. There’s no such dividing line. The Sex Pistols disbanded that year, but The Clash were only on the second of their string of canonical punk albums. (Give ‘Em Enough Rope in ‘78, and London Calling the following year.) And while punk may have been fragmenting in England, it was just taking root in the U.S. underground. The truest harbinger of things to come was an independently released EP by a newly formed Los Angeles band called Black Flag. The Nervous Breakdown EP featured a decidedly rudimentary approach at this early stage in the band's history, but the D.I.Y. revolution was certainly underway.

1978 was about more than abstruse punk bands, though. David Bowie was working his way through the Berlin Trilogy, comprised of the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger. Bowie had some help from Brian Eno, who was all over the place in '78. In addition to co-writing and performing several songs on The Berlin Trilogy, Eno released two solo albums (Ambient 1: Music for Airports and Music for Films), helmed the No New York project, and produced albums for Harold Budd, Devo, and Talking Heads. The cleverly titled Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! was the debut album by the Akron, Ohio devolutionists, and their robotic cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is a great starting point for anyone interested in New Wave. The Cars self-titled debut was a more radio-ready approach; while there's nothing experimental about it, there isn't a weak song on the album. It was also a banner year for George Clinton's brand of funk: Funkadelic released One Nation Under a Groove, Parliament released Motor Booty Affair, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band released Player of the Year? Bootsy. So-called "heartland rock" was well served in '78: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were still finding their footing on their sophomore album, but “Listen to Her Heart” hints at the outstanding music they’d release the following year on Damn the Torpedoes; Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band released Stranger in Town. Cheap Trick put out an excellent record of the power-pop variety, Heaven Tonight. ("Surrender" has undoubtedly made its way into your musical vocabulary, but have you ever considered how hilariously subversive the lyrics are?) Rap music wouldn't make any waves until the following year, but it was in 1978 that Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five crewed up in South Bronx, New York.

Other records released that year that would one way or another become a part of my life: Tom Waits' Blue Valentine, Big Star's Third/Sisters Lovers, Marvin Gaye's Here, My Dear.

My Top 5 Albums of 1978

Some Girls - The Rolling Stones

"Laughter, joy, and loneliness and sex and sex and sex and sex..."

By the late '70s, the Stones had been together for over fifteen years. They had transitioned from a white-boy R&B combo, to psychedelic hard rockers, to earnest devotees of American roots music, and gone through several other stages of maturation. On their album Some Girls, they were incorporating everything from disco ("Miss You") to Bakersfield-style country ("Far Away Eyes") to gritty New York punk ("Shattered") into their by-then legendary song-craft. The gloriously pleading "Beast of Burden" has got to be one of the greatest pop songs ever. If I'm being completely honest, Some Girls is the last unadulterated classic the Rolling Stones produced. There would be flashes of brilliance and over-hyped comebacks, but the band never reached these heights again.

Darkness at the Edge of Town - Bruce Springsteen

"I've done my best to live the right way, I get up in the morning and go to work each day, but your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold, sometimes I feel so weak I just wanna explode... "

Bruce Springsteen has had phenomenal success, but it seems he's only ever been comfortable as a blue-collar guy. While I have no interest in debating the "authenticity" of Springsteen or any other performer, I find it admirable that he has so resolutely pursued the American character in the lives of working people. I'm generally less taken with the songs that seem, in my view, to overly romanticize their protagonists - as on his 1975 album Born to Run. It's his interest in small time anti-heroes and the dissolution of American communities that I find most compelling. These lyrical preoccupations are at the forefront of Darkness at the Edge of Town, an album that is unmistakably the work of a serious artist and a consummate songwriter. I find the title track particularly moving; the idea that people carry their "secret" around with them "...till some day they just cut it loose, cut it loose or let it drag 'em down." (The aforementioned lyrical concerns would also form the basis for Springsteen's stripped-to-the-bone 1982 classic, Nebraska.)

Easter - The Patti Smith Group

"...in heart I'm an American artist, and I feel no guilt. I seek pleasure. I seek the nerves under your skin."

Patti Smith had released a stone-cold classic in '75 (Horses) and a worthy followup (Radio Ethiopia) in '76, radically altering the perception of what an artist could be within the context of rock music. While touring in support of Radio Ethiopia, Smith suffered a serious neck injury and was forced to put her music on hold until her recovery was complete. Her first post-injury album is often described as a more accessible Patti Smith record, and it is that, but it would be a mistake to assume she was making any kind of concessions. Easter includes a native-American ghost dance and a morose, albeit beautiful, song about poete maudit Arthur Rimbaud and his siblings. So, it's interesting to consider that this record actually became a hit. Much of the commercial success was on the strength of the Bruce Springsteen-penned “Because the Night". Originally intended for his album Darkness at the Edge of Town, Smith reworked the song and made it a cohesive part of her record. (If you're curious to hear what The Boss' original sounds like, it's included on the recently released The Promise.) As often as I've listened to this album, the way Smith transitions from spoken word poetry (track five) to brutal rock 'n' roll (track six) still gives me chills.

This Year’s Model - Elvis Costello

"You better shut up or get cut out, they don't wanna hear about it, it's only inches on the reel-to-reel..."

It was on this, his second album, that Elvis Costello teamed up with The Attractions, the crack musicians that would be his backing band throughout much of the '80s. This Year's Model is a more muscular affair than My Aim is True, and the promise on that debut album is fully realized here. This is a high-energy record, with piano and organ adding a near-carnival feel to many of the songs. It's shocking that this early in his career, Elvis Costello was writing such sharp, deceptively simple songs. While Johnny Rotten had been a master of disdain, he couldn't come close to Costello in wit or acerbic insight.

So Alone - Johnny Thunders

"It doesn't pay to try. All the smart boys know why."

As a founding member of The Heartbreakers and The New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders was a major figure in punk rock's inception. His debut solo outing, So Alone, features an impressive roster of supporting players, including Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders and Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols. Thunders & co. perform covers of songs by Otis Blackwell, The Shangri-Las, and The Chantays, but it's the originals that make this recording a classic. The album's greatest appeal, for me, rests upon the darkly beautiful "You Can't Put Your Arms Round a Memory". For better and for worse, Johnny Thunders was a laureate of the born to lose set. His eventual self-destruction seems a tragic affirmation of the worldview expressed in these songs.

Coming soon: I enjoyed poring over 1978, so you can expect me to highlight another musical year. I've yet to settle on a personal favorite, but it looks like '88, '93, and '95 are the strongest contenders.

Album Obsessions

2011-04-25T13:54:00.000-05:00

While I almost always have a pile of albums in my "to listen to" bin, lately, I've been a bit overloaded. At one point, I had 20 albums I was working on. Thankfully, there were a lot of really great albums to be found in bunch. Here are the albums that stood out and are still a part of my play list:

Forget by Twin Shadow.
Find it in the catalog!

Forget pretty much won me over from the first notes of the opening track, "Tyrant Destroyer." Between the catchy synth riffs and George Lewis Jr.'s Morrissey-esque croon, this album highlights the absolutely best elements of 80s New Wave music. The tone is bittersweet and nostalgic, making it great late night listening.

Tracks on repeat: "Tyrant Destroyer," "At My Heels," "Slow," and closer "Forget."

Tell Me by Jessica Lea Mayfield.
Find it in the catalog!

This album was recommended to me by fellow Media Corner blogger, Jason, and it was produced by my favorite gingerbeard guitarist, Dan Auerbach (from the Black Keys); so naturally it was required listening. Tell Me is less folksy than her debut, With Blasphemy So Heartfelt (which I also like quite bit). There is some excellent guitar work on this album and poppy sounding synth on songs like "Grown Man" and "Nervous Lonely Night."Lyrically, this album is quite dark, though somewhat relatable.

Tracks on repeat: "Grown Man" stood out the most to me on first listen. It's catchy, though I find the lyrics mildly creepy. The last three songs ("Tell Me," "Run Myself into the Ground," and "Sleepless") are also favorites of mine.

James Blake by James Blake.
Find in the catalog!

I checked out this album for the shallowest of reasons... James Blake is adorable in a nerdy, British way (it's totally the floppy hair!). Also, the video for his cover of Feist's "Limit to Your Love" was awesome. This album definitely blew me away. Thanks in part to his soulful (albeit heavily processed) vocals, reminiscent of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, Blake presents a uniquely emotional take on electronic music.

Tracks on Repeat: "I Never Learned to Share," "To Care (Like You)," "I Mind," and "Measurements."

Phosphene Dream by Black Angels.
Find it in the catalog!

I guessed from the head spinning cover and the name that this band would probably be some kind of 60s garage rock band in the vein of the Black Keys and Black Mountain. I was right, but man, this album rocks! Phosphene Dream is a dark, gritty psychedelic ride that would be at home on a Nuggets compilation (if it was not made 40 years too late).

Tracks on repeat: "Bad Vibrations," "River of Blood," and "Telephone."

21 by Adele.
Find it in the catalog!

Sure, I have a few Amy Winehouse songs in my iTunes, but I've never been huge into the British retro-soul genre. But everyone loves Adele. She puts a modern spin on soul and her songs occasionally have very witty and sassy lines. Also, as an enthusiast of heartbreak songs, it's hard to pass up a break album this good!

Tracks on repeat: "Rolling in Deep," "Turning Tables," "Set Fire to Rain," and "One and Only."

Record Collection Crushes: Geeky Musical Benchmarks

2011-04-14T16:57:00.001-05:00

Paul Schneider rocks on!

Anyone who has ever been to a concert knows that just because someone likes your favorite band, it doesn't mean they aren't totally annoying. That being said, as a music geek, it's hard not be impressed when someone has a really killer record collection or iTunes Library.

So what makes someone's record collection crushworthy? Usually its the weird stuff that you like that you think no one else does. As a suburban teenager, my bar was pretty low. If someone had heard of (and liked) Radiohead, I thought they were pretty awesome. Now, as a jaded twenty-something who knows a lot of people with similar taste, I'm much pickier ("You like LCD Soundsystem, yeah, so does EVERYONE...").

