ANGELS & DEVILS

IN THEATRES...

* Antichrist, the new Lars von Trier philosophical shocker is one of the most unsettling movies I have ever seen. Not for the faint of heart or the quick to judge.

Antichrist opens in Portland this weekend at Cinema 21.

THIS WEEK IN DVD REVIEWS...

* Luis Bunuel's Death in the Garden, a 1950s potboiler from the surrealist director's Mexican period.

* Diary for My Children (Napio gyermekeimnek), a 1984 film from Hungarian writer/director Márta Mészáros is a personal portrait that is maybe too personal to effectively communicate its tale.

* Il Divo, a flashy Italian biopic of politician Giulio Andreotti.

* Wings of Desire - Criterion Collection, an amazing new two-disc package of the Wim Wenders masterpiece. (Also at Criterion Confessions)

* Z - Criterion Collection, the influential political thriler from Costa-Gavras. (Also at Criterion Confessions)

Current Soundtrack: Love & Rockets, "This Heaven;" Echo & the Bunnymen, "Thing I Need it Too"

e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

FALLING AND LAUGHING

Chris Arrant has posted a new Spell Checkers-centric interview with me over at Newsarama, including two pages of art I don't believe you've seen anywhere else. Go, stoke those fires, stay excited. This book is going to be awesome.

Speaking of...

Yesterday began a week of hunkering down. I want to get as much of Spell Checkers vol. 2 done as a I can. I've made good progress already, but then, I like writing boob jokes. Makes me feel sophisticated.

The funny thing about comedy (yuk! yuk!) is that when you crack yourself up, you kind of want to share, but to do so would ruin the joke for when the book comes out. I came up with something yesterday that I've been giggling about ever since--which will likely mean no one else will like it, but, you know, whatever bobs my balloon.

In addition to that, I have two other scripts that have beginnings and need to be written. One is for Kelley Seda. Mmm-hmmm.

Current Soundtrack: Muse, The Resistance




e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

JE NE PARLE PAS FRANCAIS

Mathieu Doublet has posted a review of You Have Killed Me on the French website Onirique Comics. Here is a link for all you French-reading people.

Here is a bit of it run through Babelfish:

Following 12 Reasons Why I Love Her, the scenario writer Jamie S. Rich and Joelle Jones reunite to give us a good old man whodunnit: detective with collects, femmes fatale (even in the basement of the files of the police force), gangsters and swindlers, it does not miss anything in the whole. All is marked out even a little too much to be honest.... Despite that, You Have Killed Meis very pleasant reading: the characters attaching, are well camped and the environment of years 1930-40 returned very well. It as should be said as Joelle Jones is a fabulous dessinatrice. Its style, as I already wrote for Twelve Reasons is very close to that of Alberto Varanda. You Have Killed Me confirms this impression. The boards are clear, well-built but have also some imperfections (like a false connection at the time of the scene to the racecourses). If the drawing is superb, it is sometimes trowel by an inking too present or small features which show that the artist did not stop in time. But in the finale, the hero with the false airs of Robert Mitchum and the women sexy as the devil quickly made me forget all that. You Have Killed Me is thus a good quite traditional whodunnit whose environment is recreated perfectly. I would really like to find Anthony Mercer in new adventures because this character has obviously a well charged past which could go up. Then yes, they is less good than Parker by Darwin Cooke but that remains an advised reading.

I think that gets the gist of it. :)

Current Soundtrack: Prince & Bria Valente, Elixer; Sugababes, "New Year;" Girls Aloud, "Je Ne Parle Pas Francais"

THE GIRLS, THEY LOVE TO SEE YOU SHOOT

It's like we're brand new all over again. Like we did that thing to pray our virginity back, and then these critics all showed up to take it away.

Errr, um, okay, bad metaphor.

But the Guns in the Gutters blog gave You Have Killed Me "Six Out of Six Bullets." That's a full clip unloaded right there.

"Rich's script is sharp, with terse dialogue and narrative captions that don't fall into the trap of trying to emulate Chandler's distinctive - and easily parodied - flair for simile. Instead, the first-person captions are employed sparsely and used to provide a bit of insight into Mercer's private worldview. The story treads very familiar ground, but that's okay - while familiar, it is feels fresh and is skillfully constructed.

Jones' art is clean and well-composed. Backgrounds are occasionally sketchy, but the characters are all distinctive and expressive, and her storytelling is clear and cinematic. Overall, it's beautiful stuff."

