Sunday, August 17, 2003
Radiohead. Radiohead. Radiohead. Radiohead. Radiohead. Radiohead. Radiohead. Radiohead. Ahhhhhh....Radiohead live! Right now I've got Radiohead on the brain. I had the immense pleasure of catching them Friday night here in Montreal (same venue and time of year as in 2001, it's becoming a late summer tradition). Gorgeous day, outside venue, stage silhouetted by the setting sun and the downtown skyscrapers, Radiohead kicking it HARD, cool crowd (kudos to the guy with the awesome "Oh YEAAAAAAH" chant)...the only negative aspect of the concert is that it ended!
Having seen Radiohead twice now, both times in the post-Kid A/Amnesiac period, the thing that impresses me the most is how much the songs off those two albums absolutely rock live. First off, I should probably say that I enjoy those two albums tremendously. In fact, dare I say it, I didn't really get into Radiohead until Kid A's publicity buildup/release in fall 2000. Of course, I was well aware of "Creep" (but not Pablo Honey), The Bends and OK Computer (courtesy of my brother being in university when it came out..can you say constant exposure?) But Kid A impressed me: here was an apparently huge band that wasn't afraid of making great beats, guitars be damned. So, unlike the legions of "where's the fucken guitar" or "Karma Police! Karma Police!" people, Radiohead's move into the wilds of electronica made me a hardcore fan. (in fact, checking up on their influences for Kid A exposed me to some really interesting stuff, namely Aphex Twin)
Of course, I do admit that most songs on Kid A/Amnesiac do not initially come across as live crowd pleasers. Lots of blips and beeps, obscure soundscapes, eerie loops and feedbacks, Thom singing through his own voice backwards five times,etc...not exactly a recipe for wailing guitar rock anthems. However, you have to give credit to Radiohead: live, these songs ROCK. The minimalist approach on the album is replaced by massive, danceable beats with a healthy sprinkle of more conventional rock instruments (as in, it's not just Jonny Greenwood plugging wires into his hybrid phone operator switchboard/sound board, although that does go on) The songs evolve into wicked techno breakdowns (and I do mean breakdowns, cause it sounds like the sound boards are exploding) Kid A the album is definitely not to be put on at a party, but Kid A live is just all dancing, energetic goodness courtesy of the Trinity: Idioteque, National Anthem and Everything in Its Right Place. Wow.
As for the stuff off Hail To The Thief, it was tops but of course didn't get as much reaction from the crowd due to its recent release..(songs off Ok Computer definitely got the biggest cheers, but suprisingly it sounded like Kid A wasn't that far off). I think live versions to watch for in the future will be Punch Up at a Wedding, There There and especially Go To Sleep (who knows how that guitar solo was set up, it sounded like each note playing through five different speakers in competition with each other, out of control). In terms of Kid A style electronica beat explosions, I definitely think Sit Down/Stand Up and Backdrifts will be the ones to watch, the endings just ripe for massive extensions into barely coordinated noise. And of course the tunes from the Bends and Ok Computer were just soaring guitar masterpieces, what else could you expect, really.
In other news (besides Radiohead mania), I heard there was a little power failure in the Northeast US and Ontario. Being a resident of La Belle Province, I was spared this annoyance thanks to an independent power grid (one of the few good things to come out of Quebec nationalism). So while it seemed like the world was ending in certain places, the Montreal scene continued its usual summer pace of concerts and parties. Seriously, though: it was just a blackout! For those who were trapped in elevators, got in accidents, had serious health problems, were stranded super far from home: I feel bad for you. For those who had to walk a few miles to get home or bitched about missing the latest episode of their favourite television show: get a life.
Deal with it. Getting exercise or actually meeting your neighbours does not constitute a national emergency.
The average Third World city gets dirty water, tons of pollution, permanent gridlock, shoddy infrastructure and sketchy power grids...everyday! the shock! And more recently, it seemed like a decent amount of them have had to add "getting bombed" to their list of problems. The news has been full of talk of antiquated power grids, supply problems, new regulations,etc...But the biggest problem highlighted by the blackout in my opinion is the state of our great North American way: we have become so lazy, complacent and hooked on anti-social entertainment that a day or two without power is enough to declare the end of the world. It was cool to hear about people socializing en masse in their neighbourhood streets, but here's a newsflash: you don't need to lose power to have a block party, barbecue or drink copious amounts of beer.
