No, tricks, just treats. Be safe.
For me, Wes Anderson Week ends with a whimper. 'The Darjeeling Limited' is the only Anderson film I don't like. Just prior to the film's release, Anderson released a free 13-minute short film to iTunes called 'Hotel Chevalier". It starred Jonathan Schwartzman and Nataile Portman and was meant as a prologue to 'The Darjeeling Limited'. I downloaded it immediately and was hooked. Perhaps a naked Portman helped, but the short did whet my appetite for the feature. It was nice to see Schwartzman back in an Anderson film, and he co-wrote it to boot. When I did some research on the film this week, I was surprised to find many critics that hated 'The Life Aquatic' actually liked this movie. I thought it was a bore. When it recently came to my premium movie channel, I decided to give 'The Darjeeling Limited' another try. I fell asleep.
My disappointment was reflected in the soundtrack as well. For the first time, Mark Mothersbaugh was nowhere to be found. Satyajit Ray did the film score, which was understandable since the film took place in India. Anderson favorites The Rolling Stones and The Kinks are here, but my two favorite songs were new ones for me. Take a listen to the 1969 tunes by Joe Dassin and Peter Sarstedt. The Sarstedt song made it to No. 1 in the UK back then, and it appears in the film several times, including in 'Hotel Chevalier'.
All but die-hard fans of Wes Anderson seem to think the filmmaker took his first wrong turn here in 2004. True, this isn't as good as any of his films that came before it, but the world in 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' is so beautiful that I didn't care that the characters got bogged down in a rambling plot. The ship, especially when Zissou shows us around the craft, is one of the coolest sets ever made. The props and costumes are absurd, and I mean that as a compliment. Once again, thankfully, Anderson's musical choices are at the forefront of this adventure.
Brazilian musician Seu Jorge is a member of the Zissou crew, and he provides much of the soundtrack. He covers several early David Bowie songs while on deck. Jorge sings in Portuguese while playing an acoustic guitar. I wouldn't necessarily call myself a big fan of his work, but his appearance in the film seemed quite natural. I particularly liked his countdown on "Space Oddity" as the pirates board the sub (see video below). Two Bowie songs also appear, sans Jorge. "Queen Bitch" made a nice closing as the crew gathers together one at a time like a group of superheroes. Mark Mothersbaugh's work seemed less important to the film than in the past, but it was still a solid effort. I like The Zombies a lot, but I had never heard the song used for Ned's funeral. Now it always makes my Zombies' mixes. The Stooges' "Search and Destroy" added to the mayhem during the struggle with the pirates, but my favorite song on the entire soundtrack was "Gut Feeling" from 'Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo'. Give it a listen.
'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' isn't my favorite Anderson film or soundtrack. Through the years, however, both continue to grow on me. If you haven't watched the movie or listened to the soundtrack in a while, I hope the following inspires you to give them another try. 
With a critical and mainstream audience firmly in his corner, Wes Anderson followed up 'Rushmore' with this 2001 film. When the project was first announced, my first apprehensions were about the ensemble cast. Reading about the involvement of Hollywood giants like Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Anjelica Houston and Gwyneth Paltrow made me question whether it was all over before the film had even been released. When the trailer was first released, I assumed, wrongly, the movie was adapted from one of my favorite J.D. Salinger books, 'Franny and Zooey'. It wasn't, but you have to admit there are a few similarities. 
I digress. The film was just slightly below his previous work, in my opinion, and there are moments I think are brilliant. A few of my favorite scenes include Raleigh St. Clair and Dudley trying to sort out Heinsbergen Syndrome, Royal ripping it up with his grandkids, the tennis match and the background file on Margot. The supplemental DVD on the Criterion Collection edition of the film has a talk-show spoof using Peter Bradley, the TV host from the film, leading an interview with the movie's most minor actors. His Charlie Rose mannerisms and line of questioning are a smile.
