Greetings,
Well, it has happened. It took about seven years, but, finally, we have a new album from Fiona Apple. I'm not going to review it today, because I've only had it for a few days and it hasn't sunk in yet. Maybe some other time. But this new release has made me reflect on her career and its effect on me.
Like most people, I discovered her around 1996 or '97. I actually remember the first time I heard her music, and, believe it or not, it was on MTV. Yeah, back when the M actually meant something. Anyway, I was up late one night and I saw her video for "Sleep To Dream". I did like the video, but I was more taken aback by the song. Her voice, the lyrics, the music, it all just made sense to me. At that point, I was a mere couple of years into being a serious writer, so I was constantly on the lookout for things to inspire me. She definitely did that.
So I went right out and got her first album, Tidal, and it was (is) amazing. I think a lot of us gravitated toward her music, because, at the time, we were being bombarded with another wave of "pop" music. You know, boy bands, teen girl singers, and whatnot. She really was a breath of fresh air. Of course, with the good comes the bad. First, I heard a lot of people criticizing her for how skinny she was. To that I say, who cares? Let her be skinny. Although, I was shocked when I found out she was only 5'2 since she always looked about 5'9 to me. Okay, maybe she was a little on the waify side. Then, after her speech at the MTV awards, people started to turn against her. I think they thought she was being pretentious by telling kids to just be themselves and not try to do everything that famous people do just because they're famous. Yeah, that actually sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe since she was about 20 at the time, they felt she was in no position to say anything meaningful or intelligent. Because the youngsters aren't supposed to be smart. Whatever.
Now with her second album, even I have to admit that she might have been a little pretentious with the title. She gave the album a 91 word title. I guess it was a poem or something of which the first three words were "When the Pawn", so therefore everyone just calls that album When the Pawn . . . Part of me thinks she did this just to mess with people, and frankly, I'm fine with that, since I tend to do that a lot. Anyway, about the songs here, they were not as good as the first album, therefore, it did not do as well. The whole thing almost felt rushed, the way a lot of second albums that are following a big success often do. It seems as though she wrote a lot of it just to get it done. I could be wrong, and it does have its moments, but that's just my feeling.
Then she disappeared for a while. Hey, why not? In 2005, she returned with Extraordinary Machine. This one caused a lot of commotion. Fiona had recorded a version of the album, but both she and the label were dissatisfied with the results, so it was not released as is. This led a lot of fans to be angered at the label, thinking it was all their fault. Truth is, Fiona made the decision to redo the album. That one was released and, while not a huge commercial success, it was praised by many critics. I actually really like this album. It shows very well her influences, and it's a good listen. I think anyone who is a true fan of hers will be intrigued and entertained by this one.
Now we come to the new one, The Idler Wheel . . . Yes, three words and three dots again. I think her philosophy on album titles is "short, long, short, long". Just let her do what she wants. As I said, I just got this album and I have only listened to it all the way through once. I'm actually quite pleased with it. It's classic Fiona, exactly what you'd expect, but with a few surprises. Best thing, as usual for me, are the lyrics. I plan on really digging into this thing, but, for now, I can safely give it a very positive reaction.
So, in the span of 16 years, we have had four albums from Fiona Apple. I wish there were more, but I'd rather have quality than quantity. Actually, I'd rather have both, but whatever. I have heard that Fiona is not like a lot of writers, myself included, who constantly write. A lot of us do it like breathing. But she admits that she doesn't write just for the sake of writing. She doesn't say, "Well, I'm a songwriter. I better write a song". No, she writes when she has something worth writing. I love that about her. Better to write nothing than to write crap. She kind of reminds me of Daniel Day Lewis in this case. The way there are these massive spans of time between his movies, because he tends not to choose bad movies. He doesn't want to waste his time or ours, and neither does Miss Fiona.
Well, in closing, I am very happy that she is back. She has always been a great inspiration to me, and she's still on my list (my list being a list of people with whom I want to write. Nothing threatening there).
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Bleeding Heart Graffiti / Nina Gordon - Album Review
Greetings,
As promised, I am attempting to have my "review" posts catch up with my "top ten" posts, as well as finally doing some albums. I try never to go back on my word.
Today, I want to discuss an album about which I think not many people know. It's called Bleeding Heart Graffiti, and it's by a great artist named Nina Gordon. Before I get into this, I have to give a little back story, and I pray that all this info is correct.
In the nineties, Nina Gordon, alongside co-founder Louise Post, was in a band called Veruca Salt, one of the many bands seemingly part of the whole grunge movement. They had some hits, namely "Seether" and "Volcano Girls", the latter of which was popularized due to its being the opening theme music for the movie Jawbreaker. Anyway, Nina Gordon left the band in 1998, apparently surrounded by much drama, to pursue a solo career.
In 2000, she released her first album on her own, Tonight and the Rest of My Life, an album that, both lyrically and stylistically differs quite a bit from her previous work with Veruca Salt. Now the title track on that was a bit of a hit, and I recall it being featured in commercials for The Notebook. That's right, aspiring musicians. You want a hit? Play your song over Ryan Gosling's face. Unfortunately, beside that minor hit, the album did not do all that well as far as chart success goes. But I, in my infinite need to go against the flow, absolutely loved this album. I didn't think she could do any better, and she didn't. At least, not for another six years.
Enter Bleeding Heart Graffiti. This album was released in 2006 and was comprised mostly of re-recorded songs meant for an album called Even the Sunbeams. Nina scrapped that first effort because she was unhappy with its direction. Thankfully, though, she gave the songs a makeover, added a few new ones, thus giving us this gem.
It starts off with the title track which lasts about 42 seconds long. Yeah, there are three of these, not songs exactly, but interludes if you will, the other two being "This Was the Year" and "The Crickets Sound Like Sleigh Bells". I don't really know why she did this, but, even as short as they are, the melodies and the lyrics are still beautiful, and I'm pleased that she put them into the mix.
The first full song is called "Christmas Lights", a lyrically creative, very "love song" love song, but with a just a bit of Nina's edge. This sweet thing leads right into "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds". Now I'm pretty sure this song is simply an ode to loving a bad boy and not about vampires at all, but I can't help but think about the twisted relationship of Buffy and Spike when I hear it. That's right. Buffy and Spike, not Buffy and Angel, because everything that Spike said about Angel was true.
