i was going through some of my old issues of Guitar World Acoustic and i decided to read the one with Devendra Banhart on the cover. it's march issue 2007. the article "folk's freakiest" is amazing! they listed the 25 most influential folk artist of all time. anyway this guy..Davy Graham was on the top spot. i youtubed him and the fucker is good. this is one of his instrumental songs.
and one with Shirley Collins.
and 24 more to go! i'll admit the only bands/people on that list that i listen to are iron and wine, nick drake, and devendra.
i started watching mel brooks' movies recently. jessica introduced him and his movies to me. not like he's alive or anything. ok he is. but em. nvm. fucking funny i tell you..his movies. dracula : dead and loving is superb. young frankenstein is even better. these are how spoof movies are meant to be made! it's all on youtube in case you're interested.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Erich Wolfgang Korngold..i like.
my first listen to korngold was on youtube. barely a month ago. the sea hawk score. the charles gerhardt recording actually. but it was reeally good. i can see where john williams, elmer bernstein, and the rest of the greats get their inspiration from. i then downloaded the adventures of robin hood score also by korngold. it was bloody sweet. epic as epic can be. and to think he did the album in 1937+. i also got a hold of the original recording of the sea hawk. of course it was awesomer than the gerhardt version. all the stuff that i listen to which i consider epic or somewhat..is NOTHING compared to the shite that korngold does. the odd thing is..he only has scored around 15 movies. before that, he was back in Europe doing chamber, concert, and opera works. in 1936, he won an oscar for his work in Anthony Adverse. he is also known for kickstarting Errol Flynn's carrier when he scored Captain Blood in 1935. flynn 'followed' him through The Prince and the Pauper, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Private Lives Of Elizabeth Essex, The Sea Hawk, and Escape Me Never. his composition of romantic themes are so well written. i now need to get some of his early works..before he came to america..chamber stuff.. by the way..anyone interested in his work can look up scoredaddys.blogspot.com. a superb site for great music.
"Music is music whether it is for the stage, rostrum or cinema .
Form may change , the manner of writing may vary, but the composer needs to make no concessions whatever to what he conceives to be his own musical ideology ....."
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (interviewed in 1946)
MR
"Music is music whether it is for the stage, rostrum or cinema .
Form may change , the manner of writing may vary, but the composer needs to make no concessions whatever to what he conceives to be his own musical ideology ....."
Erich Wolfgang Korngold (interviewed in 1946)
MR
Saturday, May 30, 2009
terminator salvation. and the score.
watched terminator today. had the worst seats in gardens. front row. but the movie was A-mase-ing!! i couldn't blink for one bloody second, that's how good it was. i'm guessing the writers wrote more than enough, which is why the movie's constantly.. moving! i'm not even gonna compare it to the 3rd one, which was a waste of time. mcg definitely has more than redeemed himself for the shit that he did in the past which is charlie's angels and the even more retarded sequel, charlie's angels: full throttle. i like the colour choice he chose for this movie, the bleak look, which shows how the future might look. everything wasn't all shiny and new. haha, of course. everything actually had the blown up look.
why is it that the misses almost wasn't in the movie. it's like she's got almost no screen time. no abilities other than being john connor's wife. she plays a pretty big role in how john connor became who he is in the movie. the only thing i could 'get' from her was that she's mentally strong, as was everyone in the movie. and she's a medic. so little screen time. damn.
christian bale is fiTTT. ok, that sounds gay. every time he shouts in the movie, i remember him yelling during the production set. the 'scandal' as ping lon calls it. christian of course is awesome as john connor. gritty as fuck. his human side is always trying to rise to the surface. but shit keeps happening so...almost always..just gritty. human side.. why did i say that? not like he has a machine side to him. or does he? *cue the terminator theme*
anyway, i heard quite a few people didn't like it, why's that? is it because the focus is not entirely on john connor? or the fact that danny elfman, the composer 'refucktalized' the score and the theme (Brad Fiedel) created is not used in salvation. only the jah jah jah jah jah is used..rarely too. not gonna say when..cos that will spoil it for you. i feel the score was pretty good and suited the movie very well.. and stands quite well by itself. track 5, freeside, has only 2 guitars, i like it quite a bit. the rhythm sound a bit like SOAD's 'Question'. gives the movie a different feel. hey, i'm not saying that this score is better than terminator 1 or 2. because this is a totally different movie. and needed a different base to work with. danny provided it. there's hope and inspiration when you listen to this score..that's the main reason why i enjoy listening to it. there isn't a main tune or something you can hum along too. but each track, by itself says something different. it shifts from the destruction to a glimpse of any hope to a sort of freedom..and it inches through very slowly..that's the magic of it. i never was a big fan of danny's music. but recently, milk, and this changed my perception of him. before i was like, ''i know he's good but i just can't seem to sit through an entire score''. well that's changed. anyway, i can't wait for what he does for ang lee's taking woodstock. i hope the music will be as trippy and hippy as the trailer is.