I have a huge bone to pick when it comes to the soundtrack. I purchased it on the first day it was released in December 2001. I had no idea the set would be rereleased seven months later as a "collector's edition" with additional tracks. So, I didn't get John Lennon's "Look at Me", Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" and a couple of other little nuggets. Sure, I own these songs on other discs, but that's not the point. Vital songs from the movie that didn't make the soundtrack include Van Morrison's "Everyone", and The Rolling Stones' "She Smiled Sweetly" and "Ruby Tuesday". For this, the soundtrack loses a grade. 
Mark Mothersbaugh's score is strong and includes a few longer pieces. One of them, "Lindbergh Palace Hotel Suite", was replaced by a Mutato Muzika Orchestra version in the collector's edition. That was a mistake. Of all the music in this film, Anderson's use of Nico's "These Days" and "The Fairest of the Seasons" are my favorites. These songs come from her solo debut, 'Chelsea Girl'. Her record is a must purchase. Overall, I don't listen to 'Royal Tenenbaums' as much as 'Rushmore', but it still stands as one of the strongest soundtracks of this decade. 
This sharp little guy is going to lay it on you straight. This is Wes Anderson's best film and soundtrack. I love 'Bottle Rocket', but it's a distant second to this brilliant bit of celluloid. Bill Murray's character, Herman Blume, has a great line when talking to Jason Schwartzman's character, Max Fischer, about the beautiful Miss Cross. He says: "She was my Rushmore." Well, in my opinion, 'Rushmore' is Anderson's 'Rushmore'. If he never makes another, it's OK. This 1998 movie makes him immortal. Enough gushing... let me quickly write about the soundtrack so I can go watch it.
Anderson envisioned scoring the entire film to songs by The Kinks because they "played loud, angry teenage rock songs, and they wore blazers and ties" like Fischer. The concept shifted a bit to include the entire British Invasion "because they all basically dressed like that." Bands like Chad & Jeremy, The Who, The Faces and The Kinks strike a perfect balance with the playful film score by Mark Mothersbaugh. I know this is a blog about rock music, but I'm including Mothersbaugh's three best contributions to the movie because they are so well done. If you have seen the film, these pieces will be immediately recognizable and take you to the exact moments in Fischer's life.
Moving on, the Stones' song below didn't make the soundtrack, but the tone and lyrics were perfect for its scene. The Kinks' tune is used as we get a glimpse into the miserable family life of Blume. The song by Creation was new to me in 1998, but I remember waiting in the theater for the closing credits to find out who did "Making Time" as we saw all of Fischer's extracurricular activities on parade. If you have four minutes and are a fan, check out the Max Fischer Players' work for the MTV Video Awards. It's a hoot. 
Wes Anderson's first feature film, released in 1996, has an interesting history. The filmmaker first shot a black-and-white, 13-minute short version (see below) in 1992 that hit the film-festival circuit in 1994. It was picked up by a studio for a feature-length version that opened in 1996. It went on to critical acclaim (but a small audience) and even made Martin Scorsese's Top 10 Films of the '90s list.
With the commercial success of his next film, 'Rushmore', 'Bottle Rocket' got a second life as audiences went back to look at Anderson's earlier work. Then, last year, 'Bottle Rocket' got a third life as the fabulous Criterion Collection folks repackaged the film on DVD, complete with several deleted scenes, the 1992 short version and much more. As someone who owns the first go around of this movie on DVD, the Criterion Collection edition is much better and worth the extra bucks. If you own any of the other Anderson films available on Criterion, you already know that. 
Another surprise from 2008 was the digital release of the short version soundtrack. Although only eight songs, this jazz compilation is much different than the feature soundtrack. The Vince Guaraldi Trio and Zoot Sims Quartet make their first -- but not last -- appearance in an Anderson film. It's such a big smile to hear the piano from a Charlie Brown Christmas special while our protagonists are trying out and then purchasing firearms in the short. You could tell from this great film and soundtrack that Anderson would be a director to watch. 
