Comments Off | Posted: July 30th, 2005 | Filed under: Uncategorized
It’s been a little while since I did one of these, so here’s a sort-of-dancable, slightly melancholic mix I’ve put together this afternoon using Audacity, a neat little open source application.
Right click to download The End Of July mix by BeaucoupKevin. (59mb, 192kbps mp3.)
Here’s the track listing, with commentary because I’m pretentious like that.
- “Love Is The Message” by LFO starts this off for no particular reason other than I love it. This is a fine, chugging piece of minimal, funky UK acid house from “The Day.”
- “The Season” by Beanfield starts off sort of quiet, letting the listener catch their breath before that insistent, jazzy rhythm starts. Compost is one of those record labels whose stuff I snatch up instantly when I see it, as it’s very rarely less than stellar.
- “Timber” by Grantby. A great little piece of spy-jazz with a beautiful piano medley that sneaks in and out perfectly.
- “Discotheque Du Paradis” by Buffalo Daughter comes from their album I, one of the most eclectic recordings I own that still manages to sounds like same band all the way through. If you’re not doing a little chair dance as this kicks in, then there’s something wrong with you.
- “Rise” by Craig Armstrong. Strings and beats, man. Strings and beats.
- “Lilac Wine” (Remixed by The Album Leaf) by Nina Simone. I view jazz remixes with a suspicious eye in general, but Verve’s Remixed series really surprised me with its third installment. If you’ve not heard The Album Leaf, I urge you to seek out In A Safe Place or One Day I’ll Be On Time – perfect soundtracks for late-night writing sessions.
- “The Creator Has A Master Plan” (More Rockers Combination Mix) by Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Speaking of jazz, this drum and bass remix of this version of Pharoah Sanders’s most emotional piece should be a complete disaster. Instead, it’s so good that I spent years tracking it down on CD after hearing it on a mix tape made for me by Atlanta’s DJ Bobble in the mid-90s. What a rush this record still gives me.
Comments Off | Posted: July 29th, 2005 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Hey, Kochalka’s new book, The Cute Manifesto, came out this week. Despite the fact that the promotional material describe this as his Dianetics, you should pick it up anyway. Kochalka discusses craft, life, Gameboys, and the tiny billion details that make our world what it is in an engaging manner. Sometimes, yes, it’s a tiny bit precious (the opening comic, “Sunburn” was remixed by a friend of his into a cruel, cruel mini that gave me spastic fits of laughter,) but that’s easily forgiven when you realize how deeply felt “The Horrible Truth About Comics” is. His love of the medium comes through like a white-hot laser, inspiring and provoking thought in a way that a thousand interviews with people like Dan Jurgens could never manage.
Some special note should be made of “Reinvinenting Everything (Part 2.)” Maybe it’s my impending old age (less than a month until I’m officially over the hill at 31,) but the story behind the conception of his son Eli was much more moving than I expected. While I won’t exactly admit that there might have been something like a lump in my throat during a good portion of the piece, I won’t deny the power of his deceptively simple style.
Bonus Links (Kochalka Related):
Tom “Boom Boom” Spurgeon interviews the man himself!
Jef Harmatz reviews this work on CBG.
Extra Special Bonus Links Related To Ian Brill
And Having Nothing At All To Do With Kochalka
But I Wanted To Point Them Out As Ian Is Smarter
Than Me And Loves A Lot Of The Same Stuff As I Do
So Enjoy These Before I Stalk Him Down And Consume
His Brains To Improve My Own Writing:
His review of Darwyn Cooke’s issue of Solo.
His review of AEIOU.
Comments Off | Posted: July 26th, 2005 | Filed under: Uncategorized
In my rush to do the list this week, I skipped right over Dead West, a graphic novel from the creators of Teenagers From Mars. This is because I spend all of my time of late working instead of thinking about comics as much as I should, which means I may not be presenting the blogging value that you, the readers, expect from me. In fact, right now, at 11:09 at night, there’s a work-related document open on my desktop, expecting me to add at least a few hundred words of high-quality rubbish that will make people fall over themselves to procure a copy of the software. Not that I want your absolution or anything, but please cut me some slack until they get an additional helper monkey, ok?