Moving on.
Now even though Nina adds some splashes of her rock past here, this album mainly consists of really well-crafted ballads. There is "Turn On Your Radio", which, since it is clearly about writing a song about a past relationship, hoping that the boy/man hears it, certainly prepared me for the likes of Taylor Swift. It's almost the biography of that little girl's career. We also have "Superstar", a classic song about getting to the one from whom you are apart. One of my favorites, though, is a song called "Watercolors". I really don't know what she is talking about here, but the lyrics are so beautiful, I don't mind. I suspect that it might be about being true to who you are no matter what. No wonder I love it.
As with even the best albums, this one has dips, but it is not any of the full songs, or interludes. No, there are no bad songs here. However, lyrically (and you know how I get about lyrics!) there are a few moments I could do without. I will not get specific because, in this case, it's not that big of a deal to me. To be fair, though, I had to point this out. Nobody's perfect.
Here is the biggest problem with Miss Nina Gordon and her albums. She simply does not make enough of them. I mean, as far as her solo work goes, she had one in 2000 and the next in 2006. Too much absence there. The good news is, I hope, according to this timeline, she should have something new by the end of this year. Although, she seems to be hiding away somewhere because she hasn't really been heard from at all in quite a while. But whatever makes her happy.
Anyway, to finish, Bleeding Heart Graffiti is definitely an album that should have been incredibly successful, but, these days, Nina Gordon's pesky habit of writing great songs probably worked against her. I can sum it up easily by simply stating that it has wonderful melodies and lyrics, and it is what a songwriter should strive to create. I only hope that one of the popular artists of today (Miss Swift perhaps) will discover this album, then order their minions to buy it. The good thing about them doing that, this time, is that none of them will regret it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
As promised, I am attempting to have my "review" posts catch up with my "top ten" posts, as well as finally doing some albums. I try never to go back on my word.
Today, I want to discuss an album about which I think not many people know. It's called Bleeding Heart Graffiti, and it's by a great artist named Nina Gordon. Before I get into this, I have to give a little back story, and I pray that all this info is correct.
In the nineties, Nina Gordon, alongside co-founder Louise Post, was in a band called Veruca Salt, one of the many bands seemingly part of the whole grunge movement. They had some hits, namely "Seether" and "Volcano Girls", the latter of which was popularized due to its being the opening theme music for the movie Jawbreaker. Anyway, Nina Gordon left the band in 1998, apparently surrounded by much drama, to pursue a solo career.
In 2000, she released her first album on her own, Tonight and the Rest of My Life, an album that, both lyrically and stylistically differs quite a bit from her previous work with Veruca Salt. Now the title track on that was a bit of a hit, and I recall it being featured in commercials for The Notebook. That's right, aspiring musicians. You want a hit? Play your song over Ryan Gosling's face. Unfortunately, beside that minor hit, the album did not do all that well as far as chart success goes. But I, in my infinite need to go against the flow, absolutely loved this album. I didn't think she could do any better, and she didn't. At least, not for another six years.
Enter Bleeding Heart Graffiti. This album was released in 2006 and was comprised mostly of re-recorded songs meant for an album called Even the Sunbeams. Nina scrapped that first effort because she was unhappy with its direction. Thankfully, though, she gave the songs a makeover, added a few new ones, thus giving us this gem.
It starts off with the title track which lasts about 42 seconds long. Yeah, there are three of these, not songs exactly, but interludes if you will, the other two being "This Was the Year" and "The Crickets Sound Like Sleigh Bells". I don't really know why she did this, but, even as short as they are, the melodies and the lyrics are still beautiful, and I'm pleased that she put them into the mix.
The first full song is called "Christmas Lights", a lyrically creative, very "love song" love song, but with a just a bit of Nina's edge. This sweet thing leads right into "Kiss Me 'Til It Bleeds". Now I'm pretty sure this song is simply an ode to loving a bad boy and not about vampires at all, but I can't help but think about the twisted relationship of Buffy and Spike when I hear it. That's right. Buffy and Spike, not Buffy and Angel, because everything that Spike said about Angel was true.
Moving on.
Now even though Nina adds some splashes of her rock past here, this album mainly consists of really well-crafted ballads. There is "Turn On Your Radio", which, since it is clearly about writing a song about a past relationship, hoping that the boy/man hears it, certainly prepared me for the likes of Taylor Swift. It's almost the biography of that little girl's career. We also have "Superstar", a classic song about getting to the one from whom you are apart. One of my favorites, though, is a song called "Watercolors". I really don't know what she is talking about here, but the lyrics are so beautiful, I don't mind. I suspect that it might be about being true to who you are no matter what. No wonder I love it.
As with even the best albums, this one has dips, but it is not any of the full songs, or interludes. No, there are no bad songs here. However, lyrically (and you know how I get about lyrics!) there are a few moments I could do without. I will not get specific because, in this case, it's not that big of a deal to me. To be fair, though, I had to point this out. Nobody's perfect.
Here is the biggest problem with Miss Nina Gordon and her albums. She simply does not make enough of them. I mean, as far as her solo work goes, she had one in 2000 and the next in 2006. Too much absence there. The good news is, I hope, according to this timeline, she should have something new by the end of this year. Although, she seems to be hiding away somewhere because she hasn't really been heard from at all in quite a while. But whatever makes her happy.
Anyway, to finish, Bleeding Heart Graffiti is definitely an album that should have been incredibly successful, but, these days, Nina Gordon's pesky habit of writing great songs probably worked against her. I can sum it up easily by simply stating that it has wonderful melodies and lyrics, and it is what a songwriter should strive to create. I only hope that one of the popular artists of today (Miss Swift perhaps) will discover this album, then order their minions to buy it. The good thing about them doing that, this time, is that none of them will regret it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, June 10, 2012
This is the Remake
Greetings,
This week brings us the premiere of the new remake of Dallas. Yes, we have another remake coming our way. Now I will probably give it a chance for two reasons. First of all, I love Patrick Duffy. Granted, I knew him more from Step by Step than the original Dallas, but I'm thrilled to see him back. And second, you never know. It might be good. Come to think of it, "you never know" seems to be what most people think when these remakes arise. While anytime a pilot is shown it does tend to be "hit or miss", the remake seems to be the most "hit or miss" venture on which one can embark.
