Living-Deliberately.com

Not having access to FM radio, an ipod, or TV, I could get behind on what is currently on the airwaves. Or I should say more behind, because a: I’m very far from what’s cutting edge and b: I’m not even really trying to be close. I’ll settle for “this year” rather than “the moment”. Still, where I live it’s perpetually 1979 and I’d like to have a little more of an idea of what is happening in the cultural world elsewhere. Even living a relatively simple life I am still a People magazine junkie, which has the added benefit of music reviews. What I do is make a list of reviews that interest me and head over to rhapsody.com to give them a listen. This way, when I need new music I can find something not stale. When I need shot of Carly Simon or some other blast-from-my-past, I can get a song-by-song fix. And when I leave the land of 1979, I can still speak the language.

Fall Out Boy has a wiki! How handy is that!? The magazine review gave them 3 stars out of 4 so I though I’d give them a try. “Emo” music fits a mood of mine; a play-it-loud-while-alone-in-the-house-cleaning-and-recovering-from-the

-frumpiness-of-my-mid-twenties kind of mood. And indeed, they have strong vocals, good melodies, and mood-appropriate analyzing. But reading the lyrics (I do this for every song I look up), I found myself a bit bored. If someone talks about their lonliness, their suicidal-tendancies in the past, their rejection and rejectability ad nauseum, it gets, well frankly, boring rather than resonating. A song or two and I was ready to move on to more substance.

I didn’t necessarily get it with my next choice. Katherine McPhee, of last season’s American Idol, has her debut album out. And deep? No. But fun? Yes. Melodic and well done? Yes. Catchy and lasting? Probably. She’s world’s better here than she ever was on the show and she seems the heir apparent to big voices like Whitney or Mariah, but with a fresh edge. Another mood for me; not a purchase.

The “Critic’s Choice” in this issue of People was The Good, The Bad & the Queen. They got 3.5 stars in the review and includes member Damon Albarn from Gorillaz, a group that I like quite a bit, albeit in the very, very limited exposure afforded on a Grammy compilation disc from a year or so ago. The name-drop was enough to pique my interest. The recommended download was “Herculean” and I gave a few of them a listen. “Northern Whale” and “Kingdom of Doom” included. Enh? Okay. Not bad. Not as interesting as I’d hoped. Maybe I wasn’t in the right “zone” or something; I put them on the “try again another time” list. Jury’s out.

That led to toodling around Rhapsody for a bit and I found a list of videos from the Brit Awards. And what a find! I’ll save the best for last. But next up is Corrine Bailey Rae. Smooth. A little like Nelly Furtado but a little less catchy so maybe with more staying power. David and I loved the warm, sunshiny video for Put Your Records On; my goodness that will make a sufferer of winter-blah’s desire sunbeams and warm grass! Her kind of music is more than mood music; it’s purchase-and-use-for-afternoons-grilling-food music.

And the best? The best of the day was Lily Allen! She’s infectious fun, with that accent that even makes it through the music. A little edge of jazz, a rhyme and meter like sing-song rapping poetry, she takes us along her observations and makes the listener want to join her for a ride through the paintings of city scapes, outdoor cafes, fun shops, and youth. Dr. H, if you’re reading, head’s up for fun “chick music”. That term doesn’t do her justice of course, but he’ll get the idea. The bright colors, fashion, and lightness put a spring in the step, even when she’s singing of lover-revenge in Smile. Definite purchase-music, I’d have her on while cooking (which would lead to dancing with my wooden spoon I tell ya), while cleaning, while hanging out, while throwing a party. Fun Stuff! And anyone who liked the movie Love Actually, should especially give her a listen.

Movies: Last week we watched Memoirs of Geisha. I won’t spend a lot of time on it or even link to it today. It was ho-hum okay. Pretty? yes. Well cast? yes. But I thought they really, really needed to explain better the mistique and attraction of the Geisha life from the start. The viewer was left asking, “yeah, but why?” especially after the main character had a chance at freedom and chose willingly to return. At least it ended with a bit of resolution; real torture would have been some stupid existential open ended mess. We’d maybe give it a 3 out of 5.

Last night we watched North Country. Charlize Theron stars and tells the story of the first sexual harrassment class action suit. And how. The point, of course was not if women belong in mines, which was the fight the miners apparently were trying to have. That had been decided in a court room. If we’re getting distracted about points, let’s start with the rightness of ravaging the earth through the process of mining and mountain removal, shall we? But no, the point was, once women are in the mine, how should they be treated? And my goodness what a horrific time they had. The character Josie, based on a true story, had already had quite a life which seemed to come to a nearly defining head in her mine experience. The story was well done, well written, well acted. Worth a watch, worth more was the telling, and I was glad it ended the way it did. If you only watch a few movies a year, I’d probably skip it. But if you’re interested, it’s not a waste of time. I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5.

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