Have you bought a copy yet?

Current Soundtrack: Mandy Moore, "Nothing That You Are;" Ennio Morricone, "Duck, You Sucker (Main Title);" Blow, "Hey Boy"

HALLO SPACEBOY (BYE BYE LOVE)

IN THEATRES...

* Amelia, Mira Nair's biopic of Amelia Earhart is an emotionless snoozer. Starring Hilary Swank.

* Astro Boy, a cool looking movie that is stuck somewhere between the quality of the original material and a misguided desire to satisfy the kiddie market.

* Coco Before Chanel, starring Audrey Tautou as the fashion designer in her formative years.

THIS WEEK IN DVD REVIEWS...

* Actors & Sin, a slick entertainment-themed double-bill from Ben Hecht.

* Dusan Makavejev: Free Radical - Eclipse Series 18, a boxed set of experimental and highly entertaining films from 1960s Yugoslavia. (Also at Criterion Confessions)

* Monsoon Wedding - Criterion Collection. Mira Nair may have crash landed this week with Amelia, but this is a reminder of how good she can be. Comes with seven bonus short films. (Also at Criterion Confessions)

* My Fair Lady, the Audrey Hepburn musical is reissued and downgraded. Keep your old DVDs, they are better.

* Whatever Works, the Woody Allen/Larry David movie comes to DVD, and I revisit my old review from its theatrical run.

Current Soundtrack: Kings of Convenience, "Boat Behind;" New Tales To Tell: A Tribute To Love And Rockets, on sale at Amazon right now for a $3.99 download



e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

NEVER CRY ANOTHER TEAR

Another awesome review of You Have Killed Me showed up this morning.

BSC Review gives the book high marks. I was a little scared when I started reading it, because the writer starts with a list of problems he feels crime period pieces tend to suffer from, but then he turns and says, "Not You Have Killed Me!" Tasty tidbits:

"Without wanting to pinpoint any one thing exactly, this book hits all the right notes in creating a great overall atmosphere. From the cold noir opening with our confused and bloodied protag on through the jazz clubs, back room poker games and fringes of high society, it just exudes a higher comfort level and provides a great setting to tell the story.

...

Jones eschews the blocky thrust of Frank Miller-inspired crime art and comes away with an elegance of style. She also places the characters in a prominent place so they aren’t overshadowed by stylized flourishes. Joëlle Jones’s art is, quite frankly, so damn good here that she has set the benchmark for all future crime artists to beat."

Current Soundtrack: Bad Lieutenant, Never Cry Another Tear


e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

LIFE OF 1,000 CRIMES

Whoa, my Google Alerts just lit up with two reviews of You Have Killed Me!

Augie De Blieck Jr., I guy I knew from our days as young letterhacks (and look at us now), gives us a stellar lead spot in his weekly Pipeline column.

"I'm not nearly enough of a film noir nerd to pick out all of the influences, homages, and/or thematic points of the book, but I know it feels about right. All of the elements of what I'd consider a 'noir' storyline come together nicely, including the jazz band, the bartender, the femme fatale, the double crosses, the hard-bitten protagonist with a dark past who can't escape the same circles, etc. etc. And it all works for me. I liked getting lost in the ambience of the comic as much as I enjoyed the plot, which involves a locked door mystery, a missing sister, the smell of almonds, and a circle of potentially very bad people surrounding our private dick, Mercer, who also gets beat up an awful lot in the book. Poor guy. He got stuck in a noir."

Then Andrew A. Smith at Scripps News includes us in a round-up of recent books:

"- 'You Have Killed Me' ($19.95, Oni Press) is a treat for fans of noir movies and books. In fact, as one follows the treacherous story line, full of seductive women and tough talk and mistaken identity and backroom gambling dens, one is frequently reminded of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, 'Chinatown' and 'The Grifters.'

In true noir fashion, our hero is a gumshoe down on his luck, despised by the cops and hired by a slinky dame with gams up to here. What follows is a delightful ride through the usual noir elements -- which I won't reveal, because the players (and author Jamie S. Rich and artist Joelle Jones) don't show all their cards until the final pages. And I wouldn't want to spoil the fun. Get me?"

Thanks, guys!