Earlier, I did a post on musical dealbreakers; bands and artists so heinous, they are potential relationship-enders. These musical benchmarks are the opposite; bands and artists so supremely awesome, that if someone liked them, you'd respect them a little more for it. Overall, this list was much trickier to compile than the dealbreakers. They are not necessarily my favorite bands (Note: no LCD Soundsystem, no Black Keys), just the ones that seem obscure and rocking enough to earn my musical admiration. Below are my picks:

Jonathan Richman and/ or the Modern Lovers. Find him in the catalog!

Post-Punk: Wire, Gang of Four, Jesus and Mary Chain, etc.

Elephant 6 bands: Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in Stereo, Olivia Tremor Control, etc.

Madvillain, Madlib, and MF Doom.

Any blues music from the Fat Possum Label. R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, T-Model Ford. Fat Possum's indie stuff is cool too!

Smart, Literate NYC Indie Rockers: The Walkmen, The National, etc.

Okay music geeks, what additions (or subtractions) would you make to the list?

Library scenes on film and TV

2011-04-13T13:35:00.001-05:00

New Directions members get their glee on in the stacks.

In honor of National Library Week, I compiled more library scenes to add to last year's list. I think my favorite fictional library enthusiasts are Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls), Brick Heck (The Middle), Jesse St. James (Glee), and the characters on Community.

Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Find it in the catalog!
Belle is imprisoned in the Beast's castle after offering herself to be held captive in place of her ailing father. Seeing the way Belle misses her home and how lonely she is, the Beast shows her his lavish library, and tells her that she has her pick from the thousands of volumes.

Before search boxes, you had to search card catalog drawers.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Find it in the catalog!
After Paul (George Peppard) and Holly (Audrey Hepburn) enter the library she asks him, "What is this place?" Yes, Holly Golightly has never been inside a library. Paul explains how each card is either a book or an author (what about subjects, Paul?). They look under his last name, Varjack, to find the card with his book, Nine Lives. They have to bring the card to one librarian and then wait until their number is called at a different desk. The librarian helping them at that desk is uninterested in the fact that Paul wrote the book. Holly informs her, "It's Varjack, Paul in person!" The librarian is quite annoyed with them, tells them to be quiet, and becomes upset when Holly encourages Paul to sign the library's copy of his book. That provides Holly's cue to go: "I don't think this place is half as nice as Tiffany's."

Community (2009-present)
Season 1: Find it in the catalog!
Jeff (Joel McHale), Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Annie (Alison Brie), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), Troy (Donald Glover), Abed (Danny Pudi) and Pierce (Chevy Chase) form a Spanish study group and every episode is set at least partially in the library, since that is their meeting place. I wanted to highlight a recent season 2 episode, because it demonstrates why Abed and Troy are among my favorite characters on TV and also have one of the best friendships on TV, in addition to the fact that the episode involves a librarian-centric plotline.

If only the librarian would notice them...

Season 2, episode 15: "Early 21st Century Romanticism"
Best friends Troy and Abed both want to ask the same librarian to the Valentine's Dance. They watch her from their study room and hope that if they're too loud she'll shush them, so they yell, "BOOKS!" and then pretend to sleep when she actually does look in their direction. When they finally do approach her, they suggest that she hang out at the dance with both of them, so she can get to know them before she makes her choice.

Troy: Why does being a librarian make her even hotter?
Abed: They're keepers of knowledge. She holds the answers to all of our questions, like "Will you marry me?" and "Why are there still libraries?"

Eastbound & Down (2009-present)
Season 1: Find it in the catalog!
Former baseball pitcher Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) now teaches gym at a junior high school, where his high school girlfriend April (Katy Mixon) also teaches. In a season 1 episode, he goes to talk to her in the library, where two girls get into a fight. Powers breaks them apart and yells, "If you're gonna fight, do it in a parking lot somewhere, not in a library, surrounded by books!"

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Season 2: Find it in the catalog!
Season 2, episode 15: "Lost and Found"
Rory's (Alexis Bledel) boyfriend, Dean (Jared Padelecki), can hardly hide his boredom as he sits next to two piles of books she has already selected to buy from the library's Buy a Book! fundraiser. After over two hours of perusing the sale, Rory is still going strong and has yet to look at the astronomy section.

Impromptu library concert!

You better re-shelve those when you finish your Madonna song!

Glee (2009-present)
Season 1: Find it in the catalog!

Season 1, episode 14: "Hell-O"
Rachel (Lea Michele) first meets Jesse St. James (Jonathan Groff) of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline in what appears to be a music library. Rachel had been looking through The Very Best of Lionel Richie songbook, doing research for the glee club's "Hello" assignment. Jesse suggests an impromptu performance and they sit down at a piano and sing Richie's hit "Hello," where it's love at first musical solo.
Season 1, episode 15: "The Power of Madonna"
During Finn (Corey Monteith) and Rachel's duet on "Open Your Heart to Me" they walk through the library, and Finn, with his arms stretched out on both sides, knocks books off the shelves as he walks by. Library pages don't think that's cool, Finn! Also, Jesse has transferred from Carmel to McKinley, and asks Rachel to meet him in the darkened library. He wants to apologize for pressuring her to have sex before she is ready. He explains his rationale for meeting in the library: "I picked the Stephen Sondheim biography section for our clandestine meeting place because only he would be able to express my melancholia."
Season 1, episode 17: "Bad Reputation"
Kurt (Chris Colfer), Mercedes (Amber Riley), Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), Artie (Kevin McHale), and Brittany (Heather Morris) are upset over not being included on the "glist," which ranks the hotness quotient of glee club members. Actually, Brittany was included on the glist, but she only made #4 and thinks she deserves a top 3 ranking. They want to have a more dangerous reputation around school so they decide to be a distraction in the library, which is the worst thing you could do, according to Kurt. They perform MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This," complete with parachute pants. But the librarian doesn't think they're dangerous at all and says that she will ask her pastor if they could perform at Sunday service.

Who's throwing books at me?...

Oh, it's Jesse St. James!

The House Bunny (2008)
Find it in the catalog!
Former Playmate and current house mom to outcast sorority Zeta Alpha Zeta, Shelley (Anna Faris) is nervous about her first date with Oliver (Colin Hanks), a nice guy who has no idea of her Playboy past. With the goal of gaining enough knowledge so she doesn't appear dumb in front of him, Shelley goes to the library studying amidst tall piles of books. Later, when she is out on a date with Oliver someone asks if she posed for Playboy, and she responds, "Oh, heck no. Those girls are all boobs and no brains. I'm too busy. In a library. Reading books with dust on them."

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Find it in the catalog!
When Clarence (Angel, Second Class) shows George (James Stewart) what the world would have been like without his having been born, George finds that nobody in Bedford Falls (now called Pottersville) recognizes him. After seeing the grave of his younger brother Harry, Geroge demands that Clarence tells him where his wife, Mary, is. Clarence hesitates: "You're not going to like it, George... She's an old maid. She never married... She's just about to close up the library!"

The Middle (2009-present)
Season 1: Find it in the catalog!

Season 1, episode 2, "The Cheerleader"
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is dying to check out a book from the library, but the Heck family has a $189 fine on the card, so they cannot check out until it's paid. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) later offers jelly beans to a young boy in the library to check out the book for her.
Season 1, episode 24, "Average Rules"
The school librarian (Betty White) tells Brick that he will repeat second grade if he doesn't return the 30-odd library books checked out to him. Brick finds books around the house in the oddest places, including the refrigerator, but still cannot locate one last reference book. His solution is to borrow the same title from the municipal library and return it to his school library, which actually works, in spite of the fact that I'm guessing they have different barcodes and call numbers!
Season 2, episode 9: "Thanksgiving II"
Bob (Chris Kattan) is bringing his girlfriend to the Heck's Thanksgiving dinner. Brick can hardly contain his excitement, acting as if they are going to be visited by a celebrity. He can't believe his other brother Axl (Charlie McDermott) neglected to clean his room in preparation for this huge event. Later, during dinner, Bob shows signs of jealousy as his girlfriend talks about the Dewey Decimal System with Brick.

Parks and Recreation (2009-present):
Season 2: Find it in the catalog!

Season 2, episode 8: "Ron and Tammy"
One of the funniest storylines on this show is the deepfelt hatred felt by Pawnee's Parks Department toward the library. Leslie believes that "the library is the worst group of people ever assembled in history. They're mean, conniving, rude, and extremely well-read, which makes them very dangerous." Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) exclaims that librarians are a "bunch of punk-*** book jockeys!" In this particular episode the Parks Department finds out that the library has filed a planning claim for the same empty lot which Leslie & co. want to turn into a park. Ron Swanson's ex-wife, Tammy (Megan Mullally), is Deputy Director of Library Services in Pawnee, and while he hates her with a passion, she has a powerful unexplained influence over him. Leslie and Ron go to talk to her in hopes of clearing up any confusion about the site, and the intense feelings between the two come alive again.
Season 2, episode 15: "Sweetums"
Leslie and Ann (Rashida Jones) visit the library to check out some old film reels about the company Sweetums. The librarian at the check-out desk is not happy to see them and Leslie tells her without hesitation, "You're pretty cocky for someone whose job is obsolete because of the Internet." When the librarian informs Leslie of a large fine for books with embarrassing titles, Leslie at first protests this news before grabbing the films, knocking over a cart of books, and running out the front door. Look closer at this scene: the librarian "scans" Leslie's library card in what is used to unlock and lock DVD/CD cases!

Pretty in Pink (1986)
Find it in the catalog!
Andie (Molly Ringwald) is working on one of the computers in the school library when her screen goes blank and she begins to receive messages. She types back, telling her best friend Duckie (Jon Cryer) to stop bothering her, only the mysterious typist asks her, "Who's Duckie?" When she asks if the person knows who she is, she is surprised to see a picture of herself appear on the screen. Asking who is talking to her, a picture of Blane (Andrew McCarthy) appears on her screen. She slowly stands up in her study carrel to look around and finds Blane standing across from her. That computer-programming rascal!