Today, I will be discussing TV shows from the days of yore that have been revamped for a more current generation, not TV shows that have become movies, or vice versa. I just don't have the energy to go into all of that right now.
Now there have been a few remakes that have done quite well for themselves. While I don't think the new 90210 has been too critically acclaimed, (did you really expect it to be?) it has been on for about four years now, so it seems to be commercially successful. Teenagers (to say nothing of people in their twenties who like to pretend they are teenagers) will watch anything.
Of course, we have the new Hawaii Five-O which is doing very well. That is like a miracle to me considering it stars Alex O'Loughlin, who starred in two previously failed shows, Moonlight and Three Rivers. I actually liked both of those shows, but he was on the verge of becoming to the new millenium what Jennifer Love Hewitt was to most of the 90's. In short, a person you should never put in a pilot. But it seems the third time was the charm for him.
And I have heard that the first go round of Battlestar Galactica in 1978 was a major flop. It came back in 2004 to be quite a successful show, albeit with more of a cult following since it wasn't on a major network. Still, it's hard to give any criticism to a show that has gone above and beyond most of these remakes.
Now what to say about the sucky ones? Yeah, I said sucky. There are almost too many to mention, but I'll do my best.
While the new 90210 is hanging in there, the new version of its cousin show, Melrose Place, did not fare as well. When you think back though, the only reason the original Melrose Place was successful was because they abandoned their initial premise. I mean, who wants to observe the goings on of a group of twenty-somethings in LA? Yeah, nobody. But if you make 90% of the characters completely insane, people will watch. And, boy, did they! What was the new version of the show going to do in this non-shockable time in which we live? And I think if I mention that one of the stars was Ashlee Simpson, I can leave it at that.
A failed remake is nothing new to the Aaron Spelling camp. Back in the late 90's, they tried to do Fantasy Island again with Malcolm McDowell (really?) as its star. No such luck. And do I even have to bring up the new Charlie's Angels? Yeah, one of the best things about that cancellation is that it proves that sometimes, even in America, we cannot be fooled by a "T and A" show trying to disguise itself as a "girl power" show.
I think I have figured out what should be avoided if you want to do a successful remake. With the exception of the Battlestar Galactica thing I mentioned, one should probably steer clear of science fiction shows or shows centered around some kind of "advanced" technology. Since we are in such a technologically advanced world now, it seems like it is hard to impress us with things that were considered cutting edge decades ago. That could be one of the reasons - ONE! - why remakes like Knight Rider and Bionic Woman did not survive. And I think it is hard to come up with new ideas for science fiction, so delving into the past might seem like the thing to do. However, that makes me think of the V remake.
I spent many hours in my childhood watching the original V miniseries. I thought it was done brilliantly. If you watch the whole, long thing, you'll see that it is structured quite well. And here is the structure. "Aliens come. They seem nice. They look like us. Uh-oh! Not so much on both counts. Let's fight them. How do we fight them? Oh, here's how. We win. The end" That was perfect, and there was closure. And since a weekly series spin-off of the miniseries didn't even last, why would we redo it now? We know the story already. If you want to make an alien show, make one. But don't slap a used name on it.
And how can talk about crappy remakes without mentioning the most infamous in recent years. One that was so bad it never even made it to air. I am talking, of course, about Wonder Woman. Yeah, because in someone's crazy, crazy thoughts, Lynda Carter was not perfect enough. How, I ask you, how? Now on one of my favorite review websites, ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com, my boys Linkara, Nash and Film Brain got a hold of the roughly cut and unfinished pilot episode. I do not know how they did it. But even by that brief look, I can see why it was not aired. I can't even begin to try and explain the premise they were attempting because, frankly, I could barely understand it. I will say, though, that I'm pretty sure Wonder Woman was not some psychotic vigilante that would frighten the likes of Batman and The Punisher. (Yeah, I know. One of those guys is DC, the other is Marvel. They cannot touch or there will be an explosion. Sorry!) I know she was supposed to be a threat to criminals, but not to the everyday person. It just didn't work.
I could go on and on, even more so, but I will not. So in closing, let me say this. Since originality seems to be an abandoned art, these remakes will probably continue. Some may be good; most will be bad. I just hope that people will think long and hard about how they want to pay something of a tribute to shows of the past. In this case, I believe a little thought can go a long, LONG way.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
This week brings us the premiere of the new remake of Dallas. Yes, we have another remake coming our way. Now I will probably give it a chance for two reasons. First of all, I love Patrick Duffy. Granted, I knew him more from Step by Step than the original Dallas, but I'm thrilled to see him back. And second, you never know. It might be good. Come to think of it, "you never know" seems to be what most people think when these remakes arise. While anytime a pilot is shown it does tend to be "hit or miss", the remake seems to be the most "hit or miss" venture on which one can embark.
Today, I will be discussing TV shows from the days of yore that have been revamped for a more current generation, not TV shows that have become movies, or vice versa. I just don't have the energy to go into all of that right now.
Now there have been a few remakes that have done quite well for themselves. While I don't think the new 90210 has been too critically acclaimed, (did you really expect it to be?) it has been on for about four years now, so it seems to be commercially successful. Teenagers (to say nothing of people in their twenties who like to pretend they are teenagers) will watch anything.
Of course, we have the new Hawaii Five-O which is doing very well. That is like a miracle to me considering it stars Alex O'Loughlin, who starred in two previously failed shows, Moonlight and Three Rivers. I actually liked both of those shows, but he was on the verge of becoming to the new millenium what Jennifer Love Hewitt was to most of the 90's. In short, a person you should never put in a pilot. But it seems the third time was the charm for him.
And I have heard that the first go round of Battlestar Galactica in 1978 was a major flop. It came back in 2004 to be quite a successful show, albeit with more of a cult following since it wasn't on a major network. Still, it's hard to give any criticism to a show that has gone above and beyond most of these remakes.
Now what to say about the sucky ones? Yeah, I said sucky. There are almost too many to mention, but I'll do my best.