Welcome to Wes Anderson Week. Unless there is breaking news deemed more important, we will focus on music from Anderson's films. We begin with his upcoming release, 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'.
I actually have a bit of breaking news to go along with this regular feature. Natalie Merchant, former lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs, has been persuaded out of retirement by Nonesuch Records and will have a new record in the spring. This is a big surprise because she hasn't had an album of original songs since 2001, and she quit the business about seven years ago to raise her daughter. Although, admittedly, I never got into her solo work, I love her voice and put the 10,000 Maniacs album 'In My Tribe' among my top records of the '80s.
To mark the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's best album, Sub Pop has remastered and expanded 'Bleach' for a Nov. 3 release. It's difficult to believe the band's debut sold less than 40,000 copies prior to the explosion that was 'Nevermind'. The trio, obviously, sold quite a few more copies in the days following "Smells Like Teen Spirit". In fact, 'Bleach' is Sub Pop's only record to go platinum. 
The third single from 'The Seer', released in August 1986, is Big Country filled with unbridled optimism. If you have seen the music video, you can't help but notice the fellas are all smiles as they sing:
I have bad news and good news. First, the bad news. Julian Casablancas' highly anticipated solo album, 'Phrazes For the Young', has been pushed back to Nov. 3. Grr. The good news is the crooner has given us another song to tide us over.
During the 1980s and very early 1990s, I spent countless hours listening to Daniel Johnston. His lo-fi basement recordings were beautiful, brilliant, charming and, above all, outsider art. By the 1990s, Johnston had gained the acclaim he deserved, but music execs and alternative musicians began "helping" him in actual recording studios. Sure, the songs were clean and crisp, but the charm was lost. 
So, the two new Spiral Stairs songs I posted still haven't sold you on buying his record, eh? Well, perhaps Think Indie can sway you. Stream the entire album here. Then buy it from them or your local independent record store when it's released on Tuesday. In other news, Matador just released the first video for 'The Real Feel'. Check out "Stolen Pills".
For those of a certain age, wrestling personality Louis Vincent Albano was known as a rubber-band wielding weirdo that showed up on a few Cyndi Lauper music videos and helped bridge the rock 'n' wrestling connection in the 1980s. My love for Captain Lou can be traced back to his work as a manager of and performer with NRBQ. Captain Lou died on Wednesday at the age of 76. I'm sure he tried to team up with Peter at the Pearly Gates... and then asked for his cut. You'll be missed, brother. "It's psychedelic pandemonium..."
My love for '80s 12-inch singles knows no bounds, and I think INXS was an absolute master of the extended mix. My two favorite pieces of wax from the Aussies are the 1983 four-track EP called 'Dekadance' and the 1985 extended version of "What You Need". Take a gander at these tracklistings. These 'Shabooh Shoobah' cuts on 'Dekadance' never sounded so good. I can assure you this will not be the band's last visit.
Outside of, perhaps, Power Station, I wasn't a huge Robert Palmer fan. There was one album in the Palmer catalog, however, that rose above all others. 'Clues', from 1980, had a new-wave vibe not found on any of his other LPs. The two singles, "Looking for Clues" and "Johnny and Mary", were particularly good. Fast forward to this 1988 recording released as an import in 2001. The sound quality of 'Live at the Apollo' is stellar, and most Palmer followers will like that almost all of the tracklist is taken from the smash hits 'Riptide' and 'Heavy Nova'. For me, I was pleasantly surprised my two favorites from 'Clues' were included.
This second single from 'The Seer' was released on June 9, 1986, about one month before the LP hit the stores. Sadly, this song marks the first time I was ever disappointed by a Big Country release. Over the years, the song has grown on me, but it has never really been a part of the multiple Big Country mixes I have made. By the time 'The Seer' was finally released later that summer, I was already feeling apprehensive about my favorite band. Like all of the singles before it, Big Country had another Top 30 hit on its hands (in the UK), but my intuition turned out to be justified. Other than 'Look Away' and the next single I will showcase, the album was a disappointment to me.