And one final quote, from the BBC version of The Office (2001-2003):

"That'll be a quiet night at the library. Not!"
--Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook) talking about getting together with Oggy (aka The Oggmonster) after work

Da Mystery of Chessboxin

2011-04-11T13:00:00.001-05:00

You may not immediately associate the acclaimed hip-hop collective known as The Wu-Tang Clan with the tiny pieces of colorful plastic known as Legos. But, it's high time something was done about that. The anthemic track "Da Mystery of Chessboxin" comes from Wu-Tang Clan's justly lauded 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). And here we have a clever little accompanying video, featuring all the synchronized sword-play and allegorical chess maneuvers you could wish for. Don't expect the slick polish of Michel Gondry's award-winning video for The White Stripes' "Fell in Love With a Girl". What you've got here is relatively low-tech stop-motion animation that nicely manages to capture the humor and menace of the original track. The highlight for me is the hilariously glowering Lego-man that denotes ODB. Green overalls! I also like the inclusion of several blank-faced figures (around the 2-minute and 2-minutes-30-second mark) which seem to correspond with the original album cover. I commend the Wu-Tang aficionado who put this video together, whoever he or she may be. I'm guessing it was done by a particularly industrious and inspired intern at Wu-Tang international headquarters, located in central Shaolin.

Warning: Video Contains Explicit Lyrics and LEGO Weapons

Courtesy of Flavorwire

Mars from Neptune

2011-04-06T20:30:00.003-05:00

The cult hit Veronica Mars has made it to our shelves at Dundee and a couple of us Media Cornerists really dig this show. It is a fabulous blend of high school drama, mystery, and wit with a dash of class and racial commentary. When we first meet Veronica (Kristen Bell), she is beginning junior year at Neptune High. A year prior, her best friend Lilly (Amanda Seyfried), was murdered and things for her and her family have since gone downhill. Her father loses his job as the sheriff, her mother abandons the family, and having once enjoyed popularity, she is now an outcast (the irony is that she's actually the coolest chick in school). In flashback sequences throughout the season you see how things used to be. As Veronica tries to solve Lilly's murder, she makes money on the side by solving other, smaller mysteries or crimes, usually for fellow classmates.

The relationships Veronica shares with the other characters are complicated. Since most people in her life have disappointed her, she becomes a bit of a rebel; she defies her peers and authority figures alike. She does reluctantly befriend the new kid in school, Wallace (Percy Daggs III), after helping him out of a jam. Since he doesn't know of her past downfall in social standings at Neptune High, he's a great candidate for friendship. She still carries a torch for her rich ex-boyfriend (and brother to the deceased Lilly) Duncan (Teddy Dunn). Ex-friend Logan (Jason Dohring) hates Veronica and the feeling is mutual, at least for a while. She's friendly with the local teen gangster Weevil (Francis Capra), but mainly because they use each others connections or expertise to get out of trouble. The one relationship that is still truly solid is that with her father. Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni) is, basically, the perfect dad. He's caring, funny, and trusting for the most part. I cannot think of another example on television that portrays such a connected father-daughter relationship.

Once you watch season one, you'll be hooked.
Seasons 1-3
Find it in the catalog!

Movies playing in April at the Dundee Library

2011-04-03T15:01:00.001-05:00

Life As We Know It (PG-13)
Wednesday, April 6 at 6 PM
Starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel

Megamind (PG)
Saturday, April 9 at 2 PM
Featuring the voices of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, and Tina Fey.

Cool Hand Luke (not rated)
Wednesday, April 20 at 6 PM
Catch a Classic at the Library: Paul Newman Films
Paul Newman received a Best Actor nomination for his performance as Luke in this 1967 film. George Kennedy received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Dragline.

All movies are shown in the downstairs Meeting Room. The Meeting Room opens thirty minutes prior to showtime. Free popcorn and refreshments are always served. Children under age nine must be accompanied by an adult. If you would like to receive monthly email reminders about the movies screening at the library, email Danielle at dpacini [at] dundeelibrary [dot] info. Hope to see you at the movies!

Warning Sign of Things to Come: Musical Dealbreakers

2011-04-01T11:53:00.007-05:00

"A while back, Dick, Barry and I agreed that what really matters is WHAT you like, not what you ARE like. Books, records, movies, these things matter..."- Rob Gordon (John Cusack), High Fidelity (2000)

Paul Schneider can listen to whatever he wants.

Look, I'm not shallow. I don't care what kind of music a guy likes, as long as he looks exactly like Paul Schneider...or has a beautiful soul. But seriously, I can't say that I've ever dumped someone over their musical taste. Of course, I've never dated a Nickelback fan either. In general, having good taste in music is a big plus, but questionable taste isn't that big of a negative. Breaking up with someone over music is a little extreme, sort of like dumping someone because they have poor taste in soda or because of that hideous shirt they always wear. There are probably much bigger dealbreakers in the long run than you having to tolerate listening to the Ben Folds Five once in a while.

That being said, really, really horrible taste could be a warning sign of incompatibility. What kind of person would unironcially listen to Billy Ray Cyrus or Foreigner in this day and age? Were they raised in a cave? Do they have an 80s haircut and/or wear acid wash jeans? The horror, the horror. Likewise, if your significant other's CD collection consists entirely of bands that haven't been cool since the 90s, you have to wonder if something traumatic happened to make them stop listening to new things? Or think Limp Bizkit was cool in the first place? Nor do you ever, ever want to utter this phrase if you are older than 12, "This is my boyfriend, Nick...he's a juggalo."

Anyway, below is a list of different musical styles and bands decided on by our Media Corner panel of experts to be borderline dealbreakers. We wouldn't sneak out of the bathroom window on a date if you admitted to liking one of these bands (unless you were wearing killer clown makeup), but we would probably choke on our soup a little bit.

Frat Rock: Creed, Three Doors Down, The Fray, Nickelback
Music by men who wear makeup and are not David Bowie: Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Insane Clown Posse
Wonderbread rock: Matchbox 20, Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas, Sheryl Crow, Train
Oldies but not goodies: Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynryd, Peter Frampton, Rush
Relics of the 90s: Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Sum 41, Blink 182, Counting Crows, Joan Osborne, Meredith Brooks, 311, Sugar Ray, Smashmouth, Buckcherry, Third Eye Blind, Ace of Base, Bush, Oasis, etc.
Super Girly Music: Ace of Base, Avril Lavigne, Spice Girls, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan
Ska.
Showtunes.
Hip hop for Children: Criss Cross, WIll Smith.
Neo-Hippie: Phish
Blues Rock: John Mayer, Blues Traveler
Prog Rock.
Hair Metal: Poison, Def Leppard, Cinderella, Motly Crue, Foreigner, Bon Jovi
Disco.
Country music that is really bad pop music with a twangy guitar: Garth Brooks, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus
Numetal.
Not to be confused with the Black Keys: The Black Eyed Peas

Okay, fellow music snobs, what styles and groups did we miss? Or mistakenly denounce?

What We've Been Listening To: Admiral Fell Promises by Sun Kil Moon

2011-03-29T16:08:00.000-05:00

Call No.: CD-ROCK RAP SUN ADMIRAL
Find it in the Catalog!

I am a big fan of Sun Kil Moon's previous albums, especially April. Mastermind Mark Kozelek makes really pretty, melancholy music that is tranquil enough to play as background music for a dinner party, but complex enough to warrant listening to with headphones on. Admiral Fell Promises is probably the barest and most delicate work by Kozelek yet. The first few times I listened to the record, I thought the album was beautiful but excessively chill. Then I turned up the volume about ten notches and was thoroughly impressed by Kozelek's guitar work and the album as a whole.

Admiral Fell Promises is a spare album; it's pretty much an hour of Kozelek's vocals and classical Spanish style guitar work. Kozelek plays alone (all alone). This sparsity makes the album perfect cold weather listening; in fact, it stayed in my car stereo pretty much all winter long. However, Kozelek does manages to incorporate some warmth and brightness into the album, particularly in the almost joyful "You are My Sun." So the album will probably hold up for some of the more bittersweet days of spring and summer too.

Standout tracks: "Ålsund", the aforementioned "You are my Sun," "Admiral Fell Promises," and closer "Bay of Skulls."

Recommended for fans of: Red House Painters, Jose Gonzalez, and the Kings of Convenience.

Doc Martin

2011-03-24T20:30:00.001-05:00

My British obsession continues ... I have recently gotten hooked on the drama/comedy Doc Martin about a cranky doctor (Martin Clunes) that leaves his London surgeon gig to become the GP in small (fictional) town Portwenn, Cornwall, England. The idyllic setting contrasts with the eccentric, and often needy, characters that interact with the Doc. It's not just a place where everybody knows your name, but also your business. (If you're a fan of Northern Exposure you'll recognize the similarities: successful doctor goes to small town to practice, kooky characters, love interests that can't quite get it together, there's even a radio DJ on both shows.) Sort-of medical mysteries (not quite on par with House, though) are the general formula for each episode. However, this does not tire as it is the relationships that are the real emphasis.

Although the Doc is lacking a decent bedside manner, he is an earnest and talented doctor and comes through when it really matters. The local school teacher Louisa (Catherine Catz) recognizes this, and despite their first encounter, they quickly form a friendship and an awkward romance develops. Martin's Aunt Joan (Stephanie Cole) is also in his corner, whom he used to visit in Portwenn as a child. As the seasons progress you come to understand why Martin is so prickly (case in point: season two episode "The Family Way " where Martin's estranged parents come to visit and his mother has a very frank and brutal conversation with him).

Check out another great show from across the pond. Enjoy the quirky characters and the beautiful scenery.

Seasons 1-4
Find them in the catalog!

