Sondre Lerche, After the El Rey

I remember when I first heard about him, or read about him rather in Blackbook Magazine. Then I saw an ad for his new album on Grooveshark. Then I heard his name on KCRW on my way to work in the morning. Kind of frightening how well targeted marketing works.

I downloaded the album and liked a few singles, Domino, Living Dangerously, When the River, and when I found out he was playing a small gig at the El Rey I thought, why the hell not?

Naively, I went into the show thinking it would be a small affair, but he has an incredibly passionate following. A gaggle of 18-year-old girls and soft, overly-sensitive guys all lined up to hear Sondre and sing along to tracks old and new. After two unique, enthusiastic, and at times painful opening acts Sondre came on stage. It didn't take long to realize his appeal. When you listen to his music you hear the harmony, the honest and haunting voice. But in person it's a totally different story. He has a way on stage, a self-assured sexiness that is both obnoxious and intoxicating. He smiled seductively into the dark theater after playing his opening number, Private Caller, and said, "That's what I'm talking about," or something equally brash. The way he shook his hair, as if he'd studied old reels of John and Paul, makes you think he's been trained. The smarmy back and forth between his band mates made him seem arrogant, but his keen sense of humor made it almost forgivable. I don't want you to think he's all swagger and no substance. He's a talented lyricist, and an even better musician. He has incredible timing, and composition that extends my previous Beatles comparison.

Walking away from the show I was equal parts of annoyed and excited. His music is brilliant, but his sex appeal is infuriating. I think that sums it up.





And from his new album:

Lolita, Lo-lita, Loli-ta...ad nauseum

I finally finished reading/listening to Lolita. And while the books was amazingly well-written, I found myself at the end of the journey completely sick of the book. I even found Jeremy Irons' voice annoying after awhile. And, considering how much I admire Mr. Irons, I think that says a lot.

How is anyone supposed to read this book and not be completely appalled and chaffed by Humbert Humbert's ad nauseum obsession with Dolly. I was counting down the seconds till the book was over. But, with that being said, I admit that I'm very glad to have read Lolita, and will in the future pick up one of Nabokov's books that doesn't focus on manic desires for the unattainable and grotesque.

If one exists.

The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud

I just finished reading, or listening rather, to Claire Messud's "The Emperor's Children."

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I even took to downloading the audio book and listening to it on my MP3 player so that I may listen while not in my car.

It is so well written. Beautiful descriptions. Lyrical sentences. I've rarely read (again, or listened to) a book where I felt like I knew exactly what the author was trying to say. It spoke to me, every scene, every character came alive.

Unfortunately I finished the book feeling dissatisfied. The resolutions of many of the characters remained unclear at book's end. The author left me wondering what happened to all of the people I had come to love and with whom I commiserated, which I think it a disservice to the readers who had spend so much time getting to know them. Ultimately, what purpose does it serve to create a story of intertwining dialogues and perspectives just to let them all fall flat at the end by providing no or a weak resolution?

I'll definitely buy it and read the story (really read it) just to observe how Messud constructs her sentences and paints her descriptions. I'll even read another one of her novels. She's a masterful writer, I hope only on further investigation that her storytelling is better than what I conceived upon my first impression.

You can read Salon's review and recap of her story here.

The Girl Who Could Fly, Victoria Forester

I visited Stephenie Meyer's site the other day when I was writing the post on her new Vogue Profile, and noticed that she recommended this new YA novel called, "The Girl Who Could Fly," by Victoria Forester.

Meyers has recommended books in the past (specifically Hunger Games) that were pretty phenomenal, and I already mentioned my desire to take a break from reading Crime and Punishment, so I thought I would pick it up and check it out.

So I picked it up yesterday around 4:00 p.m. and finished it when I got home last night. It was a quick read (it is a YA novel after all), and a pleasant distraction for a few hours, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was reading a milder version of Phillip Pullman's, The Golden Compass.