Current Soundtrack: Lily Allen, It's Not Me, It's You

WELL, I WONDER

I had my second article for Neighborhood Notes go up this morning. It's a piece on the Fourth Annual Wonder Woman Day, and for it, I interviewed organizer Andy Mangels, current Wonder Woman artist Aaron Lopresti, and contributors (and Confessions regulars) Emi Lenox and Natalie Nourigat.

The particular drawing below is from the extensive gallery at the official site, and it's painted by my good friend Terry Blas:

The silent auction is going on now. There are some pretty swell pieces in there. Bid and get yourself some quality art while helping a good cause.

* * *

In other comics news, Dark Horse releases its Noir anthology today. This crime collection is edited by Diana Schutz and it features some spot illos from Joëlle Jones that go along with a prose piece by Ken Lizzi. Joëlle shared one of her drawings at her blog last month.

More details at the Dark Horse site, or order a copy from Amazon.

* * *

Current Soundtrack: Editors, In This Light And On This Evening



e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

I KNOW THAT I REPEAT MYSELF WHEN I'VE GOT NOTHIN' LEFT

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Tim O'Shea for his "Talking Comics with Tim" column that he runs on Robot 6 at CBR.

Even if you're sick of hearing me talk, I think this is a good read. Tim asked some great questions, and we talked a lot about craft and my thought process, going into something deeper than mere hype. Sample:

O'Shea: Do you have some dialogue lines just pop in your head and you store them to use down the road, or do lines like "You homicide cops, you have it lucky." just pop up naturally in the creation of the story?

Rich: It's a little bit of both. My brain is often working ahead of what is on the page, anticipating what is coming. I know, for instance, there is a line about lollipops that I wrote long before I got to the part in the story where it would fit. It came to me while I was thinking about other things and I had to write it down and file it away. Often, I either have a separate documents of random notes like that, or I might even have pages at the end of the manuscript where notes are laid out in a certain order, and when I reach them, I join those pages into the larger script. In fact, I have a leftover file from You Have Killed Me, the stuff that I never joined up with.

Other times it just comes from being in the scene. I feel a writer has to be willing to let things happen. Sometimes the worst lines are the ones I force, where I plug a hole where I know something snappy will do the trick. In the romance stuff, it actually comes when a character first meets his or her love, and trying to find something to describe that feeling. In Cut My Hair, it was something like how Mason wanted to jump in the air and bounce the moon off his head like a soccer ball. I remember that coming very easy, and some of the lines that came in later books landed with just as much ease, but sometimes it was a tough thing, trying to find something like the moon and the soccer ball, and it ends up like one of those millions of TV shows where the pilot is passed out and a person with no experience has to land the plane. I am the guy in the control tower trying to talk the line into existence, bring the metaphor in for a landing, step by step.

I don't specifically recall writing Mercer's line about homicide cops, but I think that's just one that came with the scene. It's late in the book, so by then I could really "hear" the voices of all the characters, and the writing had become like a conversation between them and me. Most of Spell Checkers is written that way. Like a good conversation in real life, one statement prompts a logical response.

At the end of the interview, I mention Joëlle's upcoming stint on Madame Xanadu, and coincidentally, today DC leaked their January solicitations that include her debut issue. Here is Amy Reeder Hadley and Richard Friend's cover for #19, followed by the marketing text:

MADAME XANADU #19
Written by Matt Wagner
Art by Joëlle Jones & David Hahn
Cover by Amy Reeder Hadley & Richard Friend
After the shocking conclusion to the previous issue, a 2-part story by guest artist Joëlle Jones begins a storybook look back at Madame Xanadu’s earliest days in ancient, pastoral Britain. The Elder Folk confront the coming of mortal man, and the rivalry between two ageless sisters takes root.
On sale January 27 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS

Current Soundtrack: Wire, "A Touching Display;" Luna, "Slide;" the Contours, "Whole Lotta Woman"

DON'T GET HUNG UP IN YOUR SOUL

A new column compiling the best of the "art house" reviews at DVD Talk kicked off this week. Currently, I am in charge of it, and you can read the first installment of "Talking Out of Frame" here. It was intended to be out a couple of weeks ago, but there were some delays carving out the virtual space for it. The next one will likely be sooner rather than later.

IN THEATRES...

* Where the Wild Things Are will make you believe in the impossible in every way.

THIS WEEK IN DVD REVIEWS...

* British Cinema: Renown Pictures Crime & Noir (Blackout, Bond of Fear, Home To Danger, Meet Mr. Callaghan, No Trace, Recoil), collecting six films from the 1950s, none of them very good.