Elizabeth Taylor: 1932 - 2011

2011-03-23T12:00:00.002-05:00

Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor passed away this morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was 79. Considered by many to be the last link to Hollywood's so-called Golden Age, the much-loved actress led a passionate life both on and off screen. Married eight times (twice to actor Richard Burton), Taylor's personal life was often as melodramatic as that of the movie heroines she portrayed.

Elizabeth Taylor was quite literally raised in public; from her child acting days in Lassie Come Home and National Velvet, to her acclaimed performance opposite Montgomery Clift in A Place in the Sun, to her mature, complex performance as "Maggie the Cat" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. By the early 1960s, she was Hollywood royalty, commanding a cool $1 million dollars for her role as Cleopatra in the opulent 20th Century Fox biopic. Her gritty performance in the 1966 Edward Albee adaptation Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is, without question, one of the most fearless onscreen performances I have ever seen.

Taylor was twice awarded the Best Actress statuette by the Academy (for her performances in Butterfield 8 and Virginia Woolf). In 1992, she received the Jean Herscholt Humanitarian Academy Award for her HIV/AIDS advocacy. Taylor was a notable gay rights activist, consistently stressing the point that the struggle for gay rights is the struggle for human rights. More than a mere actress, or one of the "most beautiful" women in the world, she was also a fiercely loyal friend and an advocate for those that society at large was not yet ready to help.

Selected film highlights:

Under Milk Wood (1971)

The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Cleopatra (1963)

Butterfield 8 (1960)

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Giant (1956)

A Place in the Sun (1951)

Father of the Bride (1950)

Little Women (1949)

National Velvet (1944)

The Young & The Restless: Pizza Summit!!

2011-03-19T12:00:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, March 22, the Dundee Library's 20s and 30s group will meet for a gloriously indulgent celebration of pizza. We will sample different types of pizza - all of it delicious - from various local pizzerias. Come prepared to sample these succulent slices and share your thoughts on that most wonderful of all foods. Register for this event on the library homepage, or give us a call at 847-428-3661, ext. 308.

Date: 3/22/2011
Time: 7 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Library Meeting Room, Lower Level

You might consider priming yourself for this event by checking out chow.com's great pizza moments in film. This hilariously inclusive list covers such disparate films as The Bicycle Thief, Dog Day Afternoon, Saturday Night Fever, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Wayne's World. All of which are available at your local library, natch.

Actor to Watch: Andrew Garfield

2011-03-13T14:52:00.010-05:00

He may be sensitive, British and have wonderfully fwoopy hair, but Andrew Garfield is more likely to garner comparisons to a lovable fawn than Robert Pattinson. Garfield is more charmingly gawky than smoldering. He also has one of the most impressive film resumes around, especially considering he is only in his mid-twenties.

Garfield's first big role was in 2007's Boy A, where he played Jack Burridge, a rehabilitated young man who committed a horrible crime as a child. It would be easy to demonize Jack, but Garfield's portrayal makes you root for the troubled young man. Garfield does a great job of showing the difficulty Jack has adjusting to society and everyday life after basically growing up in a prison. Post- Boy A, Garfield shined in supporting roles in films like Lions for Lambs and the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which gave him the opportunity to act against heavyweights like Robert Redford, Heath Ledger, and Christopher Plummer. Last year, Garfield played Eduardo Saverin (Marc Zuckerberg's long suffering best friend and Facebook co-founder) in the Social Network; his performance received a nomination for a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe.

Next-up, Garfield will take on the role of Spider-Man in the Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) directed The Amazing Spider-Man. Personally, I'm not all that crazy about superhero pictures (minus the original Iron Man), but I have high hopes for any movie with both Garfield and Emma Stone!

Check out one of Andrew Garfield's films:

Boy A (2007).

Find it in the catalog!

Lions for Lambs (2007).

Find in in the catalog!

Cast against type, Garfield plays a cocksure frat boy who stopped attending his Poly-Sci class even though his professor is a charismatic, Chambray-sporting Robert Redford.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009).

Find it in the catalog!

A funny performance as a theater geek named Anton who has a crush on Doctor Parnassus's scrumptious daughter Valentina (Lily Cole).

Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974 (2009).

Find it in the catalog!

Garfield plays perpetually shirtless ace reporter Eddie Dunford, who attempts to take on the corrupt Yorkshire police and track down a serial killer.

I'm Here (2010).

This Spike Jonze-directed short film stars Garfield as a robot who listens to Sleigh Bells and falls in love with a lady robot. So many great things packed into a 30 minute film!

Never Let Me Go (2010).

Find it in the catalog!

An English room boarding drama mixed with a sci-fi dystopia. It didn't quite live up to Ishiguro book or the stellar cast, but I still cried for the last fifteen minutes (and not just because of what they did to his hair!).

The Social Network (2010).

Find it in the catalog!

My pick for the best movie of last year. It's smart, both tense and hilarious, almost as quotable as Anchorman, and has great performances all around.

Get stuck in "The Middle"

2011-03-07T20:19:00.001-06:00

The Middle is a comedy about the Heck family set in the small town of Orson, Indiana. The characters are among my favorite on TV, and the cast is extremely talented and funny. Parents Frankie (Patricia Heaton), a car salesperson, and Mike (Neil Flynn), manager of a limestone quarry, face the everyday madness and exhaustion of raising three kids. Sixteen-year-old Axl (Charlie McDermott) lounges around the house in his boxers and is in a phase where "everyone and everything is lame." Even though he is almost always picking on his younger siblings, he occasionally shows how much he cares for them-- giving Sue his old football jersey, or telling Brick how much he loves him when he briefly loses him in a corn maze. Thirteen-year-old Sue (Eden Sher) is in junior high and very enthusiastic about school clubs, even though she never makes the cut. A running joke throughout the series is how nobody, from teachers to fellow students, is able to remember her. Eden Sher does a great job of portraying Sue's awkwardness, and you can't help but admire her positive attitude and root for her. Nine-year-old Brick (Atticus Shaffer) is happiest buried in a book and doesn't try to hide or apologize for his antisocial personality. "Okay. I'm done talking to you now," he tells a boy his age. He often whispers the last word of a sentence to himself, which everyone else finds really weird but he thinks is soothing (soothing!).

In one of the special features, "Raising a Sitcom Family," co-creators Eileen Heisler & DeAnn Heline talk about how the show is their "love letter to the Midwest." I think they did a great job on these season 1 episodes. Axl, Sue, and Brick actually look like kids you'd see in the neighborhood. Their near constant bickering is almost too real, as it reminds me of when I fought with my younger sister and brother over the tiniest things. I love Mike's honest reactions to the often ridiculous drama of teenagers. The relationship between Frankie and Mike is great to watch because unlike many shows where the husband and wife whine about each other's shortfalls, this is a marriage where they try to solve problems together. I also appreciate the details in the show's set design, with its messy kitchen table and counters. You know, I think it is the messiness of The Middle that makes the show so easy to relate to and so entertaining to watch. If you haven't already checkout out this show, now in its second season on ABC, I recommend you watch these season 1 episodes!

The Middle - Season 1
Find it in the catalog!

Movies playing in March at the Dundee Library

2011-03-05T14:15:00.001-06:00

Hud (not rated)
Thursday, March 17 at 6 PM
Catch a Classic at the Library: Paul Newman Films
Attend one of our classic screenings and see for yourself how nothing compares to watching movie stars such as Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, or James Dean on the big screen. In our classic film series for March through May, we are focusing on the career of Paul Newman. Newman received a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Hud Bannon in the 1963 film Hud. Melvyn Douglas won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, Patricia Neal won for Best Actress, and James Wong Howe won for Best Cinematography (black and white).

Shrek Forever After (PG)
Saturday, March 19 at 2 PM
The fourth and final installment in the Shrek series.

The Social Network (PG-13)
Wednesday, March 23 at 6 PM
Named best film of the year by countless critics associations, from the Chicago Film Critics Association to the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association, and one of ten Best Picture nominees at this year's Academy Awards. The Social Network took home Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin), Best Score (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross), and Best Editing. Featuring award-worthy performances from up-and-coming actors Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Armie Hammer.

Just for Teens: Spring Break Movie Marathon
Monday, March 28 at 1:30 PM
Watch 3 movies recently released on DVD, answer movie trivia, and eat popcorn! Vote for which movies you want to watch on the Teen Blog or fill out a voting slip from the book display in the teen department.

Nowhere Boy

2011-02-24T16:55:00.003-06:00

This film is about the teenage John Lennon at a pivotal point in his life during the years 1955-1960. The plot focuses on his relationship with his aunt Mimi, who raised him, and his mother Julia, who reappears in his life after being absent throughout his childhood. At this time John is drawn to rock 'n' roll music and begins the formation of a band, The Quarrymen.

As John, British actor Aaron Johnson is practically unrecognizable from his previous role as Dave Lizewski in Kick Ass, in which he played a bullied American teenager who decides to become a superhero. Not only does Johnson have the Liverpudlian accent down, but he also plays the banjo and guitar and does his own singing in the film. I was very impressed with his performance, in addition to those of his co-stars. Kristin Scott Thomas plays Mimi, who avoids showing or sharing emotions at all costs, even after the death of her husband. Despite her somewhat cold exterior, her love for John is still conveyed through her daily reminders of "glasses!" as he walks out the door, or the disappointed look on her face when he comes home late after a birthday party at Julia's. Julia, played by Anne-Marie Duff, teaches John to play the banjo and shares her love of the latest rock 'n' roll songs with him. Very free-spirited, she behaves more like a friend to John than a mother. She wants to make up for lost time with John, despite the objections of her husband and Mimi.

Nowhere Boy also shows John's first meetings with Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Thomas Brodie-Sangster plays Paul, and one of my favorite sequences in the film is John and Paul recording the song "In Spite of All the Danger." I recommend this movie to you if you enjoy biopics, Beatles music, or just want to check out the talent of rising star Aaron Johnson.

NEW DVD DRAMA NOWHERE
Find it in the catalog!