While the new 90210 is hanging in there, the new version of its cousin show, Melrose Place, did not fare as well. When you think back though, the only reason the original Melrose Place was successful was because they abandoned their initial premise. I mean, who wants to observe the goings on of a group of twenty-somethings in LA? Yeah, nobody. But if you make 90% of the characters completely insane, people will watch. And, boy, did they! What was the new version of the show going to do in this non-shockable time in which we live? And I think if I mention that one of the stars was Ashlee Simpson, I can leave it at that.
A failed remake is nothing new to the Aaron Spelling camp. Back in the late 90's, they tried to do Fantasy Island again with Malcolm McDowell (really?) as its star. No such luck. And do I even have to bring up the new Charlie's Angels? Yeah, one of the best things about that cancellation is that it proves that sometimes, even in America, we cannot be fooled by a "T and A" show trying to disguise itself as a "girl power" show.
I think I have figured out what should be avoided if you want to do a successful remake. With the exception of the Battlestar Galactica thing I mentioned, one should probably steer clear of science fiction shows or shows centered around some kind of "advanced" technology. Since we are in such a technologically advanced world now, it seems like it is hard to impress us with things that were considered cutting edge decades ago. That could be one of the reasons - ONE! - why remakes like Knight Rider and Bionic Woman did not survive. And I think it is hard to come up with new ideas for science fiction, so delving into the past might seem like the thing to do. However, that makes me think of the V remake.
I spent many hours in my childhood watching the original V miniseries. I thought it was done brilliantly. If you watch the whole, long thing, you'll see that it is structured quite well. And here is the structure. "Aliens come. They seem nice. They look like us. Uh-oh! Not so much on both counts. Let's fight them. How do we fight them? Oh, here's how. We win. The end" That was perfect, and there was closure. And since a weekly series spin-off of the miniseries didn't even last, why would we redo it now? We know the story already. If you want to make an alien show, make one. But don't slap a used name on it.
And how can talk about crappy remakes without mentioning the most infamous in recent years. One that was so bad it never even made it to air. I am talking, of course, about Wonder Woman. Yeah, because in someone's crazy, crazy thoughts, Lynda Carter was not perfect enough. How, I ask you, how? Now on one of my favorite review websites, ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com, my boys Linkara, Nash and Film Brain got a hold of the roughly cut and unfinished pilot episode. I do not know how they did it. But even by that brief look, I can see why it was not aired. I can't even begin to try and explain the premise they were attempting because, frankly, I could barely understand it. I will say, though, that I'm pretty sure Wonder Woman was not some psychotic vigilante that would frighten the likes of Batman and The Punisher. (Yeah, I know. One of those guys is DC, the other is Marvel. They cannot touch or there will be an explosion. Sorry!) I know she was supposed to be a threat to criminals, but not to the everyday person. It just didn't work.
I could go on and on, even more so, but I will not. So in closing, let me say this. Since originality seems to be an abandoned art, these remakes will probably continue. Some may be good; most will be bad. I just hope that people will think long and hard about how they want to pay something of a tribute to shows of the past. In this case, I believe a little thought can go a long, LONG way.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Night of Hunters / Tori Amos - Album Review
Greetings,
Since I have finally decided to take seriously my promise to write this blog more often, I recently went through my past posts to see what I had done and make sure I have no repeats. One thing I notice is that, though I had hoped to keep things even, I have done more top ten lists than I have done reviews. Also, I have yet to do a review of an album. So I decided to finally do one.
Now I knew that if I was going to review an album, I thought I would most likely have to go back in time to find one, since the concept of an album in the truest definition of the word is practically non-existent these days. I know I have complained about the single driven music industry in the past, but, believe it or not, there are a few artists who still make albums that need to be bought in their entirety. One such artist is Tori Amos.
I have to say my love for Tori Amos is very . . . I suppose 'interesting' is a good word. As far as she is as an artist and a writer, I think she's brilliant. She creates such amazing imagery with her lyrics, and she is a piano prodigy with an edge. To be honest, she has done so many somewhat concept albums over the last decade and some change that I have found myself nearly incapable of writing a normal album of songs myself. I have to have some kind of story behind my collections, not just ten or twelve songs put together to fill a CD. If I did, I almost feel like I'm not doing enough. That's how much she has inspired me.
Of course, since I am also a Christian and she is not so much (anymore. Preacher's daughter), you can see the conflict. She has some spiritual beliefs that I just don't get or agree with, to say nothing of her political beliefs, and they often find their way into her songs. Of course, they do. But I can't deny her God given (Yes, He did give them to you, Tori!) talents.
Therefore, I have decided to review her latest album Night of Hunters.
It was released last year, and it is the most conceptual album she has ever done, in my opinion. You really do have to listen to the whole thing, not only because it's that good, but because it tells a story, which I will get to soon. This album came about when Tori was approached to do a "21st century song cycle" based on classical works of music. She uses the tradition of variations on a theme to turn that music into her own songs. And frankly, I cannot think of any other artist today who is more qualified to do such a thing.
As I said, there is a story to this thing. It centers around a woman left alone in Ireland as her relationship with her man is on the brink of disintegration. As night falls, she meets a shapeshifter (no, seriously) named Annabelle, a girl who takes on the forms of both a fox and a goose, presenting the idea of the hunter and the hunted. The woman follows her into the night and they are transported back in time to see the woman's relationship in the past. The past, I mean, as in like three thousand years earlier, where she and her lover fought as bards. Upon their return, she comes to see her part in the failure of her relationship through her mistakes of abandoning herself and using the energies of the hunter and the hunted to fight against her former lover. She is then left on her own to meet with the Fire Muse, who teaches her, albeit through unusual means, to protect the world from the forces of darkness. As the morning returns, the woman finds that she is grateful for her place in the world and everyone who has come in and out of her life.
I know that may have seemed a bit tricky, and I didn't even go into as much detail as I could have, but that is the general idea of it.