That's all, off to Ottawa tomorrow to pick up my passport and new Chinese visa. I'm thinking about taking the bus instead of driving, it's more relaxing and I might stick around and take in some of the sites.
Having seen Radiohead twice now, both times in the post-Kid A/Amnesiac period, the thing that impresses me the most is how much the songs off those two albums absolutely rock live. First off, I should probably say that I enjoy those two albums tremendously. In fact, dare I say it, I didn't really get into Radiohead until Kid A's publicity buildup/release in fall 2000. Of course, I was well aware of "Creep" (but not Pablo Honey), The Bends and OK Computer (courtesy of my brother being in university when it came out..can you say constant exposure?) But Kid A impressed me: here was an apparently huge band that wasn't afraid of making great beats, guitars be damned. So, unlike the legions of "where's the fucken guitar" or "Karma Police! Karma Police!" people, Radiohead's move into the wilds of electronica made me a hardcore fan. (in fact, checking up on their influences for Kid A exposed me to some really interesting stuff, namely Aphex Twin)
Of course, I do admit that most songs on Kid A/Amnesiac do not initially come across as live crowd pleasers. Lots of blips and beeps, obscure soundscapes, eerie loops and feedbacks, Thom singing through his own voice backwards five times,etc...not exactly a recipe for wailing guitar rock anthems. However, you have to give credit to Radiohead: live, these songs ROCK. The minimalist approach on the album is replaced by massive, danceable beats with a healthy sprinkle of more conventional rock instruments (as in, it's not just Jonny Greenwood plugging wires into his hybrid phone operator switchboard/sound board, although that does go on) The songs evolve into wicked techno breakdowns (and I do mean breakdowns, cause it sounds like the sound boards are exploding) Kid A the album is definitely not to be put on at a party, but Kid A live is just all dancing, energetic goodness courtesy of the Trinity: Idioteque, National Anthem and Everything in Its Right Place. Wow.
As for the stuff off Hail To The Thief, it was tops but of course didn't get as much reaction from the crowd due to its recent release..(songs off Ok Computer definitely got the biggest cheers, but suprisingly it sounded like Kid A wasn't that far off). I think live versions to watch for in the future will be Punch Up at a Wedding, There There and especially Go To Sleep (who knows how that guitar solo was set up, it sounded like each note playing through five different speakers in competition with each other, out of control). In terms of Kid A style electronica beat explosions, I definitely think Sit Down/Stand Up and Backdrifts will be the ones to watch, the endings just ripe for massive extensions into barely coordinated noise. And of course the tunes from the Bends and Ok Computer were just soaring guitar masterpieces, what else could you expect, really.
In other news (besides Radiohead mania), I heard there was a little power failure in the Northeast US and Ontario. Being a resident of La Belle Province, I was spared this annoyance thanks to an independent power grid (one of the few good things to come out of Quebec nationalism). So while it seemed like the world was ending in certain places, the Montreal scene continued its usual summer pace of concerts and parties. Seriously, though: it was just a blackout! For those who were trapped in elevators, got in accidents, had serious health problems, were stranded super far from home: I feel bad for you. For those who had to walk a few miles to get home or bitched about missing the latest episode of their favourite television show: get a life.
Deal with it. Getting exercise or actually meeting your neighbours does not constitute a national emergency.
The average Third World city gets dirty water, tons of pollution, permanent gridlock, shoddy infrastructure and sketchy power grids...everyday! the shock! And more recently, it seemed like a decent amount of them have had to add "getting bombed" to their list of problems. The news has been full of talk of antiquated power grids, supply problems, new regulations,etc...But the biggest problem highlighted by the blackout in my opinion is the state of our great North American way: we have become so lazy, complacent and hooked on anti-social entertainment that a day or two without power is enough to declare the end of the world. It was cool to hear about people socializing en masse in their neighbourhood streets, but here's a newsflash: you don't need to lose power to have a block party, barbecue or drink copious amounts of beer.