Robyn at the Riveria Theatre, 2/14/11

2011-02-16T20:15:00.001-06:00

This Valentine's Day, Swedish pop singer Robyn played a sold out show at Uptown's Riviera Theatre. She was originally scheduled to perform last Friday, but the show had to be rescheduled due to an illness. Opening for her were two performers I wasn't familiar with: Natalia Kills and Diamond Rings.

This was my first time going to the Riv and I was pleasantly surprised. Even though it's twice Metro's capacity, it doesn't really feel all that much bigger. It is also well staffed; no twenty minute waits for the bar here! The sound quality seemed much better than neighboring venue the Aragon. Although, the bathroom situation is pretty desperate.

Natalia Kills was the first up. She is a British singer/ songwriter who has a slightly darker and arty take on pop music. She had a strong singing voice and charisma; plus she and her dancers had pretty interesting choreography. The audience seemed to enjoy her performance.

Diamond Rings's set was less well received, but not because his performance was lacking. There was a long pause between the first and second performances and the audience was more than a little antsy. It's hard to blame them, normally you don't wait 45 minutes for an opening act. Still, it's pretty rude to call out for a headliner during an opening act. Or spend the entire time talking over a performance. Anyway, Diamond Rings set might have been a little on the long side, but he seemed to take much of the audience indifference in stride. He has a new wave pop sound and a David Gahan-esque voice. In a smaller venue and under better circumstances, he'd probably be much more enjoyable.

The audience for the show was a mixture of hardcore fans and people just looking to party. A couple people even came in costume, including one guy who glued pieces of a paper to his face to emulate the Body Talk, Part 3 cover. That's some serious dedication there. There were a lot more guys than girls in attendance, which I found a little surprising. Most of the audience was polite (actually saying "Excuse me" when moving about!) and very excited to be there. However, a few attendees behavior was on the obnoxious side. And some people refused to let others pass by them, like concert trolls. Thankfully, the stupidity pretty much died down by Robyn's set.

Robyn finally took the stage around 9:45 PM (the concert started at 7:30 PM). She opened with "Time Machine" and the audience quickly transformed into one big awkward dance party. The Black Keys are known for their breakneck pace live, but Robyn could give them a run for their money. She managed to get through almost all of the songs you can dance to on all three Body Talk albums, plus a few tracks from Robyn (including "Cobrastyle," "With Every Heart Beat," and "Konichiwa B----s"), in an hour and half long performance.

Robyn has real stage presence and boundless energy, as she danced throughout the entire double encore set! Her live backing band was a nice addition. They really showed off their skills doing a remix/ combo of "We Dance to the Beat" and "Don't F----ing Tell Me What to Do." Other highlights from the show include, "Dancing on My Own," "Indestructible," "Hang with Me," and "With Every Heart Beat." She closed with probably her most well-known song stateside, mid-90's hit "Show Me Love." It was oddly inspiring to know she still performs stuff from her teen pop star days! And scary to discover that I somehow had the lyrics to that song lodged in my subconscious for the last fifteen years.

Even though last Friday I was bummed to discover the show had been delayed, Robyn's many songs of heartbreak seemed especially appropriate for Valentine's Day. It was fun and uplifting to dance and sing-a-long to unrequited love songs, like a concert and group therapy session in one! Robyn will be opening up for Katy Perry on her next tour. Even though I'm not really a fan of Perry, I actually dig this combination and hope it introduces Robyn to a teen audience. Robyn may use her fairshare of profanity, but she has strong and empowering outlook in her songs that positively differentiate her from a lot of pop stars.

Check out one of Robyn's albums:

Body Talk, Part 3 (2010).
Find it in the catalog!

Body Talk, Part 2 (2010).
Find it in the catalog!

Body Talk, Part 1 (2010).
Find it in the catalog!

Robyn (2008).
Find it in the catalog!

Robyn is Here (1997).
Find it in the catalog!

Take My Breath Away: Love Songs

2011-02-13T14:28:00.005-06:00

I generally prefer my music to be sad, with the occasional twist of bitter, but that doesn't mean I don't occasionally fall for a nice love song. In honor of St. Valentine's Day, below is a list of some of my favorite romantic songs. This is not a list of the greatest love songs of all time, so don't be offended that I didn't include "Take My Breath Away" or "In Your Eyes." Also, the author is not responsible for the repercussions of putting any of these songs on a mix tape for your lady friend.

That Teenage Feeling- Neko Case
From: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006).
Find it in the catalog!

This song nicely contrasts a skeptical, but mature outlook on love with a naive, but romantic teenage one:

Now that we've met, we can only laugh at these regrets
Common as a cold, They are telephone poles
They follow each other, one after another,
After another...
But now my heart is green, like weeds
Grown to outlive the season
And nothing comforts me the same
As my brave friend who says:
"I don't care if forever never comes,
Because I'm holding out for that teenage feeling."

Slow Show- The National
From: Boxer (2007).
Find it in the catalog!

Like any song from the National, it's hard to tell exactly what it's about. However, there definitely some angst in this song. I couldn't help myself though, because there is a lot of sweetness in the song too:

I want to hurry home to you
Put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
So you can put a blue ribbon around my brain
God, I'm very very frightened
I'll over do it
You know I dreamed about you
For 29 years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for, for 29 years

Johnsburg, Illinois/ Shore Leave- Tom Waits
From: Swordfishtrombones (1983).
Find it in the catalog!

This is kind of a toss up for me. Both songs are about his wife and from the same album. But I'm leaning more towards "Johnsburg, Illinois," because I grew up in the next town over. And that song is definitely the coolest thing about Johnsburg.

She's my true love
She's all that I think of
Look here is my wallet
That's her
She grew up on a farm there
There is a place on my arm
Where I've written her name
Next to mine
(from "Johnsburg, Illinois")

And I wondered how the same moon outside
Over this Chinatown fair
Could look down on Illinois
And find you there
And you know I love you, baby
And I'm so far away from home
And I miss my baby so
And I can't make it by myself
I love you so
(from "Shore Leave")

Higher Power- Jonathan Richman.
From: I, Jonathan (1992).
Find it in the catalog!

Jonathan may have a childlike outlook on romance and well, pretty much everything else, but he's awesome and this song will give you a case of the awwws...

They say that magic and the science world collide
But Einstein saw me looking at her and he joined my side
And I knew how it would be the way she hated me
And there must be a higher power somewhere

It's magic It's magic the way we got together
It's magic It's freedom, it's fair
It's magic It's magic no not at random
And there must be a higher power somewhere

Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)- Beach Boys
From: Pet Sounds (1966).
Find it in the catalog!

Pet Sounds harmonies and melodies have a vague uneasiness to them (it's the theremin!) that make the love songs that much easier for me to digest. This song is a nice balance of sweet and bittersweet:

I can hear so much in your sighs
And i can see so much in your eyes
There are words we both could say
But don't talk, put your head on my shoulder

About You- Jesus and Mary Chain
From: Darklands (1987).
Find it in the catalog!

Coming out of the relatively gloomy mid-80s post-punk scene (think: Cure and the Smiths), the JMC are surprisingly upbeat. Especially on this track, which finds them getting all mushy over some girl, in a way that doesn't end badly!

People die in their living rooms
But they do not need this God almighty gloom
There's something warm about the rain
There's something warm
There's something warm
There's something warm in everything
I know there's something good
About you about you
I know there's something warm
There's something warm
Good about you

Think I'm In Love- Beck.
From: The Information (2006).
Find it in the catalog!

I love the honesty and bluntness of this song:

I really think I better get a hold of myself
Don't wanna let the night get ahead of myself
Whisperin' her love through a smoke ring smile
She doesn't know what happens when she's around

I think I'm in love
But it makes me kinda nervous to say so
I think I'm in love
But it makes me kinda nervous to say so

I Remember- Yeasayer.
From: Odd Blood (2010).
Find it in the catalog!

If hipsters ever need a wedding song or a prom anthem, this is pretty much it. Chris Keating wrote the song for his future wife, who temporarily cured his fear of flying:

I remember making love on a Sunday
bright golden hearts in a fresh cut grass in May
I remember making out on an airplane
Still afraid of flying, but with you I'd die today

Four Provinces- The Walkmen.
From: You and Me (2008).
Find it in the catalog!

Musically this song has a lot of nervous energy to it, but the lyrics are oh so romantic:

Every bone in my body
Rubbed at one time or two
Every hour of the wrong day
Try to spend it with you
Every year that I’m living
Try to stick by its side
The sun goes down
The moon comes up
The sky is black and blue
Me I stand running with you

Bluish- Animal Collective.
From: Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009).
Find it in the catalog!

This song perfectly captures the excitement of falling love:

I'm getting lost in your curls
I'm drawing pictures on your skin
So soft it twirls
I like your looks when you get mean
I know I shouldn't say so but
When you claw me like a cat, I'm beaming
I like the way you squeeze my hand
Pulling me into another dream,
A lucid dream

TV Kisses Mashup

2011-02-12T12:05:00.001-06:00

Even if you prefer to celebrate the birthday of women's rights activist Ann Howard Shaw over Valentine's Day on February 14, I don't think you will regret checking out this "TV Kisses Mashup" video from the AOL TV Squad. Lucy and Ricky! Clair and Cliff! Sawyer and Kate! Kevin and Winnie! (aw.) Watch this clip to see if you can spot your favorite TV couples.

Was anyone else reminded of the montage of kisses at the end of the 1989 Italian film Cinema Paradiso?

I Think I Need A New Heart: Break-Up Albums

2011-02-10T12:53:00.004-06:00

In honor of single people's least favorite holiday, I complied a list of my favorite break up albums. The only thing I love more than songs about heartbreak is whole albums devoted to the topic. Why spend minutes wallowing in self-pity, when you can spend hours!? For a truly pathetic Valentine's Day celebration, I recommend watching Say Anything, in addition to checking out one of these albums. You can spend the evening crying, because no one will ever love you as much as Lloyd Dobler loves Diane Court. (un)Happy listening!:

Sea Change by Beck.

