30 June 2012

In Our Heads with Hot Chip

many months since I dwelled in some synth pop electronica, but seems more than worth it with this new album (heard the one before by Hot Chip)




most amusing song : DON'T DENY YOUR HEART

most beautiful song : NOW THERE IS NOTHING

most sexy song : MOTION SICKNESS

most growing strong song : LET ME BE HIM



Overall Album


6 compositions

7 instrumentations

5 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

3 philosophy

4 timeline (order of tracks)

1 concept (titles, cover picture)

2 historical importance

= 28


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)






Similar Songmakers : Alphaville, of Montreal, Prince, a-ha






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26 June 2012

TWELVE REVOLVE : my Sixth Top of 2012

Songs going for another Round and another Round



0

GROCER JACK (EXCERPTS FROM A TEENAGE OPERA)

with Keith West and as it seems many more
by Keith West

from A Teenage Opera -67

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixpEk6a_7PA&feature=related



1

NO MILK TODAY

with and by Graham Gouldman
from The Graham Gouldman Thing -68

or much more catchy version with Herman's Hermits -67



2

DOWN ON THE BAY

with The Move
by Jeff Lynne (or maybe Roy Wood)

Bonus single from A Message From The Country -71


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts_FxRRXgQo




3

WHAT LOOKS BEST ON YOU (is me)

with Dave Edmunds [Rockpile]
by Dave Edmunds & Nick Lowe

from Tracks on Wax 4 -78



4

TRAIL OF DIAMONDS (a dream within a dream)

with Uriah Heep
by Phil Lanzon & Mick Box

from Into The Wild -11



5

THE WHICHNESS OF WHATNESS

with Fred Astaire & Adele Astaire
by ?? ???

made in the 1920-30's
from Fascinatin' Rhythm : The Fred Astaire Story, Vol. 1




6

ASK THE ANGELS

with Patti Smith Group
by Patti Smith & Ivan Král

from Radio Ethiopia -76



7

CELESTE

with Hannah Smallbone -12
by Hannah Smallbone


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWGQVlKjRhY&feature=share



8

ANYTHING WE WANT (I kept touching my neck)

with Fiona Apple
by Fiona Apple

from The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than The Driver of The Screw and Wipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do -12




9

GOOD GIRLS DON'T (but I do)

with The Knack
by Doug Fieger

from Get The Knack -79



10

GIRLS TALK

with Dave Edmunds
by Elvis Costello

from Repeat When Necessary -79


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTkhBuNdMgY&feature=related




11

STANDIN' IN THE RAIN

with Electric Light Orchestra
by Jeff Lynne

from Out of The Blue -77



12

THE NIGHT : NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN

with The Moody Blues
by Justin Hayward, Peter Knight

from Days of Future Past -67




















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24 June 2012

Armchair Theatre with Jeff Lynne


Without his Electric Light Orchestra, the magical composer/producer Jeff Lynne seems to do even more fine. This solo album turned up in 1990, as he also was (or just had been) a collaborator of Traveling Wilburys. If they had made these even more timeless rock'n'roll tracks instead, the five already big travelers would have become a bit bigger together?!?

However Armchair Theatre is underrated too (allmusic gives it only two and a half star), since maybe it dies some to the end, and maybe leans too much on safe old ground. But I believe Lynne captures the ultimate blend of what has been played from the 50's to the 80's.



most amusing song : EVERY LITTLE THING

most beautiful song : DON'T SAY GOODBYE

most sexy song : NOW YOU'RE GONE

most growing strong song : LIFT ME UP



Overall Album


7 compositions

7 instrumentations

5 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

2 philosophy

4 timeline (order of tracks)

2 concept (titles, cover picture)

6 historical importance

= 33


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)






Similar Songmakers : Beatles, Beach Boys, The Move, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, 10cc, Xtc












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23 June 2012

Documentaries about Creatures close to Water or Deep in

Triangle Drama # 47







LIFE
episode REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
(and episode Creatures of The Deep)

by BBC Earth, the crew of David Attenborough

UK /Greece 2009


6 Characters
7 Scenery
7 Camerawork

5 Thrill
5 Conflict
2 Humour

6 Psychology
4 Philosophy
2 Fantasy

2 Composition
1 Music
4 Concept

= 51









[LE MONDE DU SILENCE]
THE SILENT WORLD

by Jacques-Yves Costeau

France /Italy 1956


1 Characters
7 Scenery
7 Camerawork

3 Thrill
2 Conflict
2 Humour

2 Psychology
2 Philosophy
5 Fantasy

4 Composition
5 Music
4 Concept

= 44









ATLANTIS

by Luc Besson

France /Italy 1991


2 Characters
6 Scenery
6 Camerawork

1 Thrill
2 Conflict
1 Humour

3 Psychology
2 Philosophy
4 Fantasy

2 Composition
3 Music
5 Concept

= 37







I now give 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, where 3 is good
and total possible 7 X 12 = 84 never exist(?)






