music: Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes (1992)

Neil Gaiman was right on when he created the character Delirium of the Endless, inspired by Tori Amos. 

Actually I think that if the Endless ever became a movie (God I hope not, it’s perfect as it is) Tori could also play Death, she has that calmness that comes with having seen it all. On a side note, Nick Cave would have done great as Dream, PJ Harvey as Desire/Despair, Bono’s McPhisto as a sexy version of Destruction, and maybe the great Johnny Cash as Destiny.

But back to Tori Amos. She belongs to a handful of artists that defy description. She was there long before the Alanis Morrissettes, and way before the Gagas. As singers go by, she’s pretty much perfect. 

Her lyrics deal with sometimes very personal subjects (such as rape, her relationship with her father, God, love) and the way she plays that piano is just insanely beautiful.

Tear in your hands  is one of my favourite songs ever and by itself a great reason to get Little Earthquakes.

Reminds me of: U2 (feat McPhisto) Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Car, Nick Cave Into my arms (and of pretty much everything he does), Johnny Cash hurt, The Endless, Mike Carey’s character  Lucifer.

9/10 this is an album to cherish

music: Lenny Kravitz . mamma said (1991)

As a 14 years old kid, living and studying in a city I did not want to be in, with not that many friends and extremely bored. I relied a lot on music to dream, to experience and to lift my spirits up. Music is capable of all these things. And of many more.

Mamma said is one of these albums that held me up in this difficult period.

From what I know this album was made right after or while Kavitz was separating from his wife. And knowing that, gives, obviously, another dimension to classics such as stand by my woman.

I personally think that this album is unique in Lenny Kravitz career, in the sense that musically it’s more diverse in his otherwise almost completely rock discography. It draws form a multitude of genres, from jazz, to funk, to rock.

Reminds me of: growing up, John Legend again, High fidelity the movie, Maxwell Drowndeep hula

Released in: 1991 

8/10 a Lenny Kravitz classic.

music: Bon Iver - For Emma

I fell in love with Bon Iver’s music from the moment I heard them on youtube.

This album feels like a warm blanket on a very cold night. And it figures, since it was apparently composed during a 3 month stay  at a winter cabin somewhere in northern USA (check the album's Wikipedia) by Justin Vernon.

In For Emma, Justin’s layered voice conveys an incredible sense of solitude and contemplation of things and of feelings.

The winter is omnipresent in this album, and it serves as a metaphor for something resembling melancholy. But from a point of view of someone who has lived, matured and who understands that the past is the past, and that all experiences are unique.

I recommend Blindsided and re: stacks as an introduction to this bands music.

Reminds me of: winter, Boards of Canada, Eric Serra The Big Blue (ouverture) (for the atmosphere, even though it's the sea)..

9/10 Highly recommended. It will warm you up.

music: Destroyer - Trouble in dreams

My interpretation of Dan bejar’s music is that of a series of cuts from different movies put together, in such a way that they seem like one huge scene. And he has a frikkin' wiki. 

His lyrics are poetry. Like Jacques Prevert, he seems to have the ability to pull you into his sometimes colorful world of words, even if you don’t always understand what it’s all about. Libby’s first sunrise, foam hands and specially shooting rockets (couldn't find worthy youtube links, so...) are pearls to be heard over and over again.

Reminds me of: Jacques Prevert Paroles (in French), the Nouvelle Vague movement, specially certain scenes from "À bout de souffle"... go figure... 

9/10 One of my favourites

reboot

ok let's try a reboot of the blog and see what happens. :)

see you there!

music: Putumayo presents brazilian lounge by Ms.Wank

I've been a putumayo fan for ages now. Even though I find the label "world music" a bit ambiguous...isn't all music "world" music??

anyway, if you're new to putumayo's compilations, I gess it's safe to recomend this one as a starter.

The song I liked the most was Bid featuring Seu Jorge (one of the brazilian artists I like the most at the moment) : "e depois..." which is a smooth and jazzy tune that talks about what will eventually happen after two lovers meet, talk, listen to a cd and kiss...

Here's the track listing:

1. Brigas Nunca Mais - Paula Morelenbaum

2. Meu Esquema - Mundo Livre

3. Ha Dias - Luca Mundaca

4. Previsao - Bossacucanova

5. Agua De Coco - Marcos Valle

6. Mariana - Bia

7. Parece Mentira - Katia B

8. E Depois... - Bid feat Seu Jorge

9. August Day Song (Remixed By King Britt) - Bebel Gilberto

10. Como Vou Fazer (Remix) - Dois Irmaos

11. Os Grilos - Marcela

12. Saudade Fez Um Samba - Marissa

RIAA this if you like every artist in this compil, and lounge in general...

7/10 This is a great lounge compilation. Get it, period.

Movie: Grindhouse – Planet Terror and Death Proof by Mr. Piggy

Goddam! Just finished watching part 1 and part 2 and let me tell you, if this was a friendly challenge between Rodriguez and Tarantino, then Tarantino beat Rodriguez by a big fat margin…

First up, planet terror. Here, master Rodriguez (of El Desperado, and the colossal Sin City) basically paid tribute to most B-rated zombie movies made during the 60’s and 70’s in the USA. You got it all, virus outbreak, zombie city, shady military wing, sexy girls, kung fu expert hero, all that with a cherry on top: bad quality film, unexpected dialogs and twirly script.

I really enjoyed watching this movie, it was like a study of everything a bad movie should have! It was so fucking bad that it became fucking great!
One thing I like about this director, apart from the fact that he takes the soundtracks really seriously, is his sense of humor (go watch all Desperados and you’ll understand what I mean). That sex scene with the one legged stripper…sorry, go go dancer… was off the hook. I haven’t laughed like that in a long while.
The down points: What I didn’t like perhaps was that at one point Rodriguez was pushing it a bit too far… I mean he made a real effort for the movie to look old but then stretched the end a bit too much…Specially when the hero dies (yup, just spoilt it, the hero dies hehehehehehe, at least the one you THINK is the hero).

Anyways, it’s a real fun movie. I really enjoyed it.

I’ll give a solid 7/10 lics

Now for the main dish…

Death Proof is one motherfucker of a road kill movie! This is solid shit!

First and foremost, the actors, or rather the actresses…I don’t know where the hell Tarantino found these women, but let tell you, he has an eye for talent… and another one for ass… These are some beautiful women, who can deliver strong dialog. Tarantino is, in my opinion, a great women director (Jackie brown, kill bill and now death wish).

Secondly, the dialog scenes, which is were this director truly excels. This movie is divided basically is two parts, both of which have two scenes where we get to know the characters from their own voice. And let me tell you, for a while there, I almost wished I was a hot girl… Specially the part where Jungle Julie and her friend Marcy are at the bar explaining to Butterfly what could happen if a certain poem was said in a certain way (go see the fucking movie, will you). Damn that was something.

I also love the fact that Tarantino is a master at recycling everything, from all around “Americana” music to Kurt Russell. I just fucking love it man!

Third, the missing reels touch AND THE FUCKING TRAILERS!!! Nicholas Cage as FU MANCHU MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! That one had me laughing my ass off. OHHHH and the trailer for “Thanksgiving”!! WHAT THE FUCK??!!! RE-MWAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Fourth and finally, the road chase. If this movie is a tribute to something, then it’s definitely to every great road chase movie ever made!

The down points: the lapdance… If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll understand…

10/10 lics… Peeeerfection… no, really, peeeeerfection…