Updates

Man some stuff has happened. And I want to talk about it all, I really do, but I can't motivate myself to gather pictures and songs and things that really make reading a blog fun, so that I can actually put them up here and make this thing even slightly entertaining for a Monday afternoon. One thing I really do want to gloss over because it's oh so sad and depressing, is that film composer Maurice Jarre has passed away.

It's sad because this man has created some of the most epic and beautiful film score work you've ever heard or will ever hear. The list is filled with greatness but one stands out for me and makes his passing so odd for me. Lawrence of Arabia is a godsend of a film. Long, gorgeous and still pertinent today as far as middle east relations go, it has been a favorite of mine for some years now and has been the source of multiple points of inspiration for me as well. Jarre's score for the film is a character, an aesthetic, a plot unto itself and it is something that I've recently been obsessing over, let's say for the past couple of weeks. This is why Jarre's passing is so odd for me and why it hurts just a little bit more than something like this normally would. The man was a true artist and the week, nay month should be spent listening to his vast catalogue of work.

Maurice Jarre - 84 years old.

SXSW

I did a whole lot of stuff at SxSW this year, and it will shortly come out at this space [photos and stuff].

In the meantime, go watch the two videos my friend Quinn has on his space... Quinnstorm.com.

I love this man.

Stepping Back Into The Modern Age

I've just found the appropriate equipment to rig my record player up to my computer and thus share some of my favorite music with you!

My record collection is no where near vast, but it holds a large sentimental value with me. I love films just as much as I love music, and when you combine the two you get great music from great films. And when I buy vinyl, I don't often buy new stuff, obviously, you go for the old cheap used vinyl. But rather than pick through the legions of records stacked in the A-Z's, I've found it much more rewarding to pick through the used vinyl soundtrack sections. There's something very loving about the fuzzy warmth that exudes from my moderately sized speakers when they are playing an old score from a classic film from the 60's or 70's in the evening as the sun goes down.. or even better in the morning when the sun comes up. All is usually quiet and the gorgeous Texas sky offers up a blissfully clear sunrise/set that oftentimes feels can't be topped, yet is so by the the following day's offer.

This is why music is integral to daily life.

For my first foray into evolution by way of vinyl comes from two absolutely f**king brilliant films, that have two of the best soundtracks around...

Stepping Back Into The Modern Age, Vol. 1

1. Via Veneto e i nobili - Nino Rota -- La Dolce Vita. Loveliness.
2. Blues/La dolce vita dei nobili - Nino Rota -- La Dolce Vita. Godliness.
3. The Singleman Party Foxtrot - David Grusin -- The Graduate. Cleanliness?

Both of these films are exsquisite in their own way and their soundtracks/scores deserve a place in the annuls of art history. Hope you enjoy. More choice transitions from vinyl to digital will come once a week [or more if I'm feeling frisky].

Maximo Park can do a podcast

I feel so inferior to this podcast that the UK band, Maxïmo Park put out back in December. I absolutely adored their first album, A Certain Trigger. It was like The Smiths on speed and energy drinks. Really lovely stuff. Their 2nd album, Our Earthly Pleasures was a disappointment for me, to say the least. That is probably because I loved the first one so much. Anyways, I had kind of pushed them to the wayside until today when I got an email from them about a new album. I followed it to their site to catch up and found a podcast they'd put together for a 5 day drive through the West of the USA. It is so good. Hit me right where I needed it today.

Here's the page.

Here's the direct link to the podcast on itunes

You can listen at either link.

I'll have some more personal stuff up later sometime. In the meantime, this'll do just nice.

PS - their album artwork is so damned good.