Anyway, thanks to an email from Rick Spears, I was reminded that this fine-as-hell looking graphic novel comes out this Wednesday and judging from the minicomic they produced as a test for this work’s new style, it’s going to be a class act all around. I’m sure I’ll give it a longer review once things settle down a bit, but I just wanted to make sure I told you people about it.
Now, who wants some digital scrapbooking software?
Comments Off | Posted: July 25th, 2005 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Hey, yeah, it’s time for the list. But first of all, there’s a few people that deserve my thanks. Thank you, Pete Von Sholly, for a review copy of Sergeantstein, which I will review soonish. It looks quite loony and may just be the thing I need to focus on to ignore the fact that it’s hotter than Satan’s bunghole up here in ECB territory. Then there’s Fat Cramer (an alias, no doubt,) who gifted me a gift of such proportions that…I was honestly a little choked up. I’m now the proud owner of The Fantastic Four Omnibus, and it is a thing of beauty. Damn, Fat Cramer! You make a grown man weep like a baby. These two presents, along with Ryan’s making sure I got the latest Matt Kindt mini from SDCC, make me a happy, happy man. You dudes rule.
And now…
Your Shit That’s Killing Comics List
For The Week Of July 27, 2005
Nothing from Dark Horse or DC really offends my sensibilities outside of JLA / Cyberforce, which is going to sell not nearly as well as they’d like, I bet. I mean, was anyone going “Hey, is there any way we can get that dude with two right arms to, like, punch Green Lantern?”
Image comes through in a pinch, though:
APR051660 GODLAND #1 $2.99
I read the preview of this on some site or another and wondered what happened to the Joe Casey whose work I quite liked there for a while. We need another lame Kirby tribute the way that we need Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating…Flaming Carrot. I just don’t think that you’re paying tribute to Jack when you mindlessly recreate poses and linework in a pandering effort to create nostalgia. Disclaimer: I have a soft spot for Ladronn, who manages to create a more organic feel while using the same blockiness.
MAY051596 TOMB RAIDER WITCHBLADE MAGDALENA VAMPIRELLA ONE SHOT $2.99
You hear that? That’s the sound of a thousand lonely fanboys crying out in climax together…and then were suddenly silenced by their mom banging on the bedroom door, wondering what they were up to.
Marvel
MAY051824 COMBAT ZONE TRUE TALES OF GIS IN IRAQ VOL 1 TP $19.99
I see this selling less than Call Of Duty. I like how it went from being solicited as a miniseries to becoming a trade very, very quietly.
MAY058106 ULTIMATE IRON MAN 3RD PRINTING #1 (OF 6) $2.99
I like how Issue 3 is not out yet, months and months after issue 2 hit the stands. I think that’s really cute.
Wizard
JUN052626 WIZARD COMICS MAGAZINE JLA LEGION OF DOOM CVR #167 $5.99
JUN052627 WIZARD COMICS MAGAZINE X-MEN 3 CVR #167 $5.99
I just wanted to point you guys to this hilarious post from David at Precocious Curmudgeon. I have very little interest in shôjo, but found the latest issue of The Comics Journal to be worth approximately ninety-three issues of Wizard when it came to readable, coherent sentences that discussed things like craft and structure.
Other Companies
JUN052823 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH DEAD RISING MARTIN SKETCH ED $34.90
JUN052821 BRIAN PULIDOS LADY DEATH SWIMSUIT 2005 KILLING BLOW ED $5.99
JUN052824 BRIAN PULIDOS UNHOLY NATURE CALLS CVR #2 (MR) $5.99
APR052678 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE #1 (OF 4) $3.99
JUN052884 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE COMM CVR #1 (OF 4) $5.99
APR052682 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE GLOW CVR #1 (OF 4) $19.99
MAY052640 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE GOLD FOIL #1 (OF 4) $5.99
APR052681 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE PREMIUM CVR #1 (OF 4) $9.99
APR052680 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE RYP CVR #1 (OF 4) $3.99
APR052679 LADY DEATH ABANDON ALL HOPE WRAPAROUND CVR #1 (OF 4) $3.99
JUN052822 LADY DEATH LEATHER & LACE 2005 HOT AS H$$$ ED $5.99
I…don’t know what to make of Unholy Nature Calls. Is this a fecophiliac comic about demons emerging from orifices best left alone? And “Killing Blow” edition? And seven variant covers for Abandon All Hope? What the fuck is wrong with you, Pulido? Who did what to you when you were young and impressionable? Tell us – we can help!