That's all, off to Ottawa tomorrow to pick up my passport and new Chinese visa. I'm thinking about taking the bus instead of driving, it's more relaxing and I might stick around and take in some of the sites.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Well, I figured that after pretty much a week of constant partying (add wedding, old uni town visit, out of town friends to Montreal, and Montreal's general mess...shake ridiculously), I'd actually have something intelligent to say here to follow up my astounding opening blog. Of course, I was wrong. The week was awesome though, if not a little taxing on the system. Lots of good friends partying like it's 1999 (literally, see Stage's Beach Slam track list), trying to push back that ominous "give it up, the wild days are over, get your job" feeling. Of course, at 23 I probably shouldn't be so worried about that yet, but I just can't help it. I've been out of university for more than a year now, and I'm living in my parent's house doing a constant back and forth between the Playstation 2, the computer, the kitchen and various bars. Granted, I have been working in China for the past year and am going back in September, but I still feel like I should be doing more with myself for just these few weeks in Montreal. Damn you, proper upbringing! I was doing fine until my little trip back to Kingston and a certain sketchy bar, where I realized just how damn young university students are starting to seem. That's never a good sign...waking up half-falling off a couch surrounded by beer bottles and chips just ain't what it used to be, I guess.
Which, come to think of it, is probably why I can't stop laughing at even just the thought of Old School. I'm not exactly sure what that movie did right, but absolutely everyone I know can't get enough of it. In the past few weeks, I've honestly watched it about 10 times (please count in that number all the "fragment" viewings, as in the times you put it on hammered and promptly pass out) It's become somewhat of an end of night ritual around here, with drunks even singing the instrumental theme song as the DVD title menu comes on (yeah, it's that ridiculous). Will Farell, who usually annoys me to no end, is ridiculously tolerable in this movie, dare I say even ridiculously funny! Throw in Vince Vaughn, a "deer in headlights" Luke Wilson role and the complete celebration of youthful drunken abandon, and you can't really go wrong. To all the older twentysomethings and early thirtysomethings, stop kidding yourselves...no good job, nice car or sweet condo can outdo the sheer fun of the beer and chips couch days.
That's why I really think a Work Sucks DVD trilogy should be released. It would consist of Fight Club, Old School and Office Space, all great "fuck you!"s to corporate culture (and responsibility in general!) in their own ways:
Fight Club- Unlike the other two, definitely not the comedy, although some of the scenes/dialogue definitely poke good fun at work, marketing and consumerism. This one represents those who not only hark back to the good ol' days of youthful messes, but who also wish to see the whole capitalist consumerism machine come crashing down as well (goodbye credit card companies!). The whole thing is ridiculously slick and polished, imitating what it mocks, but it definitely deserves its place in this trilogy for the Ed Norton office scenes alone. Bottom line: work sucks, you aren't meant to live in an office tower. Go break something. Repeat wicked Dust Brothers soundtrack as needed.
Old School- Luke Wilson taking off from the lawyer's conference right at the beginning sets the stage for the thoroughly anti-work tone throughout. However, unlike Fight Club, where anti-work means starting a revolution and sending modern art sculptures crashing through a Starbucks, Old School just waxes nostalgic for the crazy parties of college days, politics be damned..and is ridiculously funny as a result. They both represent different strains of the youthful university experience: Fight Club the nights spent arguing about economics,politics and globalization, Old School the nights spent passed out by the keg with a lampshade on your head. Often, these two sides co-exist rather easily (see, well...uhh, the university careers of most of me and my friends!) Old School, however, is much more accessible and watchable than Fight Club, especially when...yeah...you are passed out with a lampshade on your head. Bottom line: Frank the Tank Forever. Repeat hilarious wedding singer scene as needed.