Find it in the catalog!

With moody, spare steel guitar work and song titles like “Lonesome Tears” and “Guess I’m Doing Fine,” it’s no wonder Sea Change has become a classic break up album. However, those going through real romantic pain will probably find it a bit too mellow to weep to.

Best Songs of Suffering: “Lost Cause,” “The Golden Age,” and “Side of the Road.”

Attack and Release- The Black Keys

Find it in the catalog

Pretty much any Keys album will work for a break up. These dudes know pain and that’s why we love them! However, this album probably has the most heartbreak per square inch. This album rocks pretty hard, so you won’t need your hanky. Recommend for those angry post-break up moments.

Best Songs of Suffering: “Remember When (Side A),” “Psychotic Girl,” “Lies,” and “Things Ain’t Like They Used to Be.”

For Emma, Forever Ago- Bon Iver

Find it in the catalog!

If you are so heartbroken that you want to lock yourself away in a remote cabin, this is the album for you. Inspired by a real life break up, this album has lots of moody and introspective songs.

Best Songs of Suffering: “Skinny Love,” “Blindsided,” and “Forever Emma.”

Dog Problems- The Format
Find it in the catalog!

Finally, some sadness we can dance to! This quirky power-pop album is full of funny and relatable break up songs, including a fair amount of bitterness and pain as well as the awkwardness of trying to date again. It’s also a fun album to sing along with.

Best Songs of Suffering: “Time Bomb,” “Oceans,” “She Doesn’t Get It,” “Dead End” and “If Work Permits.”

Graceland by Paul Simon.
Find it in the catalog!

This album covers divorce, redemption, parenthood, facing middle age, and a lot more, so it’s not really fair to call it a break up album. However, there is lots of lyrical darkness and bitterness for the newly single to latch on to.

Best Songs of Suffering: “Graceland,” “Gumboots,” “That Was Your Mother,” and “Crazy Love, Volume II.”

Disintegration by the Cure.
Find it in the catalog!

Robert Smith’s lyrics often recall the overwrought emotions of a teenager, so it’s no wonder that this was my favorite break up album in high school. Earnest, super emotional, and grandiose, Disintegration is the perfect break up album when you really, really want to feel everything intensely.

Best Songs of Suffering: “Plainsong,” “Pictures of You,” Prayers for Rain,” “Disintegration,” pretty much all of them.

Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit:

Find it in the catalog!

This album is pretty keenly focused on the messy emotions that come with being dumped. The band’s big, orchestral sound combined with singer Scott Hutchinson’s melancholy Scottish brogue really sell the heartbreak here.

Best Songs of Suffering: “The Modern Leper,” “Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms, “ and “Keep Yourself Warm.”

Must-see mini-series: Luther

2011-02-09T19:20:00.002-06:00

From the U.K. comes a fascinating detective/crime mini-series. Idris Elba stars as John Luther, a moral detective who isn't always lawful. He is a complicated man leading a complicated life. As the mini-series begins, he is suspended from his job for one of his moral, but unlawful incidents and is separated from his wife Zoe (Indira Varma), although he doesn't quite understand why. Eventually reinstated, his first case back introduces him to Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), a psychopath, who he ends up befriending. In the context of the series, it makes sense: Luther goes to her to understand the mind of a criminal (besides the slight attraction they share). Their pairing is the most interesting dynamic of the show. It is this relationship that exposes Luther, and the viewer, to the moral ambiguity that sometimes exists in the world.

Each episode features a new criminal that Luther must catch, besides the other issues lingering in his life that tie in across all episodes. The format of the show is similar to Law & Order: Criminal Intent (if you're familiar), in which it allows the viewer in on the perpetrator from the beginning. We delve more into Luther's methods, rather than the criminals'. The last three episodes (of six) are extraordinarily compelling because Luther's personal and professional lives collide in a big way. Excellent viewing for cold winter nights.

It appears that BBC has ordered two more two-hour episodes of the show. Yipee!

Luther
Find it in the catalog!

Happy birthday, James Dean

2011-02-08T16:45:00.002-06:00

Banner hanging in
Fairmount. (DP July 2010)

Actor James Dean was born 80 years ago, February 8, 1931, in Marion, Indiana. Dean briefly lived in Santa Monica, California, from the ages of six to nine with his parents until the death of his mother, Mildred. After her death, Dean's father, Wilton, remained in California and sent Dean to live Fairmount, Indiana, where he was raised by his uncle Marcus and aunt Ortense on their farm. Following high school graduation, Dean went to California for college, attending Santa Monica City College and UCLA before dropping out. In 1951 Dean moved to New York to do theater and TV work and became part of the Actors Studio in 1953. Director Elia Kazan hired Dean to star in East of Eden in March 1954. Dean's talent was undeniable to audiences when East of Eden hit theaters in March 1955, and his career began to take off within the course of a couple months, in which time he completed filming Rebel Without a Cause and Giant one after the other. Before either of those films were released, Dean was killed in an automobile crash on the way to a car race in California in September 1955. September 30, 2010 marked the 55th anniversary of his death. Each year Fairmount, Indiana holds a James Dean Festival to celebrate his life and work.

East of Eden, released in March 1955
DVD FICTION EAST
Find it in the catalog!
James Dean received a posthumous Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role as Cal Trask.

Rebel Without a Cause (Finished filming in June 1955; film was released October 1955.)
DVD DRAMA REBEL
Find it in the catalog!
We will be screening this film at the library this Saturday at 2 PM.

Giant (Finished filming in September 1955; film was released November 1956.)
DVD FICTION GIANT
Find it in the catalog!
James Dean received a posthumous Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role as Jett Rink.

More about James Dean from the library:
*James Dean: Fifty Years Ago by Dennis Stock (2005)
Dennis Stock, a photojournalist, met James Dean at a party thrown by the director Nicholas Ray. The photos in this book were taken by Stock for a photo essay for Life magazine. Dean visits his hometown of Fairmount, Indiana, in February 1955, before the release of East of Eden. Photos capture him on the farm with his cousin, aunt, and uncle, walking around town, and visiting his old high school. Stock also photographs Dean around New York, where Dean kept a small apartment. Dean goes through ballet poses in a dance class and falls asleep in his accountant's office and even at the bar with a cigarette in his hand (Stock says he was an insomniac). Lastly Stock accompanies Dean to LA during the shooting of Rebel Without a Cause.

Rebel: The Life and Legend of James Dean by Donald Spoto (1996) and James Dean: Little Boy Lost by Joe Hyams with Jay Hyams (1992) are both located in the Biography section.

James Dean's grave in Park Cemetery in Fairmount. (DP July 2010)

Screening of "The Other Guys" rescheduled

2011-02-04T09:51:00.002-06:00

I'm like a peacock, you gotta let me fly!

-Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg)

Originally scheduled to be shown on Wednesday, February 2, The Other Guys will now be screened on Thursday, February 24 here at the Dundee Library at 6 PM. Popcorn and refreshments will be available as always.

We're not going to let a Chicago blizzard get in the way of some great laughs! Join us on February 24 and you, too, will learn from Allen Gamble, Will Ferrell's character in the movie, how a tuna can win a fight against a lion.

Oscar watch: The Social Network

2011-01-30T15:39:00.003-06:00

Released in October, The Social Network details the the first few years of Facebook's founding by Mark Zuckerberg (Jessie Eisenberg) and Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). It is based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich.

The tag line for the film says is all: "You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies." Not only does Zuckerberg begin Facebook on a sour note, he steps on a few people along the way. Now, is this the entire story of what happened during Zuckerberg's rise to the top? Maybe not, but that doesn't detract from the sharp storytelling of this film. The opening scene alone gives the viewer an indication of what's in store: a 5 minute single-take, dialogue laden break-up scene. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

There is not a single weak link in the cast. Eisenberg plays Zuckerberg like a slightly socially awkward and obnoxious boy with the brain of a hyper-intelligent man. Justin Timberlake, who plays Sean Parker, could be perceived to be a gamble in a serious role such as this, but he is assured as a paranoid and manipulative mentor to Eisenberg's character. Armie Hammer does double duty as the Winklevoss twins and I think he succeeds at showing the subtle differences between the brothers. Andrew Garfield is the calm inside the storm; he plays the heart, whereas Eisenberg plays the head.

Oscar predictions: Though Jessie Eisenberg is earnest and somewhat sympathetic as Zuckerberg, I don't think he will beat out Colin Firth for Best Actor. Eisenberg is talented and I'm sure we'll see him nominated again. For Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture, I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that David Fincher and The Social Network will take home these prizes. The overall consistency of the production, acting, and storytelling is top-notch. (Of course, The King's Speech could take home Best Picture. I've gotta give myself an out here ...)

The Social Network
Find it in the catalog!

Song Obsessions of the Moment

2011-01-28T08:08:00.003-06:00

1). "Eyesore" by Women.
From: Public Strain (2010).
Find it in the catalog!

I loved the song "Black Rice" from Women's 2008 self-titled debut album. But overall, I'm a bigger fan of the second album by this Canadian rock band. They have a spare, post-punk sound that reminds me more than a little bit of Wire, and the album's bleak mood is near perfect winter listening. "Eyesore" is the last track on the album and is nearly six minutes long, but it's probably the catchiest song on Public Strain. "Eyesore" has some interesting shifts in song structure about midway through, and the harmonies are wonderfully haunting.

2). "Lost Verses" by Sun Kil Moon.
From: April (2008).
Find it in the catalog!

This is more of a long term obsession for me, but I recently became re-obsessed with it while I was compiling a mix of songs of heartbreak and despair for our Young and Restless Unvalentine's Day Party (you should come!). It is probably my favorite ever Sun Kil Moon song; though "Light," which immediately follows it on April, would be a close second. "Lost Verses" is a nine minute epic that is written from the perspective of a ghost. It manages to be both sorrowful and uplifting.