APR052653 FATHOM SIGNED ED #1 $29.99
Man, they just don’t let up over at Aspen Entertainment or whatever the hell Turner’s calling his little company.
JUN052812 GYPSY #1 $3.50
JUN052813 GYPSY ADRIAN CVR #1 $3.50
JUN052815 GYPSY NOUVEAU CVR #1 $3.50
JUN052816 GYPSY PREMIUM CVR #1 $9.99
JUN052814 GYPSY REARTE CVR #1 $3.50
I fucking hate Stevie Nicks. She’s the reason I’ve not purchased the new Deep Dish album. No, really, they’ve remade “Dreams” with her. That’s not necessary, people. I liked my diva-prog house version that Perfecto put out around 95 just fine.
JUN052793 STARGATE SG1 DANIELS SONG DALLAS CON GOLD ED #1 $4.99
JUN052794 STARGATE SG1 FALL OF ROME JUDGE SGN #3 (OF 3) $39.99
I’m very glad Avatar did not get the Battlestar Galactica license, I tell you what.
NOV042476 THRESHOLD LOOKERS NUDE CVR #53 (MR) $6.00
NOV042475 THRESHOLD LOOKERS WRAPAROUND CVR #53 (MR) $4.99
NOV042474 THRESHOLD PANDORA CVR #53 (MR) $4.99
JAN052537 THRESHOLD PANDORA DEMON NUDE CVR #53 (MR) $6.00
NOV042477 THRESHOLD PANDORA NUDE CVR #53 (MR) $6.00
You know what I like? I like it when somebody says something like “This cover, this nude cover…it’s not mature and edgy enough. We need a Demon Nude Cover!” That’s what I like.
MAR052787 TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE #1 RED FOIL CON ED $12.99
You know what Jason likes? Transformers.
The “What I’m Buying Or At Least Looking At
In A Not Entirely Unkind Manner List” for the week
Of July 27, 2005.
Dark Horse
MAY050040 HELLBOY THE ISLAND #2 (OF 2) $2.99
There you are, Sean! I hope he talks about drinking with skeletons some more in this one.
DC
MAY050270 ALBION #2 (OF 6) $2.99
I liked the first one enough to keep going. Hell, they put a Cyberman in the opening splash – how wasn’t I going to be kind of interested?
MAY050197 BATMAN DARK DETECTIVE #6 (OF 6) $2.99
Read the shop’s preview copy on Sunday. Surprisingly gory, actually. Even with the whole EC vibe that the cover implies, it’s not nearly as exploitative as I was worried about.
MAY050274 CITY OF TOMORROW #4 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
Oh, so funny and wrong.
MAY050236 JLA CLASSIFIED #10 $2.99
Ellis’s long-completed arc starts here. Jackson Guice on the art, which is pretty damned easy on the eyes, even with those fucking awful CG covers.
MAY050281 SILENT DRAGON #1 (OF 6) $2.99
I read the first issue (again, the preview pack) and thought it was interesting enough to merit reading the second, even if I’m not completely sure what’s going on yet. Diggle’s like that, though.
Image
JAN051591 CASEFILES SAM & TWITCH #18 (MR) $2.50
This series needs trades, stat. I think it could build an audience among the people who like Gotham Central and CSI as it’s very far removed from the lousy, stinky, putrid, godawful Spawn mythos.
Marvel
MAY051817 AVENGERS WEST COAST VISION QUEST TP $24.99
Yes, vintage Byrne doing an oddball team. I’m quite looking forward to this one.
MAY051770 DAREDEVIL VS PUNISHER #2 (OF 6) $2.99
Outside of garish color, this mini has impressed me so far, as it’s a straightforward 70′s style morality play between Murdock and Castle. I’ve been kind of on a Punisher kick lately, with the Ennis Max series and this thing.
MAY051778 MACHINE TEEN #3 (OF 5) $2.99
Disappointing and slightly stupid instead of being “all-ages.” Bah. B+ for effort, though, even if I’ve already read the Not Quite Human books.