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18 June 2012

Recently made Morality movies

with much judgement left for the viewer to make

Triangle Drama # 48




PLAY
by Ruben Östlund

Sweden 2011


5 Characters
2 Scenery
4 Camerawork

6 Thrill
7 Conflict
2 Humour

7 Psychology
2 Philosophy
3 Fantasy

4 Composition
3 Music
6 Concept

= 51


most honourable character
NO ONE AT ALL, not even the grown-ups
(though some good intentions)

most provoking character
THE FIVE "BLACK" BOYS

character most hard to get hold of
THE THREE "WHITE" BOYS











NADER & SIMIN : A SEPARATION

[Jodaeiye Nader az Simin]
by Asghar Faradi

Iran 2011


6 Characters
3 Scenery
4 Camerawork

4 Thrill
6 Conflict
1 Humour

7 Psychology
4 Philosophy
2 Fantasy

5 Composition
3 Music
3 Concept

= 48


most honourable characters
TERMEH = daughter
NADER = father/husband

most provoking characters
SIMIN = mother/wife
HOJJAT = other husband

characters most hard to get hold of
RAZIEH = other wife
THE INTERROGATOR











ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA

[Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da]
by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Turkey 2011


4 Characters
5 Scenery
5 Camerawork

1 Thrill
4 Conflict
2 Humour

5 Psychology
4 Philosophy
4 Fantasy

4 Composition
1 Music
2 Concept

= 41


most honourable character
PROSECUTOR NUSRET

most provoking character
COMMISSAR NACI

character most hard to get hold of
DOCTOR CEMAL












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17 June 2012

BANGA by Patti Smith

= her latest album, where she has co-composed most songs.

At first it seems surprisingly soft, like she's singing pop. But then the boomerang strives back to her heavy, wild (if not so angry anymore) rather slow "mantras". Some melodies though shines through the clouds. Only track not sung but spoken, TARKOVSKY (THE SECOND STOP IS JUPITER), seems to possess lyrics inspired by the big russian director, along other tracks about Columbus and the whole world - if I would take time to discover them.



most amusing song : AMERIGO

most beautiful song : SENECA

most sexy song : BANGA

most growing strong song : NINE



Overall Album


2 compositions

5 instrumentations

4 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

3 philosophy

4 timeline (order of tracks)

6 concept (titles, cover picture)

3 historical importance

= 27


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)






Similar Songmakers : Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Kate Bush










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15 June 2012

Return to Fantasy with Uriah Heep

Try to appreciate Uriah Heep's latest album Into The Wild. But it's quite hard, since only Mick Box remains.

So I rather return once more to their Return to Fantasy (1975), where Ken Hensley still filled many metal tracks with glorious synth and spiritual voices.



most amusing song : PRIMA DONNA

most beautiful song : BEAUTIFUL DREAM

most sexy song : RETURN TO FANTASY

most growing strong song : A YEAR OR A DAY



Overall Album


3 compositions

7 instrumentations

6 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

3 philosophy

4 timeline (order of tracks)

5 concept (titles, cover picture)

3 historical importance

= 31


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)





Similar Songmakers : Deep Purple, Journey, (Yes, Kiss), The Who












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11 June 2012

Second Season of MAD MEN

MmM

Here's in my experience how good the characters are at handling their situations. By "good" I mean both heart and brain. The ways they behave ethically I try to give as much weight as the ways the characters feels charismatic. Sympathic actions and impressive attractiveness is included in the same estimation. This is not about how well-played the characters are (everyone is well-played) - this is about the characters.

After each episode I give twelve actual characters points from 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 to -1, -3, -5, -7, -9, -11. Some (mostly the MAIN CHARACTERS) are going up and down like an elevator, probably in line with the intentions of the manuscript. While others (mostly the minor roles) have less dramatically established a stable position. Since their personal problems and developement are shown in different proportions, this list of course can't be a completely fair portrait (if any interpretations of people ever is).


Most or least Mad Men or Women
of Second Season (episode 1-13)