3). "Laughing Hieroglyphics" and "Oliver Twist" by Avey Tare. From: Down There (2010).
Find it in the catalog!

Animal Collective co-mastermind Avey Tare's solo album is one of my favorite records from last year. The whole album has a swampy, dark vibe that makes it perfect to listen to when you're not in the best of moods, but you can still dance to it. "Laughing Hieroglyphics" and "Oliver Twist" are my two favorite songs from the album, probably because they both have killer beats. "Laughing Hieroglyphics" show cases Avey's unique and emotional vocals. "Oliver Twist" has a very cool and very danceable mid-song shift.

4). "Say Valley Maker" by Smog. From: A River Ain't Too Much to Love (2005).
Find it in the catalog!

I love Bill Callahan's use of natural imagery in his songs. Here he uses a river to describe a person drifting there way through life, and why maybe that's not the best way to live. I really like the way the song builds up to the closer.

5). "Monster" by Kanye West. From: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).
Find it in the catalog!

MBDTF pretty much topped all best of 2010 album lists (well, besides ours), but I didn't really think I would like it. And besides, with his over the top Twitter feed and award show interrupting, Kanye isn't exactly the most popular or easiest to like celebrity. However, after listening to it, I found that I enjoyed MBDTF quite a bit. It's a catchy and showy album, but it still wouldn't make my top ten list for last year (it was a pretty great year for music). "Monster" was the track that stood out the most for me on the album, mostly because of Nicky Minaj's awesome cameo.

The Dundees: Our Alternative Oscars

2011-01-26T20:12:00.003-06:00

The Oscar nominations this year are kind of a snoozefest. Is there anyone that was nominated that was really a surprise? Though big yays for Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, and John Hawkes, even though none of them will probably win. Also, Ryan Gosling, Andrew Garfield, and Matt Damon snubbed; the Academy is clearly biased against the dreamy!

So in opposition to the stodgy and predictable Oscars, I created my own alternative Oscars with slightly different categories. Also, some TV awards are thrown in for good measure:

Funniest Movie of the Year: The Other Guys. If this was best comedy, Easy A would win hands down. It's a better executed film, but it's hard to resist the silliness of a Will Ferrell and Adam McKay joint. Which is why it's the movie that I laughed the most at this year. Mark Wahlberg gives a hilarious performance as Will Ferrell's side kick. And Michael Keaton is straight up awesome in this!

Find it in the catalog!

Best Romantic Comedy: Going the Distance. Granted there's not a lot of competition for this slot- Killers? The Bounty Hunter? Come on! But romantic comedy or not, this is a pretty hilarious movie. I love the scene with Jim Gaffigan and his sandwich!

Find it in the catalog!

Most Enviable Wardrobe, Female Performance: Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olsen on Mad Men. Secretarial goddess Joan (Christina Hendricks) used to have the wardrobe to envy, but Peggy seemed to have a gotten a makeover between Seasons 2 and 3. She now has a flirty and fun work wardrobe that seems more modern than Joan's.

Most Enviable Wardrobe, Male Performance: Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Inception. Sure, he may still look like a teenager, but he can pull off a three piece suit in a way that would make your grandfather jealous. Dude knows how to dress like a grown-up.

Find it in the catalog!

Best Supporting Performance, Eye Patch: Rooster Cogburn's eye patch in True Grit. "I thought you were gonna say the sun was in your eyes. That is to say... your eye."- LaBouef (Matt Damon).

In theaters now.

Dreamiest Performance by an Actor in a Television Series: Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation. State auditor Ben is probably one of the most sincere and nice characters Adam Scott has ever played, even if he is usually the bearer of bad news. It's hard not to admire Ben's harsh doling out of truth, compared to his coworker Chris, who is super-positive but afraid to be the bad guy. Also, Ben has amazing chemistry with nemesis/ love interest Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler).

Breakout Star (of My Dreams): Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin in the Social Network. Garfield has loads of nerdy charm, so it's hard not to fall for him, even when he's done something unforgivable. But Eduardo is just an all around nice guy and he's the heart and soul of the Social Network. Garfield plays Eduardo as geeky, awkward and super relatable. It's a testament to Garfield's performance that I found myself siding with privileged Eduardo over a middle-class self-made man-boy like Mark Zuckerberg. Also, he is soooo cute!

Find it in the catalog!

Also worth mentioning, mainly because it involves robots, is Garfield's performance in Spike Jonze's cautionary robot love story and PSA against Of Montreal concerts, I'm Here. He plays a shy, sweet robot named Sheldon, who is probably one of the cuddliest cinematic robots outside of Wall-E. Sheldon works as a library assistant, which only endears himself to me more. I'm Here is equal parts romantic and devastating and Garfield as Sheldon will break your heart.

Find it on the web! (Warning: Website sponsored by Absolut, must be 21 to enter site. Strange as robots don't drink vodka...)

Breakout Star, Female Performance: Mia Wasikowska as Joni in the Kids are All Right. She gives a realistic performance as the smart and well-adjusted daughter of a lesbian couple. Bonus points for her cool Polish last name!

Find it in the catalog!

Most Improved Performance: Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker in the Social Network. Before this movie, the only acting performances I've enjoyed by JT were the music videos he's made for Saturday Night Live with Andy Samberg. Congratulations JT, you have redeemed yourself from the Love Guru.

Find it in the catalog!

Hunkiest Performance by an Actor in a Good Motion Picture: Mark Ruffalo as Paul in the Kids are All Right.
Find it in the catalog!

Hunkiest Performance by an Actor in a Not-So-Good Movie: Matthew Goode as Declan in Leap Year. I am certainly not recommending that anyone run out and see Leap Year. But Goode gives a charming performance as a cantankerous bar owner.

Find it in the catalog!

Best Culkin: Kieran, who was great as Wallace in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Find it in the catalog!

Best Dance Sequence: Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2. Take that Natalie Portman!

Find it in the catalog!

Best Underminer: Mila Kunis as Lily in Black Swan. Her character definitely has bad girl tendencies, but she also seemed cool-- especially compared to little miss perfect Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman). I guess it says something not nice about me that I was actually rooting for Lily.

In Theaters Now.

Best Soundtrack: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. For more high praises, check out Danielle's post on this soundtrack!

Find it in the catalog!

Best Ensemble Cast: The Social Network. Yeah, I accept that the Oscars only chose to nominate Jesse Eisenberg for the movie (totally deserved, btw). Even though Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield deserve to be nominated too. Maybe they just couldn't decide who deserved the nod the most. Also, lest the men get all the glory, Rooney Mara gives a short but sweet performance as Mark Zuckerberg's ex-girlfriend.

Find it in the catalog!

Movies playing in February at the Dundee Library

2011-01-25T20:45:00.002-06:00

The Other Guys (PG-13)
Wednesday, February 2 at 6 PM

Rebel Without a Cause (PG-13)
Saturday, February 12 at 2 PM
This is our final installment in our series Catch a Classic at the Library: '50s Film Favorites.
Interesting facts: September 30, 2010 marked the 55th anniversary of James Dean's death. February 8 would have been his 80th birthday.

Despicable Me (PG)
Saturday, February 19 at 2 PM

All movies are shown in the downstairs Meeting Room. Free popcorn and refreshments are always served. The door to the Meeting Room opens 30 minutes before the movie's start time. Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult.

Hope to see you at the movies!

What we're listening to: Glee. Volume 4: The Music

2011-01-24T20:41:00.001-06:00

NEW CD-MUSICAL ST VARIOUS GLEE
Find it in the catalog!

Glee. Volume 4 includes songs performed by McKinley High glee club New Directions from the first part of season 2, with the exception of songs from the Rocky Horror and Christmas episodes. On this CD you'll find three Britney Spears covers from the "Britney/Brittany" episode: "Me Against The Music," "Stronger," and my favorite, "Toxic." Although I was quite excited for Glee to cover Britney, I thought their versions (and the performances in the episode itself) stuck too close to the originals. I thought that only "Stronger," featuring Kevin McHale on lead vocals, and "Toxic," which utilized the entire cast, did something fun with her songs. The cast also takes on three Bruno Mars songs: "Billionaire," "Marry You," and "Just the Way You Are." Both "Marry You and "Just the Way You Are" are taken from the episode entitled "Furt," where Kurt's father and Finn's mother get married. "Marry You" is one of my favorite Bruno Mars songs, and although I prefer his version, I love the way the song is performed by New Directions as the walk down the aisle at the beginning of the wedding ceremony. Corey Monteith's cover of "Just the Way You Are" had me crying as I watched his character, Finn, sing to his new brother, Kurt. After the past issues between the two characters and Kurt being the target of bullies at school, I thought the performance of "Just the Way You Are" was quite heartfelt and beautiful. I don't know, Glee is often deemed a comedy, but more often than not I'm breaking out the tissues as I watch each week.

But back to the music. More highlights off this CD:

Chris Colfer's heartbreaking version of the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
Gwyneth Paltrow covering Cee Lo Green's "Forget You"
Darren Criss singing Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" -- I've already raved about this performance in my "Great performances in 2010 post".
Lea Michele's cover of "The Only Exception" by Paramore -- which also was the only non-Britney Spears song covered in the "Britney/Brittany" episode.
Joan Osbourne's "One of Us" performed by the entire cast in the "Grilled Cheesus" episode.

Missing: Jenna Ushkowitz and Amber Riley's awesome take on Florence + the Machine's "Dog Days Are Over;" Corey Monteith's cover of REM's "Losing My Religion" from the "Grilled Cheesus" episode.

What's Cooking at the Library?!?

2011-01-21T11:46:00.003-06:00

There's nothing us librarians love more than food (even more than books!) and now we have our own pseudo kitchen at the library. Even better yet, it's full of cookbooks, which you can check out and make actual delicious food with!