MAY051748 PULSE #10 $2.99
This series is getting the axe from me pretty soon, I think. This month’s issue is an abysmal, completely illogical House Of M festival.
APR051955 SPIDER-MAN HUMAN TORCH IM WITH STUPID DIGEST TP $7.99
Buy this. Just. Buy. It. Buy one for a kid, too, goddammit.
Other Comics Companies
AUG042366 BILL & TEDS MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURES VOL 2 TP $13.95
Yes, they’re black and white and digest-ized, but this series is pure fun and I’m so glad somebody’s putting it back in trade.
MAY052895 CAPOTE IN KANSAS GN (MR) $11.95
Ande Parks takes a look at the true story behind In Cold Blood. I’m pretty sure it’s not going to suck one bit.
APR052555 CUTE MANIFESTO TP $19.95
Kochalka! KOCHALKA! KOCHALKA! Apparently, this is just precious enough without the reader crossing into hypoglycemic shock.
…
Kochalka!
MAR052699 HERO SQUARED #1 (OF 3) $3.99
MAR052700 HERO SQUARED PULL MY FINGER CVR #1 OF(3) $3.99
Yes, there’s a variant and I should be lamenting that, but I loved the hell out of the special that came out last year. You do have to have to be able to tolerate Giffen and DeMatteis riffing for pages in their very vaudville style. The art by Joe Abraham manages to keep up with them perfectly, which is quite nice.
APR053045 QUEEN & COUNTRY DECLASSIFIED VOL 3 #2 (OF 3) (MR) $2.99
At least this Q&Cseries is coming out on time.
That looks like it, really. If anyone checks out the manga version of Nightmare Before Christmas, let me know if it’s any damned good.
Comments Off | Posted: July 23rd, 2005 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Potpourri!
Typos and all (since corrected upon being appalled that I’d let it slide,) I made Tom Spurgeon’s week in review over at the comics reporter as his quote of the week. Spurgeon’s also gone and reviewed Wimbledon Green, Seth’s October-released graphic novel that I’m rather eager to read. He shows superior taste and recommends Tales Designed To Thrizzle, as well, so go give him some clicks if you’ve not already.
Just to prove he’s crazier than the rest of us, Christina’s brother Arthur has gone and decided to walk from London to Rome; I presume he’s procured a diving suit and two strong men operating the bellows for the Channel crossing. Anyhoo, he’s blogging the adventure and I’ve added him to my sidebar for easy reference.
I keep meaning to review The Surrogates from Top Shelf, but I can’t quite get a grip on why I enjoyed it so very much, so I’m going to just cheat and call it “NYPD Blue with cybernetics” and tell you to go check it out. For a first issue featuring a brand-new writer, Venditti’s nailed the beats perfectly and Brett Weldele (who I’m always glad to see making with the comic art) creates a moody, moody world that you get sucked into. While I may be wishing this was just being released as a novel, buying it in singles form helps Top Shelf get some money back on their investment before the inevitable trade, and I’m pretty darn OK with that.
Comments Off | Posted: July 22nd, 2005 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Music News What I Think Is Really Important Follows. You may or may not agree. Whatever.
Underworld is collaborating with composer Gabriel Yared to score Anthony Minghella’s upcoming film Breaking And Entering. Yared worked with Minghella’s previous films The English Patient, The Talented Mister Ripley, and Cold Mountain. Yared’s score for The English Patient is a disc I put on quite a bit, actually, and not just for the period music – he infuses regional themes beautifully and his deft use of Marta Sebestyen’s vocals sends a chill up your spine in the wee small hours. This should be interesting, at the very least.
UK and Euro sorts are lucky on September 5 – that’s when the Pet Shop Boys soundtrack for Battleship Potemkin is released, as long as they get the necessary sample clearance, which EMI Classics and Parlophone are confident of obtaining. They are also working on a DVD release of Potemkin with the new soundtrack, which may actually make me shit myself with glee upon receipt. Tennant and Lowe are also in the studio with Trevor Horn right now, working on their forthcoming album which has been stated to be a return to the dance stylings that have made them my favorite pop band.