* Rescue Me: Season 5, vol. 1. As macho as you wanna be.

Current Soundtrack: Richard Hawley, Truelove's Gutter


e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

ON SALE TODAY: LIBERTY COMICS #2

The comic book I edited to benefit the CBLDF is on sale as of today.

This page comes from the story by Kathryn & Stuart Immonen, a tribute to Trampoline Hall:

Other contributors to the anthology are Neil Gaiman & Jim Lee, Jimmy Palmiotti & Jim Rugg, Jason Aaron & Moritat, Paul Pope, Paul Grist, Ray Fawkes & Cameron Stewart, Chynna Clugston-Flores, Dave Gibbons, Brian Wood, Ben McCool & Ben Templesmith, and, of course, myself collaborating with Mike Allred and Dave Johnson. Covers by Tim Sale, John Romita Jr., and a limited run by Jim Lee.

And lets not forget my letterers, colorists, and all the fine folks at Comicraft! Everyone donated their time and their talent to promote freedom of the arts.

The CBLDF has created a handy page linking to previews of the book.

Allred fans should also pick up a copy of the House of Mystery Halloween Special coming out from Vertigo today. It introduces his I, Zombie book, and the one-shot comic also has a new Madame Xanadu story by Matt Wagner and Amy Reeder Hadley.

Current Soundtrack: The The, "August & September;" Echo & the Bunnymen, The Fountain

ODE TO STREET HASSLE

My first full article for Neighborhood Notes is now available online. It's a piece on the St. Johns + Art program under which local businesses are currently hosting local artists in their windows.

Read it here, and look at the keen photographs by Kenneth Aaron.

Speaking of photos, James Lucas Jones at Oni took this picture at yesterday's Wordstock literary festival:



Joëlle Jones and I were there promoting You Have Killed Me. We had a really good Saturday, sold 8 copies plus a couple of other books; Sunday was a drag. We sold nothing.

The kid in the picture kept coming back to the Oni booth and he read the 4th and 5th Scott Pilgrims throughout the day. When he finished 5, he jumped up and declared he needed 6 now.

Funniest sight of the day, though, was an old man who came over to the booth. He had a rather pronounced belly, and right at the center, over his belly button, there was a large, perfectly round dollop of yellow mustard. When I described it to Sarah Grace McCandless, she remarked that it sounded like his navel was producing the mustard--and that's exactly what it looked like! It was as if the mustard emerged from his stomach and seeped through his shirt.

He picked up a copy of Matt Loux' SideScrollers and immediately rested it on his belly to read it, putting the bottom corner of the book directly in the mustard. James and I just stood there staring in disbelief. The circle was about the size of a quarter and bright yellow, hard to miss, but there it was, bloop, the book right in the condiment. When he left, there was a little yellow stain on the corner of the book. He also managed to get some on the cover of another book.

I have to say, for as much as comics folks like to bitch about behavior of comics fans at conventions as if it were unique to the field, it's totally not. Book lovers are just as socially awkward and downright stupid and rude. The inane questions we heard or off-hand, thoughtless remarks rivaled anything a fanboy might lob at an unsuspecting comics pro. Joëlle was rather sharply quizzed by one bizarre woman about why her drawings weren't ugly. "Well, you're pretty, you wouldn't understand," the woman said. "Plus, pretty sells, I don't blame you." This woman said everything in this very soft, questioning manner, but always stopped short of an actual point, instead halting and staring at the person she was talking to as if she was waiting for a response despite having offered nothing really appropriate to be responded to. And she'd keep staring, as if willing you to speak.

Another woman came to the Oni table, picked up a copy of Whiteout and brandishing the book, loudly proclaimed that she could go see the movie for cheaper than it would cost to buy the comic. Another--and note, all the women mentioned so far were white-haired and old enough to know better--asked which of the Oni books had good art because her son had no patience for bad art and they didn't want any comics with bad art. The son, who was a kind of Baby Huey manchild, was standing next to her double-fisting large sodas. He looked at me and asked if I minded if he set them down on the books. I smiled and said, "I don't think that would be a good idea." He chuckled and told me he was joking, as if I was the one not smart enough to suss out the sophisticated humor of the other. "I know, I was joking, too." Poor James had to also keep fielding queries from novelists who had dusty manuscripts locked away in their desk drawer that they thought might make good graphic novels. Ay yi yi.