Oscar watch: The King's Speech

2011-01-12T18:20:00.002-06:00

What might be considered an historically trivial true story enlightens the masses in the The King's Speech, which explores the relationship between Prince Albert "Bertie", later to become King George VI (Colin Firth) and his speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Bertie has had a stammer since childhood, the possible reasons for which are explored beautifully in this film, and through the years he tries to correct his speech impediment which is becoming more embarrassing as his duties as a public figure increase. A sort of last-ditch-effort is attempted when his supportive wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) contacts Logue. Bertie and Lionel's relationship begins complicated (don't the best ones always?): in turns Bertie can be condescending and belittling to his "inferior" Logue, and the next be so completely vulnerable to him that he stammers excessively. Eventually a friendship is struck, but not without it's ups and downs-- and doubts.

As a film, the pacing is perfect, the performances top notch and the final scene, where Bertie must address his country on the eve of entering World War II, is exhilarating and a fulfilling conclusion to the flim. It was refreshing to see positive relationships portrayed.

Oscar predictions: Colin Firth will be nominated and win the Oscar for Best Actor. He was nominated last year for The Single Man, but did not win. The Academy often likes to reward careers, not just specific performances (although, in this case, he deserves to win for The King's Speech anyway). Geoffrey Rush will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. I don't think he will take the prize (Christian Bale is getting a lot of buzz for The Fighter this year), but he is a definite contender. Lastly, the screenplay will be nominated in the Best Original category. This is also a tough call; it is a contender but I don't know if it has enough splash to beat out the likes of the complex Inception.

The King's Speech
In theater's now, Rated R for language, 118 minutes

Classic Status: What's Next to the Moon

2011-01-12T13:00:00.001-06:00

What's Next to the Moon - Mark Kozelek
Find it in the catalog!

What's Next to the Moon contains ten gorgeously expressive acoustic songs, inexplicably derived from 1970s AC/DC tracks. On this 2001 recording, singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek proves that his unique brand of musical expression is distinctive enough to make any genre of music his own.

Even AC/DC devotees - such people surely exist - are unlikely to recognize the music on this album. Stripping away the power-chords and arena rock pomp, Kozelek uses only his voice and acoustic guitar to reinvent these songs as something like confessional folk-blues. A standout example of this almost alchemical transformation is the track "Bad Boy Boogie", with it's simple refrain: "they said stop and I said go, they said yes and I said no, they said fast and I said slow." To hear AC/DC front-man Bon Scott sing it, the song is about blind rebellion and how enticingly dangerous that makes the singer. Without altering a single lyric, Kozelek makes the song a moving reminiscence of childhood rebellion and the conflicts of adulthood. He seems to locate the heart of the song in this lyric: "Bein' bad ain't so bad, I've known more pretty women than most men have." Rather than a juvenile boast, which was certainly its initial purpose, Kozelek invests the line with wistful defiance, implying that there may be some solace in the narrator's contrarian lifestyle. Similar themes are explored on "Rock 'N' Roll Singer", in which a seemingly inborn desire for recognition conflicts with parental expectations. "My daddy worked from nine to five, Momma stayed home with me, And from the time that I was half alive, I knew what I wanted to be." (I can't help but be reminded of Keith Richards' immortal lines: "Always took candy from strangers, Didn't wanna get me no trade, Never want to be like papa, Working for the boss ev'ry night and day.") Released just three months prior to Old Ramon, the final album by Kozelek's band Red House Painters, What's Next to the Moon can be seen as a somewhat tentative solo album. While he didn't write the songs, he should be credited for the depth and range of emotion he brought to them.

What's Next to the Moon - Mark Kozelek
Find it in the catalog!

Wu-Tang at Congress Theater

2011-01-11T11:30:00.002-06:00

Saturday night, the mighty Wu-Tang Clan, pride of Staten Island, took to the stage at Chicago's Congress Theater. But fans had to wait, and wait, for the pleasure. Doors opened at 7:30, but there was a long delay before anything happened on stage, and then what felt like a never-ending stream of opening acts made their appearances. First up was DJ Rude One, who was a fairly low-key presence on stage, but played an impeccable selection of records by East Coast hip-hop acts. (The inclusion of "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" by Houston rappers the Geto Boys was something of an anomaly, but it's a classic, so I'm not going to nitpick.) I was particularly impressed with the way he inter-weaved several tracks by Nas, making the unrelated songs into a sort of mini-suite. Next up was Que Billah, an artist I was completely unfamiliar with. The only conclusion I can make is that Billah is some kind of '90s rap revivalist: he took the stage with a posse of over-eager hype-men, one of whom wore a backpack the entire set; Billa himself removed his left shoe at one point to emphasize the importance of sneakers; and at least twenty minutes of his set was devoted to covers of iconic rap recordings by performers far more successful than himself. I don't really know what to make of Billa's placement on the night's roster. Next up was Chicago native and current candidate for 20th ward alderman, Rhymefest. He performed a sampling of songs from his current album El Che and his 2006 debut Blue Collar. Rhymefest was heavy on audience interaction, even bringing an audience member on stage to rap Kanye West's verse for one song. (His version was quite proficient, I thought.) To their credit, the opening acts seemed cognizant of their second-fiddle status. Both Rhymefest and Que-Billa made mention of having seen Wu-Tang perform on that same stage back in 2006, and Mr. Billa candidly posed the question, "Who can open for Wu-Tang?" It was after Rhymefest's set that the video screen onstage lit up with a giant yellow Wu-Tang logo. The crowd took this to mean that the headliners were up next, but no, it was tangential Wu-affiliate LA the Darkman who took the stage. His repeated statement "I'm LA the Darkman and I represent that mighty, mighty Wu-Tang" was cold comfort for many in the audience, myself included. The Darkman was a powerful presence onstage, standing alone in the harsh lights and frequently dropping verses without DJ backing. (He name-checked DJ Muggs, and performed the track "Devil in a Blue Dress" from the now-classic Muggs album Soul Assassins.) His flow was impressive, and many in the audience expressed familiarity with his songs, but no one seemed sorry to see his set come to an end. Anticipation was sky-high at this point, and the chants of "Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang" repeatedly reached crescendo and died away.

Then, they were there, insouciantly filing in from stage right. This will sound strange, but Ghostface Killah, aka Tony Stark, seemed literally to be larger than life. He wore an over-sized red parka and matching red beanie, and there were several long moments where I thought, "Wow. How about that." Method Man confidently sported a pink scarf and bedazzled belt, which did nothing to diminish his well-known masculine swagger. GZA, aka The Genius, was spartanly attired in black long-sleeved shirt and no-nonsense jeans. Also in attendance: Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Capadonna, and a man I didn't recognize. While I'm taking stock of the group members and trying to account for the absence of Raekwon the Chef, the performance is already under way. DJ Mathmatics provided an appropriately grimy bed of noise for the emcees, who swiftly ran through canonical tracks from Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Wu-Tang Forever, and The W. It was Method Man who seemed to take charge of the proceedings, greeting the crowd with a charmingly subdued, "Good evening, Chicago. Welcome to the Wu-Tang show." (RZA, nominal leader of the Wu-collective, is not part of this tour. He is currently working on a film.) It was also Methond Man who brought the one truly sour note to the evening when he announced that Raekwon wouldn't be appearing, due to a "family emergency." Not giving us any time to lament this fact, the group continued to run through songs at a breakneck pace. The members generally paced the floor and focused on the music, but Method Man was inspired to jump, dance, and occasionally dive into the audience where he was held aloft by fans. Ghostface, always an anarchic personality, contentedly shuffled/danced about in the opposite direction of his fellow performers, grinning to himself. Method Man announced that we'd reached the part of the show where the performers like to pay tribute to former group member O.D.B. (Russell Tyrone Jones, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 35.) Then, he threw us a curve-ball. He announced that O.D.B. himself would be with us that night, and not metaphorically. This was a bit confusing, but the build-up served a purpose. O.D.B.'s first-born son, who does seem to resemble his father, rushed the stage and performed a couple high-energy tracks. He did a fine job recreating his father's legendary arrhythmical warble on "Shimmy Shimmy Ya." This was a fun surprise for the audience, and it seemed to me that Method Man went to great pains to build up the young man's confidence and make him comfortable in front of the large audience. The heir of "Big Baby Jesus" left the stage, and it was clear that the show was already winding down. Method Man thanked the audience for coming out, but a barrage of boos must have convinced him it wasn't quite time to hit the after-party yet. Several more songs were run through, the audience shouted along with the lyrics. It was after 12:30 at this point, but I think the audience would have gladly stayed another hour if the performers had been willing. I know I would have.

General Observations:

Waiting in line outside the main doors, I noticed that kitty-corner to the Congress is a martial arts studio. It seemed appropriate that the kung-fu obsessed rap collective would perform near a dojo.

DJ Rude One put on a "Depte Lives" t-shirt midway through his session. I assume this is a tribute to the Chicago graffiti artist of that name who passed away in 2005, but I may be mistaken.

Throughout his set, Rhymefest tossed handfuls of El Che CDs into the crowd, at one point deadpanning: "I'm about to be alderman, I can't sell this s&%# anymore."

According to more informed internet sources, Raekwon's "family emergency" was a solo concert in New Jersey. I'd rather not believe that rumor, but whatever.

Apparently, ancillary Wu-member Streetlife was the performer I was unable to identify during the Wu-Tang performance. Sorry to say, he made no impression on me whatsoever.

I find it telling that in RZA's absence, no songs were performed from the 2007 album 8 Diagrams. The emcees resistance to RZA's - visionary - production on that album has been well documented, and I have to assume that the touring members just weren't interested in revisiting those tracks.

Peter Yates: 1928-2011

2011-01-10T10:30:00.000-06:00

Peter Yates, director of Breaking Away, Bullitt, and The Friends of Eddie Coyle, passed away yesterday at the age of 82. Yates worked as a filmmaker for forty years, and was four times nominated for an Oscar. Of the several dozen films Yates produced and directed throughout his long career, I'll best remember the above-mentioned Steve McQueen film and the underrated classic The Friends of Eddie Coyle, which I have previously rhapsodized about here at the Media Corner.

Obit at guardian.co.uk