Now on to the actual music. The album opens with a very strong track, "Shattering Sea", and ends gently with "Carry". Both were perfect for where they were placed. Many of the songs on the album, beginning with "Snow Blind" feature Tori's daughter, Natashya Hawley, as Annabelle, who was probably around ten years old at the time. I know that may seem a bit strange of an idea for this, but she actually did an amazing job. Normally, I am not a fan of child singers. However, she has the perfect child's singing voice. You can tell she's a little girl, but there is also a touch of maturity without her having one of those operatic, prodigy sounding voices, which we all know, on a kid, can be a little annoying. Admit it. I have no doubt that as she grows she will become even better. Also, Tori use her niece, Kelsey Dobyns, to portray the Fire Muse on the song "Night of Hunters" which is definitely one of the best songs. Kelsey, who I would guess is probably a teenager or in her early twenties, has an absolutely beautiful singing voice. She and Tori compliment each other so well as they sing together. Using both of these girls makes me believe that perhaps, every now and then, nepotism isn't a bad thing.
There are few weak spots on this album, but some of my favorite tracks are the quiet moments of longing and contemplation, the best being the song "Your Ghost". Here the woman slows down to really think about what she has lost, and it's actually sad. And the song that immediately follows, "Edge of the Moon", is incredible. I was quite taken by the last couple of minutes of it where she changes the whole sound, tempo, even mood of the song.
One of the best things about this album, to me, is the choices that she made when it came to the classical pieces she used. I know next to nothing about classical music, but, like with most people, many works are recognizable to me. She seemed to use pieces that would probably be considered more obscure, at least to those of us who are not as well educated on the subject. So we can feel that the music here goes deeper than Tori normally goes, but it is still her own.
So aside from some of the oddities of the story, I really like this album. Creatively, it is phenomenal, and I think it is the best one to really showcase Tori Amos as a musician concerning her past of being both a raw talent and classically trained. Well, at least, I think she was classically trained. I don't know how much she learned at that school before getting kicked out, as she says. It's a great story; look it up. Anyway, if you are a Tori fan, this is definitely a must have. If you're not, I suggest you go online or something and try to get a little listen. Good or bad, though, it is so refreshing to have an artist who still chooses to create something that is true piece of art.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Since I have finally decided to take seriously my promise to write this blog more often, I recently went through my past posts to see what I had done and make sure I have no repeats. One thing I notice is that, though I had hoped to keep things even, I have done more top ten lists than I have done reviews. Also, I have yet to do a review of an album. So I decided to finally do one.
Now I knew that if I was going to review an album, I thought I would most likely have to go back in time to find one, since the concept of an album in the truest definition of the word is practically non-existent these days. I know I have complained about the single driven music industry in the past, but, believe it or not, there are a few artists who still make albums that need to be bought in their entirety. One such artist is Tori Amos.
I have to say my love for Tori Amos is very . . . I suppose 'interesting' is a good word. As far as she is as an artist and a writer, I think she's brilliant. She creates such amazing imagery with her lyrics, and she is a piano prodigy with an edge. To be honest, she has done so many somewhat concept albums over the last decade and some change that I have found myself nearly incapable of writing a normal album of songs myself. I have to have some kind of story behind my collections, not just ten or twelve songs put together to fill a CD. If I did, I almost feel like I'm not doing enough. That's how much she has inspired me.
Of course, since I am also a Christian and she is not so much (anymore. Preacher's daughter), you can see the conflict. She has some spiritual beliefs that I just don't get or agree with, to say nothing of her political beliefs, and they often find their way into her songs. Of course, they do. But I can't deny her God given (Yes, He did give them to you, Tori!) talents.
Therefore, I have decided to review her latest album Night of Hunters.
It was released last year, and it is the most conceptual album she has ever done, in my opinion. You really do have to listen to the whole thing, not only because it's that good, but because it tells a story, which I will get to soon. This album came about when Tori was approached to do a "21st century song cycle" based on classical works of music. She uses the tradition of variations on a theme to turn that music into her own songs. And frankly, I cannot think of any other artist today who is more qualified to do such a thing.
As I said, there is a story to this thing. It centers around a woman left alone in Ireland as her relationship with her man is on the brink of disintegration. As night falls, she meets a shapeshifter (no, seriously) named Annabelle, a girl who takes on the forms of both a fox and a goose, presenting the idea of the hunter and the hunted. The woman follows her into the night and they are transported back in time to see the woman's relationship in the past. The past, I mean, as in like three thousand years earlier, where she and her lover fought as bards. Upon their return, she comes to see her part in the failure of her relationship through her mistakes of abandoning herself and using the energies of the hunter and the hunted to fight against her former lover. She is then left on her own to meet with the Fire Muse, who teaches her, albeit through unusual means, to protect the world from the forces of darkness. As the morning returns, the woman finds that she is grateful for her place in the world and everyone who has come in and out of her life.
I know that may have seemed a bit tricky, and I didn't even go into as much detail as I could have, but that is the general idea of it.
Now on to the actual music. The album opens with a very strong track, "Shattering Sea", and ends gently with "Carry". Both were perfect for where they were placed. Many of the songs on the album, beginning with "Snow Blind" feature Tori's daughter, Natashya Hawley, as Annabelle, who was probably around ten years old at the time. I know that may seem a bit strange of an idea for this, but she actually did an amazing job. Normally, I am not a fan of child singers. However, she has the perfect child's singing voice. You can tell she's a little girl, but there is also a touch of maturity without her having one of those operatic, prodigy sounding voices, which we all know, on a kid, can be a little annoying. Admit it. I have no doubt that as she grows she will become even better. Also, Tori use her niece, Kelsey Dobyns, to portray the Fire Muse on the song "Night of Hunters" which is definitely one of the best songs. Kelsey, who I would guess is probably a teenager or in her early twenties, has an absolutely beautiful singing voice. She and Tori compliment each other so well as they sing together. Using both of these girls makes me believe that perhaps, every now and then, nepotism isn't a bad thing.
There are few weak spots on this album, but some of my favorite tracks are the quiet moments of longing and contemplation, the best being the song "Your Ghost". Here the woman slows down to really think about what she has lost, and it's actually sad. And the song that immediately follows, "Edge of the Moon", is incredible. I was quite taken by the last couple of minutes of it where she changes the whole sound, tempo, even mood of the song.
One of the best things about this album, to me, is the choices that she made when it came to the classical pieces she used. I know next to nothing about classical music, but, like with most people, many works are recognizable to me. She seemed to use pieces that would probably be considered more obscure, at least to those of us who are not as well educated on the subject. So we can feel that the music here goes deeper than Tori normally goes, but it is still her own.
