Author Archives: Duff

Best of August.

Posted on by

The best movie I saw in August was also the only movie I saw in August (pathetic!): Stardust. Lucky for me, I quite enjoyed it.

The best book I read in August was a tie between “Run” by Ann Patchett and “Seven Types of Ambiguity” by Elliot Perlman. The former is relatively short, concise, but emotionally overwhelming, family drama. The latter is long, meandering, stream of conscious from various narrators, personal relationship drama. Both were highly enjoyable.

The best concert I went to in August was a three-way tie: the Lollapalooza performances by The Polyphonic Spree, Lupe Fiasco and Ben Harper.

My favorite tunes in August were: Matt Nathanson!!! both his new album “Some Mad Hope” and his live album “At the Point” are totally awesome. Awesome!!; Okkervil River “The Stage Names”; and Earlimart “Mentor Tormentor” (hypnotic! entrancing!). And I’m still listening to the stuff I bought in Belgium en français…right now I really like David Hallyday, MC Solaar’s “Chapitre 7” and Kaolin’s “Mélanger Les Couleurs”.

Random personal highlights: Lollapalooza! Trip to Belgium! Plus some quiet days with the Fam up in MN.

Lowlights? Tired out. Two weeks off really throws you for a loop when you return to normal. Need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

Big Screen: Transformers

Posted on by

I really enjoyed about the first hour of this. Then I started to get bored, and the robots started to get preachy (thank you, humans, for working with us), and I started to want it to be over.

Despite me losing interest before the end, one can’t really argue the fact that Josh Duhamel is one tall drink of water, even if I had to break up with him a long time ago as you may remember. And Shia LaBeouf plays self deprecating quite well, I can imagine him having a long future in Hollywood.

Mystery: “Indemnity Only” by Sara Paretsky

Posted on by

Wow you really feel the “age” of a detective novel when there aren’t any cell phones in it so everytime she needs to call someone she either needs to go to her home, office or a payphone. Crazy! How did we live!?! (Hahahahaha.)

Set in Chicago, and I (like my dad, and probably the reason he recommended it) really enjoyed tracking the plot through my neighborhood and near my office and around lots of places I’ve been. Fun.

Mystery: “Rain Fall” by Barry Eisler

Posted on by

A half-American, half-Japanese Vietnam vet working as an assassin in Tokyo, falls in love with the daughter of his latest victim…

This was quite entertaining. Not your standard detective novel; reminded me a little of “Bangkok 8” although it’s not as quirky as that.

And according to a note in the back, all the Tokyo stuff in it is real except two things. So there are a few places I might have to do add to my Tokyo notes (Japan is a possibility for next spring)….

Finger-snapping good.

Posted on by

Latest single by Spoon “The Underdog” (presumably off their new album although I am listening to it on the Paste sampler #34). Really makes you need to stand up and dance. Reluctant to buy the album though as I really haven’t listened much to their previous ones (bought after their Lolla 2006 appearance).

Cover of the Day (and Possibly the Best Cover Ever)

Posted on by

Rhymefest and O.D.B. doing “Build Me Up, Buttercup.” With, of course, some rappin’ thrown in between choruses (some in the form of “letters” from Rhymefest to O.D.B.). I’m just sittin here giggling and giggling as I listen. This ranks right up there with Jonathan Coulton’s “Baby Got Back” cover.

(It’s on Rhymefest’s album “Blue Collar” purchased immediately after seeing his superfun set at Lollapalooza.)

Wow, Earlimart is bewitching me.

Posted on by

I’m listening to the new Earlimart “Mentor Tormentor” while I am trying to catch up on book reviews tonight, and this album is completely entrancing me. It’s so lilting and melodic and calm yet building. The vocals are lovely. Wow. What a pretty album!

I’ve mentioned their previous album (“Treble & Tremble”) to lots of people and just gotten a blank stare. I listened to that one quite a bit, but I don’t remember there being as many male/female trade-offs in the vocals. There’s a folksy, country twinge to this band, but they’re less rhythmic than most country, and the harmonies feel thicker/stronger (and more pop) than most folk.

Now I wish I would have bought tickets to see them (tomorrow at Schuba’s) but I know I really don’t have the energy anyway (and I knew looking at my calendar, I wouldn’t, which is why I didn’t buy them when they went on sale a few months ago). Eh bien…next time.

For now, I will turn off the lights and listen to this loveliness and dream myself into another world…