Thankfully, I think the cranks were outweighed by decent folks, just like at comics shows. And the youngsters, like the Scott Pilgrim kid, make it worthwhile, too.

Current Soundtrack: R.E.M., "West of the Fields;" Charlotte Gainsbourg, "IRM" (free download); The X-Cellents/E-Cellents/Vacant Lot" (from Garage Hangover)

e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

As noted on Monday, Lil Mumps Ellerby intended to spend the week celebrating his 200th Ellerbisms comic strip. And sure enough, he did! Take a look at all the great guest cartoons he's had all week.

Including today's!

First on this fine and final Friday, you'll find an Ellerbism by Emi Lenox and myself.

Emi really deserves the credit here. 4-panel gags aren't my forte, and the script was bare. A sketch at best. I mean, break it down, think about it, not much happening there. Her drawing turns it into something hilarious, though. She just nails it. And I am amused by how she always portrays me with such a blank look. Or is that a "Hi, I just moved into your neighborhood and am required by law to inform you" look? That would fit how I think Emi sees me.

Also, Emi had her own anniversary this week: One Year of Emitown! Woot!

My friend Terry Blas drew Marc a strip, as well. Both his and mine detail pieces of our trip to San Diego Comic Con in 2007, alongside Joëlle, Marc, and Matthew William. Marc also chronicles this convention in several strips starting here.

A detail from Terry's...

Congrats to Marc for this achievement. It's truly awesome. Imagine what you could do with some ambition? xoxo

Current Soundtrack: Richard Hawley, Truelove's Gutter



e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

MISTER, YOU'RE A BETTER MAN THAN I

First up, I need to apologize for being behind on Criterion Confessions this week. Computer problems have slowed me down. Not in the sense that I couldn't type, but you know how things go wrong and you go into this black hole of trying to fix them? If you're me, you then end up breaking it more until some fine folks who are smarter than you come along and help you get out of the mess you made. Thanks to Robert and Brian for getting me back on semi-solid ground.

IN THEATRES...MOVIES WITH "MAN" IN THE TITLE

* A Serious Man, the new Coen Bros. mind blower. I know everyone has seen the trailer, but I am including it above just because it's one of the best ever. And best of all? It tells you NOTHING!

* No Impact Man, a documentary about Colin Beavan and his family, who tried an experiment of living off only sustainable resources for a full year.

No Impact Man opens at Cinema 21 in Portland this weekend, and Beavan will make a return appearance to The Colbert Report tonight. (You see some of his first appearance in the movie.)

THIS WEEK IN DVD REVIEWS...

* Fados, Carlos Saura's performance documentary on a particular style of songcraft from Portugal. Lots of songs, very little information.

* Lightning Strikes Twice, King Vidor's mild melodrama about women who fall for the wrong men.

* Management, in which Steve Zahn stalks Jennifer Aniston and they call it a "romantic comedy." Both terms are almost entirely wrong, though there are glimmers of quality.

Current Soundtrack: The Monarques' self-titled EP - available for free download here

Okay, it's free, so you can't go wrong, right? This is some fantastic '60s style pop as filtered through '90s Britpop. The lead singer, as it turns out, is one of my favorite bartenders. In Portland, you never know what that guy pouring your drinks or serving your dinner, renting you that DVD or selling you those comics, does when he isn't standing behind a bar or counter. Turns out Josh Spacek is the leader of a really cool band. His voice reminds me some of Louis Eliot from Rialto, but without that "they just scraped my tonsils" grit. The music has all the right influences, you hear snatches of a lot of great things, but there are so many bits and bobs you can't nail down any particular source. The songs are really well carved. Listen to how easygoing "You Can't Break My Heart" is for the first two-and-a-half minutes, and then how it goes all Dexys in the last 30 seconds. On their MySpace page, they list their only influence as Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland. Say no more!

The Monarques are the first band in this video. They then come back at about 2:25

Bladen County Records Showcase at MFNW from bangsandblurry on Vimeo.

e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich

ELLERBIRTHDAY

Marc Ellerby is kicking off a week-long celebration of his 200th Ellerbism comic strip. Congrats to Anna for keeping him on track! (Whut?) #200 went up today, alongside the beginning of all kinds of guest strips, three of which are contained in the link embedded in the picture below.

Stop over and see what he has going on, and if you don't already have a feed for his comic, what is wrong with you?