So aside from some of the oddities of the story, I really like this album. Creatively, it is phenomenal, and I think it is the best one to really showcase Tori Amos as a musician concerning her past of being both a raw talent and classically trained. Well, at least, I think she was classically trained. I don't know how much she learned at that school before getting kicked out, as she says. It's a great story; look it up. Anyway, if you are a Tori fan, this is definitely a must have. If you're not, I suggest you go online or something and try to get a little listen. Good or bad, though, it is so refreshing to have an artist who still chooses to create something that is true piece of art.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, May 28, 2012
Top Ten Gary Sinise Movies
Greetings,
So it's Memorial Day and it would probably be appropriate for me to do a moving tribute to the brave men and women we have lost over the decades. While I am grateful for them, I cried enough watching the National Memorial Day Concert last night and I just can't do it. However, one of the hosts of that fine program was Gary Sinise, my all time favorite actor. In case you don't know, he has done so much for our troops, past, present and, no doubt, future, it is overwhelming. I know some celebrities claim to support the troops and perhaps a couple of them do, but Gary Sinise truly does. So what better than to pay tribute to him and his film career.
Now I have to give a little disclaimer. A lot of his movies would not be considered "Gary Sinise movies". By that, I mean he is rarely the front and center star. He has been, but he tends to be something of a team player or a side man. Of course, he is. Come on, he's in a band, and he plays bass. And, yes, you will listen to that bass solo in the middle of the song, and you will enjoy it! And sad to say, he, like, many actors, has done a couple of movies that were not all that, let's just say it, good, but he is always good in them. So . . . it's all good. Here we go.
First - Honorable Mentions
The Forgotten - Believe it or not, from the moment I chose him as my favorite, it took about ten years for me to finally see him at the theater. For a lot of reasons, it just never happened. But it was this movie where I first saw him on the big screen. I was determined, and that time I made it happen.
Reindeer Games - Yes, I do call this my favorite Christmas movie. I mean, why the heck not? And P.S. If you're going to watch this one, get the director's cut!!
Okay, I feel like I'm cheating, so, really this time, here we go.
#10 Impostor - Yeah, to be honest, this is one of those movies where I can't decide if I really, really like it or really, really don't. It literally changes from minute to minute. But you have Gary Sinise and, yay!, Vincent D'Onofrio in this one, and they have some good scenes together, though it was a lot of Gary running away from D'Onofrio. I don't get that. Why did he run? Looking at those two guys standing next to each other, you'd think Gary could have just taken out D'onofrio with his slingshot and one of the five smooth stones he gathered from the river. Anyway, while it has flaws, the good parts are so good, I have to give it a place.
#9 Mission To Mars - I bet a lot of people are on the fence about this one, too. I'm kidding. A lot of people are not fans of this one, but I find it rather interesting and entertaining. I refuse to give away the ending. Still, I love the fact that what is revealed in that ending probably made a lot of people who have made Jeff Foxworthy rich say "I knew it!"
#8 George Wallace - The problem with having a very likable actor play a real man who was pretty despicable is that, as you watch, because we all like Gary Sinise, we hear him speak the words of George Wallace and have the danger of slipping into thinking "Well, he kinda has a point." Though most of us would immediately retract that with a resounding, "NO! No, he does not!" But he did an amazing job portraying him from those early days to the time of his life where he actually wanted to seek redemption.
#7 Truman - Okay, I have to admit that I technically like the George Wallace movie better, but this one has a major advantage - no Angelina Jolie. Long story about that woman, but I just cannot deal with her anymore. But when it came to truly embodying the "character", the performance here by Gary was stellar. There's one scene where he is making a statement to the American people on television, and, as he speaks, the camera closes in on his face and you almost forget that you're looking at Gary Sinise. He became Truman in that moment.
#6 Apollo 13 - I know everyone thinks Tom Hanks where this movie is concerned, but I loved Gary's performance in this. He really played well to the roller coaster of emotions that the man he portrayed probably lived through. And, let's be honest, he ended up being one of the heroes of this story.
#5 Ransom - Wow, this movie was difficult to make decisions about. I mean, I obviously love Gary, but I also love (yes, I still do) Mel Gibson. It was like, "Who do I side with here?". Good news for Mr. Sinise, I am not that big of a fan of kids. Okay, yeah, his character took it to the extreme with dislike, but he did it so amazingly well. Therefore, his pure evilness was so appealing, this role had to be included.
#4 That Championship Season - I don't think a lot of people have heard of this one, which is a shame. Yet again, Gary Sinise is teamed up with Vincent D'Onofrio along with Terry Kinney, Tony Shalhoub and Paul Sorvino. I know, right. Calm down, people. This is the story of four guys getting together to celebrate their - what! - championship season of high school basketball with their coach. It takes place mainly within the confines of one house, so it, in my opinion, is reminiscent of a 12 Angry Men type of movie. You don't need anything flashy. You just need to get some phenomenal actors, lock them in a room together and let the magic happen. And here it certainly did.
#3 The Stand - And here is where it all began for me. This is where I first saw Gary Sinise. What were the odds? I was about 13 years old and in no way interested in anything Stephen King-ly, but I found myself watching this, nonetheless. Clearly, it was destiny, so this one always holds a special place in my heart. Even though it is still super creepy.
#2 Of Mice and Men - Not only do we get great acting here, but great directing. Yes, Mr. Gary Sinise pulled a Clint and did the behind and in front of the camera thing. Masterfully. And what a perfect choice it was to put him alongside John Malkovich in probably one of my favorite roles from him as well. And we also get a little Ray Walston here. Always a pleasure, sir. Hard to retell a classic story like this, but they did it.
#1 Forrest Gump - Duh, right? Well, I'm sure this is his most famous character and everyone knows it. He knows it. He named his band after this character, so obviously, it has been embraced. Look, there is no doubt that this is one of his finest roles to date and it is totally unforgettable. Everyone loves a lovable jerk, and that's what Lt. Dan was. And if Forrest liked him , how bad could he be? The best thing is that he has used this character to parlay into all the fine work he has done with the troops. Though I'm sure he would be doing it anyway.
