3 posts tagged “the kinks”
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I just saw The Darjeeling Limited (released on DVD on Tuesday, Feb 26th). As much as I loved Wes Anderson's previous films, Rushmoore and The Royal Tenenbaums, I would have to recommend that you just rent this one. I had a lot of problems with this film: I didn't like the three main characters (nor could I relate to any of them) and the story was going nowhere fast.
By the time they reached their destination, I was yawning :/
Fortunately, Anderson does have an eye for imagery and composition and colors... and a wonderful ear for music. His movie's soundtracks have always been a highlight for me, so, perhaps you can skip the movie and just dive into the soundtrack.
There is an understandably a large amount of original traditional Indian music, composed by Satyajit Ray - but the best tracks seems to be the one hand-picked by Anderson to fit in the movie. Such as a fun "Les Champs-Élysées" by Joe Dassin, "Play With Fire" by The Rolling Stones, "This Time Tomorrow" by The Kinks, and "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" by Peter Sarstedt.
The Sarstedt track seems overused in the naked Natalie Portman scene in "Hotel Chevalier", but it fits nicely in the main feature.
I found out that this song was quite popular in the UK in 1969, where it was awarded the Ivor Novello Award.
The song is a wonderful folky piece about a beautiful girl called Marie-Claire from Naples, living in Paris. She seems to inspired a lot of suitors and always have an even suntan...
Strangely, the song doesn't end there. It picks up again in his sequel "The Last Of The Breed", about Marie-Claire living in London, twenty years later.
Peter Sarstedt is still making music, his last album released was On Song, in 2006.
02/29/2008 00:27:25
vu
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Kuwahara is playing tonight in Champaign, Illinois (Feb 2nd). I had a task "to do" for their writeup yesterday evening, but I fell asleep early - hey it's been a very busy and cold week for me.
It looks like the band got their name from their guitarist and singer, Mike McKuwahara. I believe this is a stage name, the actual singer's name is Mike Mc(something).
According to their record label, Sub Space Platform, Kuwahara's debut album, Roam Arrow, was released August 2007.
The album open up with "Moneterey", a kinetic song that sounds like there are four fuzzy guitars playing at the same time. This is easily the best song off the album.
Unfortunately, they're all followed by great songs! So choosing just one good song to use is tough. You can always head over to their myspace and download some free tunes.
I liked both free songs off their myspace: "Black Light Fashion" is like and old 70s tune, while "Down to the Motor City in Muscle Cars" shows their modern/experimental side. The later song has no lyrics, instead it's a looping of a recording of some announcer saying, "down in the Motor City in muscle cars".
Since they didn't have "High Neeled Hurricane", I thought I'd showcase this song. Listen closely and you can hear a little bit of maybe Jonny Greenwood's guitar trick? I just love how the song sounds like some rock and roll surf music and doesn't feel at all like it's from 2007. It's also very Redd Kross-esque.
Kuwahara are currently playing a few dates, here and there:
02/02/08 Great Western Recs Champaign,IL
02/15/08 East of Peoria, IL
03/01/08 Peoria Pizza Works Peoria Hts, IL
Their album, Roam Arrow is out now. I tried looking for an easy link to let people know where to buy it, but unfortunately, as of this writing, there's no details on how to obtain a copy.
02/02/2008 10:54:53
vu
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I just saw Juno, the Jason Reitman film (of Thank You For Smoking fame). There are a few things that really impressed me about this witty and funny comedy: the actors, writing (although Juno, played by Ellen Page, is sometime too outrageous and quirky to be a believable 16 year old girl), the Minnesotan cities (!), and the awesome soundtrack.
If you haven't heard anything about this movie, the film is about Juno MacGuff who finds out that she's pregnant after having sex with Paulie Bleeker, played by the always awkward Michael Cera. She considered having an abortion, before changing her mind to give birth and to give up her baby for adoption. The movie follows her as she searches for the perfect couple to give up her baby and ultimately discovers herself and her true feelings.
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The soundtrack consists mostly of Kimya Dawson (including a Moldy Peaches
song, "Anyone Else but You", which really is the movie's anthem song)
and, notably Belle & Sebastian (two songs, "Piazza New York
Catcher" and "Expectations"), as well as Cat Power ("Sea of Love") and
The Kinks ("A Well Respected Man").
On a side note, The Kinks seems to be enjoying a year of soundtrack as they also appeared on The Darjeeling Limited and Hot Fuzz.
So the song I wanted to use was the cover of The Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You" (originally appearing on their debut 2001 album). What's really cool about this cover song is that it's actually sung by the two main actors, Ellen Page and Michael Cera. What's even cooler: the two actors played the song themselves on acoustic guitars :)
Anyway, a great soundtrack, but I'm sure all the blogs are also saying the same thing, so I'll just leave it at that.
PS, there is an appearance by Rainn Wilson who plays the store clerk at the beginning of the film. He really stole all the scene whenever he's on! Hilarious.
PPS, bonus points for mentioning The Wizard of Gore and Dario Argento's Susperia.
12/16/2007 03:03:42
vu
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