Current Soundtrack: Lily Allen, It's Not Me, It's You

COOL STUFF TO SEE AND HEAR

Emi Lenox's 24-hour comic, completed at 4 this morning...

New Brett Anderson...

Mike Allred's first page from the I, Zombie story in the House of Mystery Halloween Special (source)

FREQUENCY DIP

Thanks to all who came out last night. It was good to see some friendly faces and talk to a few new folks. I had a really good time, only a couple of screw ups, and even got some people dancing. (Estelle was by far the most popular track of the night, interestingly enough, and credit goes to Joëlle for that being in there.)

Big thanks to DJ Gregarious for inviting me out. What a swell thing to do!

For anyone interested, here is the set list of what I played:

The Who - "Armenia City in the Sky"
Otis Redding - "Mr. Pitiful"
Rod Lee - "Dance My Pain Away"
Ladytron - "I'm Not Scared"
Gang of Four - "Natural's Not In It (Ladytron Remodel)"
Pulp - "Lipgloss"
The Stone Roses - "I Am the Resurrection"
Editors - "Papillon"
Bloc Party - "Ion Square"
Primal Scream - "Higher Than the Sun"
Portishead - "Requiem for Anna"
Gorillaz - "Ghost Train"
The Third Bardo - "I'm Five Years Ahead of My Time"
The Monkees - "Zilch"
Del Tha Funky Homosapien - "Mistadobalina"
The Monkees - "Circle Sky"
Muse - "Supermassive Black Hole"
The Ting Tings - "Shut Up & Let Me Go"
Dizzee Rascal - "That's Not My Name"
Audrey - "You'll Lose a Good Thing"
P.M.Dawn - "Looking Through Patient Eyes"
Prince & the Revolution - "Mountains"
Duffy - "Mercy"
Estelle - "American Boy (feat. Kanye West)"
One Dove - "White Love (Radio Mix)"
Suede - "Electricity"
Death in Vegas - "So You Say You Lost Your Baby (feat. Paul Weller)"
Chemical Bros. - "Let Forever Be (feat. Noel Gallagher)"
Blur - "Top Man"
Dexys Midnight Runners - "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)"
The Isley Brothers - "Got to Have You Back"
Marvin Gaye - "Can I Get a Witness"
Muse - "Starlight"
Ladytron - "Destroy Everything You Touch"
The Tears - "Lovers"
Morrissey - "Billy Budd"
New Order - "Fine Time"
The Jam - "Beat Surrender"
Suede - "Beautiful Ones"
Mareva Galanter - "Pourquoi pas moi"
Manic Street Preachers - "Motown Junk"
James - "White Boy"

The repeat bands are actually requests, and since the night was winding down, I jumped pretty far off the map I had prepared for myself.

YOU, THE NIGHT, & THE MUSIC

So, as hinted at earlier this week, I'm DJing tonight. I'll be playing for two hours at the Fez Lounge, which is the downstairs bar at the Fez Ballroom. It's part of DJ Gregarious' regular Friday night Shut Up & Dance event, which if you've never been, you should go, it's a guaranteed good time. Special thanks to the man for inviting me in!

It'll be my first time ever playing music in public. I'm a little nervous, but I think I'm ready. Check out the write-up at On PDX for the full details.

And while I am thanking people, thanks to the makers of this .gif, which I had on my hard drive for I don't know how long, and used for my invite to this party. And to Jay Stephens who lent me the name Icky Animal years ago when I thought I was going to start DJing once before. I guess the art of the disc jockey really is the art of appropriation after all...

Current Soundtrack: TV

MIDDLE-CLASS SOCIALIST BRATS

IN THEATRES...

* Capitalism: A Love Story, an important new film from Michael Moore. Keep an open mind, you don't have to be his fan to listen to the message.

* Whip It, Drew Barrymore's directorial debut is an endearing turn on the sports flick starring Ellen Page.

* Zombieland is funny and gross. A great time at the movies. Woody Harrelson, FTZ.

THIS WEEK IN DVD REVIEWS...

* The Girlfriend Experience, Steven Soderbergh scores another big win in this experimental picture with Sasha Grey.

* Kings: The Complete Series, an interesting television show starring Ian McShane as a modern-day monarch

Current Soundtrack: Ian Brown, "Dolphins Were Monkeys;" The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers



e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Criterion Confessions * Live Journal Syndication * My Corporate-Owned Space * ComicSpace * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2009 Jamie S. Rich