62 PEGGY OLSON


35 Sally Draper


22 PAUL KINSEY


18 BETTY DRAPER

18 DON DRAPER


12 Fred Rumsen

12 Carla (housemaid by Draper's)

12 Vicky

12 Joy


10 Glen Bishop

10 Anna Draper


9 ROGER STERLING

8 Robert Draper

8 Carlton Hanson


6 Jane Siegel

6 Sheila White


4 Kitty Romano

4 Jennifer Crane


3 HARRY CRANE

2 Sarah Beth Carson

2 Edith Schilling

2 Alice Cooper

1 BERTRAM COOPER


0 Bobbie Barrett


-1 Arthur Case

-1 Francine Hanson


-2 JOAN HOLLOWAY

-2 KEN COSGROVE

-2 Smitty Smith

-3 Kurt Smith

-3 Warren McKenna

-3 William Hofstadt

-4 Lois Sadler


-5 Mona Sterling

-5 Hildy

-7 Saint John Powell

-7 Greg Harris

-7 Anita Olson Respola

-7 Helen Bishop


-8 Father John Gill

-9 Gene Hofstadt


-10 SALVATORE ROMANO

-11 Dorothy Campbell


-13 Jimmy Barrett

-16 Katherine Olson


-20 PETE CAMPBELL

-24 Trudy Campbell


-36 HERMAN "Duck" PHILIPS












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08 June 2012

What We Saw From The Cheap Seats with Regina Spektor

A completely new album by Regina Spektor

Heard her albums before this fourth/fifth, loved them all, found her music both unique, funny, strong and well-grounded, but becomes  a bit harder now to keep that impression really alive.




most amusing song : OH MARCELLO ("I'M JUST A SOUL WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE GOOD")

most beautiful song : ALL THE ROWBOATS (IN THE PAINTINGS)

most sexy song : DON'T LEAVE ME (NE ME QUITTE PAS)

most growing strong song : OPEN




Overall Album


3 compositions

6 instrumentations

5 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

4 philosophy

3 timeline (order of tracks)

2 concept (titles, cover picture)
 
1 historical importance

= 24


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)














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07 June 2012

Through The Night with Ren Harvieu

debut album for this vocalist, from now



most amusing song : TONIGHT

most beautiful song : WALKING IN THE RAIN

most sexy song : THROUGH THE NIGHT

most growing strong song : OPEN UP YOUR ARMS



Overall Album


6 compositions

5 instrumentations

4 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

1 philosophy

2 timeline (order of tracks)

1 concept (titles, cover picture)
 
2 historical importance

= 21


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)





Similar Songmakers : Joan Baez, ABBA, Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Feist











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06 June 2012

Turning my volume Backwards to her

from listening to David DeAngelo's deeply psychological lecture "Power Sexuality"


This clearly reflects my life's biggest problem. Explains why I feel much less fear approaching women, people (even projects), but much more fear continuing the interaction (or work).

Surprisingly it seems I have this pattern in common with many men [= an opposed way to the rather female "volume control" which starts with minimal intention/attraction and turns to maximal intention/attraction, not realizing she often functions different than me]. Thought I was in some way unique with this backward process:



"The more involved you get, the more likely the next phase is. Most guys fear that the next step involves more risk. It doesn't. The next step involves progressively less and less risk. And it makes the sexual act more likely. This is the key.

As men we feel that the stakes are getting higher and higher as we get more and more intimate with a woman. And we don't wanna make mistakes, so we become more apprehensive and less true of ourselves, right up to the end. It's almost like we're driving very very fast, as fast as we can, and the closer we get the slower we go. Until right before we get to the finish line, we get right there and we go : "I just can't do it".

The fact that you don't do it is what make the stakes go up and makes you lose more and more. Reality is that the further you get and the more you just push right through it - when you really engage that masculine energy, that sexual threat - the more the risk goes down and the more likely things become."









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03 June 2012

Heart Food with Judee Sill

also as second disc of Abracadabra : The Asylum Years (1971-73)

compositions by Judee Sill herself
who also sings, plays piano and guitar




most amusing song : THE PEARL

most beautiful song : THE PHOENIX

most sexy song : THE VIGILANTE

most growing strong song : DOWN WHERE THE VALLEYS ARE LOW (Bonus track piano version on Abracadabra)




Overall Album


7 compositions

6 instrumentations

6 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

4 philosophy

2 timeline (order of tracks)

3 concept (cover picture)
 
5 historical importance

= 33


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)






Similar Songmakers : early Joni Mitchell, early Carly Simon, Carol King, Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Crayon Angels, a release with different covers of her songs, appearantly was made three years ago, which I look forward to listen to.



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01 June 2012

Rize of The Fenix with Tenacious D

"almost as good as Arcade Fire"
their third album, from this very year

Songs by duo of Kyle Gass & Jack Black
with witty lyrics and Dialogues about the band's own songmaking process




most amusing song : CLASSICAL TEACHER [dialogue only]

most beautiful song : 39

most sexy song : LOW HANGIN' FRUIT

most growing strong song : RIZE OF THE FENIX




Overall Album


5 compositions

6 instrumentations

7 playin' feeling /singin' feeling

5 philosophy

4 timeline (order of tracks)

6 concept (cover picture)
 
4 historical importance

= 37


I now give 1-7 for each cathegory
where 3 is good and total possible 7 X 7 = 49 never exist(?)








Similar Songmakers : no ones really, but T.D.'s songs can sound like good imitations of every one from Thin Lizzy to Neil Diamond.






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