For the second time in as many years, ex-Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg has released -- without warning or any marketing -- new music on the Web. Like 2008's, '49:00', the six-song EP 'PW and The Ghost Gloves Cat Wing Joy Boys' is lo-fi to the maximum. Unlike '49:00', you will pay more than 49 cents for this one (on Amazon only, if you're looking). It's well worth the price. As Westerberg approaches his 50th birthday (on Dec. 31), I'm happy to report his music is relevant. The production, or lack thereof, is reminiscent of 'Androgynous', and the music brings to mind stripped-down Wilco. In case you were scratching your head about the album title, it's one word from each of the six song titles. Don't be afraid. Give these a try.
If we continue to listen to his music, John Lennon will never die. Happy 69th birthday to the "Walrus"... and 34th birthday to his son, Sean.
I miss Beulah. The band left us with a whimper, in my opinion, when 'Yoko' was released six years ago. Now comes word former frontman Miles Kurosky has signed with Shout! Factory. His solo album is already in the can and slated for a March 2010 release. While we wait for that first Cali-pop single, here are my Fave Five from his old band.
Finally, the first studio version of a new Vampire Weekend song has arrived. One thing you will notice right away is the production. It's much cleaner, crisper and lusher than anything found on the first album. I can't wait for the LP, 'Contra', when it arrives in January. In case you were curious, horchata is a Latin American/Spanish drink you can often find here in the United States at Mexican restaurants. 
"I made my albums as a lark, really. I can't hold a note or hold a tune, and it was good fun." -- Tracey Ullman
Welcome to the segment where I give my opinion on a new band currently ruling the indie-music blogosphere. Is it ridiculous hype or the real thing? Bands like The Strokes, Tapes 'n Tapes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Vampire Weekend and Passion Pit would all have made excellent Flavor of the Month fodder when they first hit the scene. High marks from Pitchfork plus endless raves from folks like me equals Flavor of the Month. 
Who changed? Was it Big Country or me? Quite a bit of time passed between the release of the band's second and third albums (Oct. 19, 1984-July 14, 1986, to be exact). Perhaps that's why my excitement for 'The Seer' was tempered a bit. I know my musical tastes had broadened during those 21 months, and every cent I could get my hands on went for new records. I also think, however, 'The Seer' just wasn't as good as the band's previous work, but don't tell that to their UK fans. The album shot all the way to No. 2 and produced three Top 30 singles. 'The Seer' did a little better than 'Steeltown' in the U.S., but it still only made it to No. 59. No singles sniffed the Top 40 here either, but this one should have. "Look Away", for me, marks their last great single.
Congratulations to Rio for capturing the 2016 Summer Olympics. As a resident of the Chicagoland area, I say without hesitation Rio's presentation to the International Olympic Committee was much better than ours. When will Americans (and Chicagoans) realize we can't waltz into Copenhagen with "star power" like Oprah and members of the First Family and just expect to get it? The president's speech, however, was the best aspect of Chicago's presentation. Everyone else was flat. How bad could it have been for us if Barack Obama hadn't shown up? As Chuck Todd, NBC's chief White House correspondent, put it this morning, nobody from Chicago's elite had better come to the White House looking for favors in the near future. This day has been a real slap in the face for the administration. 
Welcome to my 100th post! This has been quite a memorable week for first listens. Matador released a second mp3 from Spiral Stairs' upcoming release, 'The Real Feel'. Although I liked the first song I heard ("Maltese Terrier") better than this one, I'm really looking forward to the new record when it comes out Oct. 20. Scott Kannberg (aka Spiral Stairs) will be touring a bit this fall with Bob Mould. That's a hell of a bill for you West Coasters.