So there it is, people. I could go on forever talking about how wonderful Gary Sinise is, and not just as an actor. He is an incredible man and a hero to heroes. I hope God will continue to bless him in all he does. And they better not cancel CSI:NY ever, because, if that was a movie, Mac Taylor would have made this list.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So it's Memorial Day and it would probably be appropriate for me to do a moving tribute to the brave men and women we have lost over the decades. While I am grateful for them, I cried enough watching the National Memorial Day Concert last night and I just can't do it. However, one of the hosts of that fine program was Gary Sinise, my all time favorite actor. In case you don't know, he has done so much for our troops, past, present and, no doubt, future, it is overwhelming. I know some celebrities claim to support the troops and perhaps a couple of them do, but Gary Sinise truly does. So what better than to pay tribute to him and his film career.
Now I have to give a little disclaimer. A lot of his movies would not be considered "Gary Sinise movies". By that, I mean he is rarely the front and center star. He has been, but he tends to be something of a team player or a side man. Of course, he is. Come on, he's in a band, and he plays bass. And, yes, you will listen to that bass solo in the middle of the song, and you will enjoy it! And sad to say, he, like, many actors, has done a couple of movies that were not all that, let's just say it, good, but he is always good in them. So . . . it's all good. Here we go.
First - Honorable Mentions
The Forgotten - Believe it or not, from the moment I chose him as my favorite, it took about ten years for me to finally see him at the theater. For a lot of reasons, it just never happened. But it was this movie where I first saw him on the big screen. I was determined, and that time I made it happen.
Reindeer Games - Yes, I do call this my favorite Christmas movie. I mean, why the heck not? And P.S. If you're going to watch this one, get the director's cut!!
Okay, I feel like I'm cheating, so, really this time, here we go.
#10 Impostor - Yeah, to be honest, this is one of those movies where I can't decide if I really, really like it or really, really don't. It literally changes from minute to minute. But you have Gary Sinise and, yay!, Vincent D'Onofrio in this one, and they have some good scenes together, though it was a lot of Gary running away from D'Onofrio. I don't get that. Why did he run? Looking at those two guys standing next to each other, you'd think Gary could have just taken out D'onofrio with his slingshot and one of the five smooth stones he gathered from the river. Anyway, while it has flaws, the good parts are so good, I have to give it a place.
#9 Mission To Mars - I bet a lot of people are on the fence about this one, too. I'm kidding. A lot of people are not fans of this one, but I find it rather interesting and entertaining. I refuse to give away the ending. Still, I love the fact that what is revealed in that ending probably made a lot of people who have made Jeff Foxworthy rich say "I knew it!"
#8 George Wallace - The problem with having a very likable actor play a real man who was pretty despicable is that, as you watch, because we all like Gary Sinise, we hear him speak the words of George Wallace and have the danger of slipping into thinking "Well, he kinda has a point." Though most of us would immediately retract that with a resounding, "NO! No, he does not!" But he did an amazing job portraying him from those early days to the time of his life where he actually wanted to seek redemption.
#7 Truman - Okay, I have to admit that I technically like the George Wallace movie better, but this one has a major advantage - no Angelina Jolie. Long story about that woman, but I just cannot deal with her anymore. But when it came to truly embodying the "character", the performance here by Gary was stellar. There's one scene where he is making a statement to the American people on television, and, as he speaks, the camera closes in on his face and you almost forget that you're looking at Gary Sinise. He became Truman in that moment.
#6 Apollo 13 - I know everyone thinks Tom Hanks where this movie is concerned, but I loved Gary's performance in this. He really played well to the roller coaster of emotions that the man he portrayed probably lived through. And, let's be honest, he ended up being one of the heroes of this story.
#5 Ransom - Wow, this movie was difficult to make decisions about. I mean, I obviously love Gary, but I also love (yes, I still do) Mel Gibson. It was like, "Who do I side with here?". Good news for Mr. Sinise, I am not that big of a fan of kids. Okay, yeah, his character took it to the extreme with dislike, but he did it so amazingly well. Therefore, his pure evilness was so appealing, this role had to be included.
#4 That Championship Season - I don't think a lot of people have heard of this one, which is a shame. Yet again, Gary Sinise is teamed up with Vincent D'Onofrio along with Terry Kinney, Tony Shalhoub and Paul Sorvino. I know, right. Calm down, people. This is the story of four guys getting together to celebrate their - what! - championship season of high school basketball with their coach. It takes place mainly within the confines of one house, so it, in my opinion, is reminiscent of a 12 Angry Men type of movie. You don't need anything flashy. You just need to get some phenomenal actors, lock them in a room together and let the magic happen. And here it certainly did.
#3 The Stand - And here is where it all began for me. This is where I first saw Gary Sinise. What were the odds? I was about 13 years old and in no way interested in anything Stephen King-ly, but I found myself watching this, nonetheless. Clearly, it was destiny, so this one always holds a special place in my heart. Even though it is still super creepy.
#2 Of Mice and Men - Not only do we get great acting here, but great directing. Yes, Mr. Gary Sinise pulled a Clint and did the behind and in front of the camera thing. Masterfully. And what a perfect choice it was to put him alongside John Malkovich in probably one of my favorite roles from him as well. And we also get a little Ray Walston here. Always a pleasure, sir. Hard to retell a classic story like this, but they did it.
#1 Forrest Gump - Duh, right? Well, I'm sure this is his most famous character and everyone knows it. He knows it. He named his band after this character, so obviously, it has been embraced. Look, there is no doubt that this is one of his finest roles to date and it is totally unforgettable. Everyone loves a lovable jerk, and that's what Lt. Dan was. And if Forrest liked him , how bad could he be? The best thing is that he has used this character to parlay into all the fine work he has done with the troops. Though I'm sure he would be doing it anyway.
So there it is, people. I could go on forever talking about how wonderful Gary Sinise is, and not just as an actor. He is an incredible man and a hero to heroes. I hope God will continue to bless him in all he does. And they better not cancel CSI:NY ever, because, if that was a movie, Mac Taylor would have made this list.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, May 21, 2012
For Robin
Greetings,
Yesterday was a tough day for me. We've lost someone else, and, this time, it was someone who I held even closer to my heart, Robin Gibb. I'm almost at a loss for words. It's difficult to express just what an impact this man made on my life, but I'll do my best.