Kids with special abilities sent to polar isolation to unknowingly participate in scientific experiments? Shrill, beautiful woman who gains the trust of these young kids only to better manipulate them? I know there is no new thing under the sun, but it was too much like other books I've read in plot, and too unlike them in substance to successfully pull off a story that stands out from the rest.

I would say read it if you feel like you'd like a quick mental break on a lazy Sunday. Otherwise, if you've read The Golden Compass, or any other Young Adult novel then you've read this already.

Book Reviews, A Literary Dinosaur?

Who reads book reviews these days? Has the beloved art of the book review gone the way of newspapers and magazines in this increasingly do-it-yourself, every-one's a critic/blogger/writer world?

Slate published the account of Garth Risk Hallberg ('Risk' is his middle name…there's a joke in there somewhere) who found a review of his book on Amazon from one of Amazon's top ten reviewers. He called his publicist who confirmed that they had contacted this reviewer to have them read and review the book.

The internet is pretty crazy these days. The way we get information and what information we trust changes faster then you can say information super highway. Has it come to the point that we trust the average Joe's review more than one done by, say, Alan Cheuse? Are literary scholars so removed from reality and our speedy lifestyle that we relate better to Grady Harp's mangled overly-descriptive cyber-scrawlings?

Whose opinion would you trust more—a renowned Literary Scholar, with a doctorate, teaching credentials and several years of experience or one of Amazon's top ten reviewers whose review was found helpful by 117 out of 143 people?

James Hannaham you're so funny!

James Hannaham over at Salon did a review of Britney Spear's new appropriately named album Blackout. And he began his article with this:

"Britney Spears begins "Blackout," her first album of new material since 2003's "In the Zone," with the defiant, unnecessary assertion, "It's Britney, Bitch." What did she call us? Surely anyone who has seen a magazine in the past five years knows that she is our bitch. Our head-shaving, drug-abusing, rehab-escaping, ProTools-needing, coochie-flashing, K-Fed-marrying, K-Fed-divorcing, child-welfare-endangering, bonkers-going, MTV Video Music Awards-appearance-flubbing bitch."

True that James! Anyone heard the album?

Biding my time

I've been writing so much today! On the company blog, on yelp, it's craziness. I wrote a bunch of reviews for my new neighborhood which is very exciting. I plan on doing that more often.

Anyways, on a random note I found this way cool recipe on evite (weird I know right?) which I totally think Im gonna try for my housewarming party (coming up soon, details tk).

Jack-o’-Lantern Cheeseball

• 6 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
• 3 4-ounce packages goat cheese, softened
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 orange bell pepper
• 1 large pretzel stick (such as Snyder’s “Rods”) broken into a 2-inch piece
• 1 2-ounce container of black poppy seeds
• Pitted green olives, sliced
  

Isn't that just crazy? Click here for full recipe.

Movie Review: Ratatouille

Last night Boyan, The Schlaf and I went to see Ratatouille. I was surely excited, I had heard many great things from family, friends and co-workers and with my own love of animated movies I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.

The movie was being shown at the Landmark on Broxton. This theater had been closed and now is re-opened and it was my first time to visit the small cinema. The food was reasonably priced (it was 14 dollars for sour patch kids, junior mints, a medium popcorn and medium drink. I crawled over a few couples and sunk down into my seat of choice in the middle/front of the small room.

Now, my recipe for animated movie success is simple. Well written story, unique idea and nice graphics. Ratatouille did an incredible job in all three arenas but shined in the story telling and character development department.

No matter how much you hate rats this story truly makes you empathize with Remy, the main character and his love of food. Watching him sniff and smell the different ingredients in the kitchen, you understand his enthusiasm in creating something beautiful. Remy is followed around by the little ghost of his favorite chef Gasteau, and it is in Gasteau's restaurant that he begins his culinary adventures. Gasteau made a legacy when he wrote the book "Anybody can cook," and it is this motto that inspires him throughout the movie.

This movie is just for kids, in fact there were all adults at the 9:55 showing (the theater wasn't sparse neither). There is excitement, disappointment, suspense, romance...everything you could want in a movie.

I definitely recommend you go and Ratatouille. Support quality animated films and good writing.