Office Space: This one is dedicated to those who wake up one day and realize they are 35, spending everyday in a cubicle with a job, life and boss they hate. Office Space is great not only as an anti-work masterpiece, but also as a complete mockery of office and corporate culture. Anyone who has worked in an office, even just for a summer, sees tons of the same ridiculousless parodied to the extreme in this movie. Useless memos, useless meetings, useless corporate motivational strategies, useless copying machines, bottom line as God...it's all here, being laughed at. Office Space, unlike Old School, doesn't spend any time idealizing the university days because it's just too damn busy making fun of how dumb working in an office is. Bottom line: You don't like your job? Stop going, or at least wear sandals. Repeat classic copy machine beatdown scene as needed.
Well, I guess you can tell by now that I'm dreading my increasingly likely decent into the office void. But hopefully one more year of China and then grad school can keep that at bay for a bit. I'm too young to die! Repeat Fight Club, Old School and Office Space as needed.
Which, come to think of it, is probably why I can't stop laughing at even just the thought of Old School. I'm not exactly sure what that movie did right, but absolutely everyone I know can't get enough of it. In the past few weeks, I've honestly watched it about 10 times (please count in that number all the "fragment" viewings, as in the times you put it on hammered and promptly pass out) It's become somewhat of an end of night ritual around here, with drunks even singing the instrumental theme song as the DVD title menu comes on (yeah, it's that ridiculous). Will Farell, who usually annoys me to no end, is ridiculously tolerable in this movie, dare I say even ridiculously funny! Throw in Vince Vaughn, a "deer in headlights" Luke Wilson role and the complete celebration of youthful drunken abandon, and you can't really go wrong. To all the older twentysomethings and early thirtysomethings, stop kidding yourselves...no good job, nice car or sweet condo can outdo the sheer fun of the beer and chips couch days.
That's why I really think a Work Sucks DVD trilogy should be released. It would consist of Fight Club, Old School and Office Space, all great "fuck you!"s to corporate culture (and responsibility in general!) in their own ways:
Fight Club- Unlike the other two, definitely not the comedy, although some of the scenes/dialogue definitely poke good fun at work, marketing and consumerism. This one represents those who not only hark back to the good ol' days of youthful messes, but who also wish to see the whole capitalist consumerism machine come crashing down as well (goodbye credit card companies!). The whole thing is ridiculously slick and polished, imitating what it mocks, but it definitely deserves its place in this trilogy for the Ed Norton office scenes alone. Bottom line: work sucks, you aren't meant to live in an office tower. Go break something. Repeat wicked Dust Brothers soundtrack as needed.
Old School- Luke Wilson taking off from the lawyer's conference right at the beginning sets the stage for the thoroughly anti-work tone throughout. However, unlike Fight Club, where anti-work means starting a revolution and sending modern art sculptures crashing through a Starbucks, Old School just waxes nostalgic for the crazy parties of college days, politics be damned..and is ridiculously funny as a result. They both represent different strains of the youthful university experience: Fight Club the nights spent arguing about economics,politics and globalization, Old School the nights spent passed out by the keg with a lampshade on your head. Often, these two sides co-exist rather easily (see, well...uhh, the university careers of most of me and my friends!) Old School, however, is much more accessible and watchable than Fight Club, especially when...yeah...you are passed out with a lampshade on your head. Bottom line: Frank the Tank Forever. Repeat hilarious wedding singer scene as needed.
Office Space: This one is dedicated to those who wake up one day and realize they are 35, spending everyday in a cubicle with a job, life and boss they hate. Office Space is great not only as an anti-work masterpiece, but also as a complete mockery of office and corporate culture. Anyone who has worked in an office, even just for a summer, sees tons of the same ridiculousless parodied to the extreme in this movie. Useless memos, useless meetings, useless corporate motivational strategies, useless copying machines, bottom line as God...it's all here, being laughed at. Office Space, unlike Old School, doesn't spend any time idealizing the university days because it's just too damn busy making fun of how dumb working in an office is. Bottom line: You don't like your job? Stop going, or at least wear sandals. Repeat classic copy machine beatdown scene as needed.
Well, I guess you can tell by now that I'm dreading my increasingly likely decent into the office void. But hopefully one more year of China and then grad school can keep that at bay for a bit. I'm too young to die! Repeat Fight Club, Old School and Office Space as needed.