Like everyone my age, I grew up knowing who the Bee Gees were. Some of us liked that, while others probably did not. It wasn't until I reached the age of sixteen that I truly embraced how wonderful and even inspirational they were and actually still are. After learning all the ins and out, ups and downs of their lives and career, I also learned a valuable lesson from them. You can't really give up on your passion. Sure you can hit roadblocks and fall for them, but if you are meant to do something you will do it. Even if the whole world is against you, you will not quit. As an artist, of course there have been moments where I thought it would be easy to just stop, but there was always something about the Brothers Gibb that kept me going. Something that I may have mentioned before, but I should do it again, nonetheless. I think of any time in their lives that they could have stopped, and then I think of all that they did after that point. I never want to think that I have the potential to do something great, but I never get to it because I gave up.
Now, while I do love all of them, I held a special place in my heart for Robin, for a lot of reasons. Maybe it was his voice or the fact that he sang my favorite song, I Started a Joke. Not just my favorite Bee Gees song, but my favorite song period. I had distanced myself from him and my memories of the group since Maurice died, since that turned everything very bittersweet. But I still loved them and him, and this is quite devastating for me.
I remember clearly when Maurice died and that was difficult as well. Mostly because it was so sudden. I mean, it was like two days and he was gone. Too fast and shocking. With Robin, at least, we had some time to prepare, since he had been so sick for so long. You pray and hope for the best, but you always prepare. It doesn't make it that much easier though, and since it has been scarcely a day, I'm still dealing with the loss.
I suppose I can take comfort in the fact that, despite a falling out in the years since Maurice died, he and Barry had made amends and as far as I know they were on good terms. Sometimes God gives us time as a blessing. Of course, I regret that I never got to say thank you to him for all he did, but I hope that he knew. I'm sure he did. And, despite what anyone tries to tell me, I knew my prayers did not go unanswered. They never do.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Yesterday was a tough day for me. We've lost someone else, and, this time, it was someone who I held even closer to my heart, Robin Gibb. I'm almost at a loss for words. It's difficult to express just what an impact this man made on my life, but I'll do my best.
Like everyone my age, I grew up knowing who the Bee Gees were. Some of us liked that, while others probably did not. It wasn't until I reached the age of sixteen that I truly embraced how wonderful and even inspirational they were and actually still are. After learning all the ins and out, ups and downs of their lives and career, I also learned a valuable lesson from them. You can't really give up on your passion. Sure you can hit roadblocks and fall for them, but if you are meant to do something you will do it. Even if the whole world is against you, you will not quit. As an artist, of course there have been moments where I thought it would be easy to just stop, but there was always something about the Brothers Gibb that kept me going. Something that I may have mentioned before, but I should do it again, nonetheless. I think of any time in their lives that they could have stopped, and then I think of all that they did after that point. I never want to think that I have the potential to do something great, but I never get to it because I gave up.
Now, while I do love all of them, I held a special place in my heart for Robin, for a lot of reasons. Maybe it was his voice or the fact that he sang my favorite song, I Started a Joke. Not just my favorite Bee Gees song, but my favorite song period. I had distanced myself from him and my memories of the group since Maurice died, since that turned everything very bittersweet. But I still loved them and him, and this is quite devastating for me.
I remember clearly when Maurice died and that was difficult as well. Mostly because it was so sudden. I mean, it was like two days and he was gone. Too fast and shocking. With Robin, at least, we had some time to prepare, since he had been so sick for so long. You pray and hope for the best, but you always prepare. It doesn't make it that much easier though, and since it has been scarcely a day, I'm still dealing with the loss.
I suppose I can take comfort in the fact that, despite a falling out in the years since Maurice died, he and Barry had made amends and as far as I know they were on good terms. Sometimes God gives us time as a blessing. Of course, I regret that I never got to say thank you to him for all he did, but I hope that he knew. I'm sure he did. And, despite what anyone tries to tell me, I knew my prayers did not go unanswered. They never do.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, May 18, 2012
Endless Summer
Greetings,
Forgive the kitschy title, considering the serious topic of this post, but there is no better word than "endless" to describe my love and admiration for the great Miss Donna Summer.
As everyone knows, we just lost this best definition of a diva and I am extremely saddened by this news. It could be the shock since none of us knew she was sick, but I think it takes someone leaving us to truly remember how amazing they were. Sure, none of us ever doubted her talent. Yet now that she can no longer share it with us and since we are being overwhelmed with the sound of her music, all I can think is "Wow, she really WAS one of the best."
Now sadly, I missed the firsthand experience of her disco days. Actually, there's a chance that many people my age will only remember her as Steve Urkel's Aunt Oona from Altoona. No seriously. But thank God she had a very good career beyond that disco era. That persistence to never give up on her passion was what kept her around for all these years. I must say that, as a writer, I love the fact that she was not merely some "do what she's told" pop singer. No, she was a songwriter who kept control of her publishing. Yeah, that makes her way smarter than some people I could mention. It's just one more thing to add to her pro list. Most importantly, she was apparently not scared to say she was a Christian. Now, of course, one way or another, I don't know what is truly in a person's heart. No matter what, though, I do hope that she is now in a much better place.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Forgive the kitschy title, considering the serious topic of this post, but there is no better word than "endless" to describe my love and admiration for the great Miss Donna Summer.
As everyone knows, we just lost this best definition of a diva and I am extremely saddened by this news. It could be the shock since none of us knew she was sick, but I think it takes someone leaving us to truly remember how amazing they were. Sure, none of us ever doubted her talent. Yet now that she can no longer share it with us and since we are being overwhelmed with the sound of her music, all I can think is "Wow, she really WAS one of the best."
Now sadly, I missed the firsthand experience of her disco days. Actually, there's a chance that many people my age will only remember her as Steve Urkel's Aunt Oona from Altoona. No seriously. But thank God she had a very good career beyond that disco era. That persistence to never give up on her passion was what kept her around for all these years. I must say that, as a writer, I love the fact that she was not merely some "do what she's told" pop singer. No, she was a songwriter who kept control of her publishing. Yeah, that makes her way smarter than some people I could mention. It's just one more thing to add to her pro list. Most importantly, she was apparently not scared to say she was a Christian. Now, of course, one way or another, I don't know what is truly in a person's heart. No matter what, though, I do hope that she is now in a much better place.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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