MR
why is it that the misses almost wasn't in the movie. it's like she's got almost no screen time. no abilities other than being john connor's wife. she plays a pretty big role in how john connor became who he is in the movie. the only thing i could 'get' from her was that she's mentally strong, as was everyone in the movie. and she's a medic. so little screen time. damn.
christian bale is fiTTT. ok, that sounds gay. every time he shouts in the movie, i remember him yelling during the production set. the 'scandal' as ping lon calls it. christian of course is awesome as john connor. gritty as fuck. his human side is always trying to rise to the surface. but shit keeps happening so...almost always..just gritty. human side.. why did i say that? not like he has a machine side to him. or does he? *cue the terminator theme*
anyway, i heard quite a few people didn't like it, why's that? is it because the focus is not entirely on john connor? or the fact that danny elfman, the composer 'refucktalized' the score and the theme (Brad Fiedel) created is not used in salvation. only the jah jah jah jah jah is used..rarely too. not gonna say when..cos that will spoil it for you. i feel the score was pretty good and suited the movie very well.. and stands quite well by itself. track 5, freeside, has only 2 guitars, i like it quite a bit. the rhythm sound a bit like SOAD's 'Question'. gives the movie a different feel. hey, i'm not saying that this score is better than terminator 1 or 2. because this is a totally different movie. and needed a different base to work with. danny provided it. there's hope and inspiration when you listen to this score..that's the main reason why i enjoy listening to it. there isn't a main tune or something you can hum along too. but each track, by itself says something different. it shifts from the destruction to a glimpse of any hope to a sort of freedom..and it inches through very slowly..that's the magic of it. i never was a big fan of danny's music. but recently, milk, and this changed my perception of him. before i was like, ''i know he's good but i just can't seem to sit through an entire score''. well that's changed. anyway, i can't wait for what he does for ang lee's taking woodstock. i hope the music will be as trippy and hippy as the trailer is.
MR
Friday, May 29, 2009
jeff beck live at ronnie scott's!!
jeff beck is simply brilliant. he can make any sound come out of his ax and make it sound like .. how i think heaven would sound like. i can only compare him to satriani but jeff's sound isn't as clean as his. but he manages to get a different sort of feel out of the sound..and his tone is just...fuck. if that makes any sense.. and this live gig proves yet again that he is a true guitar god. there are many cameos in ronnie's..both on stage..and in the crowd..haha..
his band complements the shite out of him....Vinnie Colaiuta, the drummer has been on 500 albums..the bassist girl, Tal Wilkenfeld is relative of Jeff's, i read somewhere. well that makes sense..cos she plays like she's just jamming out..and she's amazing..and she's just 22. anyway, i'll stop talking. here are some of my favourites from the gig. and please watch them all in HQ:-}
Angel Footsteps.
with Imogen Heap. Blanket.
Behind the Veil.
featuring Eric Clapton!! You Need Love & Where Were You
A Day In the Life. sweet sounds ringing from his guitar...
you can check out the rest on youtube. i hope he comes to Malaysia. by the way, my second name's Raj.
MR
his band complements the shite out of him....Vinnie Colaiuta, the drummer has been on 500 albums..the bassist girl, Tal Wilkenfeld is relative of Jeff's, i read somewhere. well that makes sense..cos she plays like she's just jamming out..and she's amazing..and she's just 22. anyway, i'll stop talking. here are some of my favourites from the gig. and please watch them all in HQ:-}
Angel Footsteps.
with Imogen Heap. Blanket.
Behind the Veil.
featuring Eric Clapton!! You Need Love & Where Were You
A Day In the Life. sweet sounds ringing from his guitar...
you can check out the rest on youtube. i hope he comes to Malaysia. by the way, my second name's Raj.
MR
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
live stuff from Makali...wooo!!
their most popular song.
Mais Bon!
new stuff.
they finally released their first album. all i've heard are songs from their myspace page. 6 songs. all brilliant by the way. so i'm sure the rest of the songs on the album will be too.
(not the album cover. but still, pretty cool right!)
wooo!!
Mais Bon!
new stuff.
they finally released their first album. all i've heard are songs from their myspace page. 6 songs. all brilliant by the way. so i'm sure the rest of the songs on the album will be too.
(not the album cover. but still, pretty cool right!)
wooo!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
more trailers.
whatever works trailer. saweet!
Nine trailer. nine is about a director who's going through mid life crisis while balancing the nine women who are in his life. the film starrs daniel day lewis, penelope cruz (the mistress), nicole kidman (his film star muse), marion cotillard (his wife), judi dench (costume designer), kate hudson (american fashion journalist), sophia loren (mother), and fergie (whore from his youth). the movie is a musical directed by rob marshall (chicago).
taking woodstock. ang lee is directing this one. and danny elfman is scoring it. the film's about a man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills who inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969. for those who haven't heard of woodstock, google it. emile hirsch (into the wild), liev schreiber (the new sabretooth), and paul dano (little miss sunshine) are in it.
the hangover. a new comedy from the director of old school. looks like a super fun movie. nice cameo at the end.
sherlock holmes. guy ritchie directs, hans zimmer scores, and filled with a superb cast. not as great as the cast of 'nine'. but still.. robert downey jr, jude law, rachel mcadams (oh man!), and MARK STRONG. yes, hani salam and the famous back slapper is back!! the trailer is shot like an action movie..with slow mo's and zimmer's music, i'm guessing. even before his name popped up before the credits, i was thinking ''why does the music remind me of hans zimmer?''.
Nine trailer. nine is about a director who's going through mid life crisis while balancing the nine women who are in his life. the film starrs daniel day lewis, penelope cruz (the mistress), nicole kidman (his film star muse), marion cotillard (his wife), judi dench (costume designer), kate hudson (american fashion journalist), sophia loren (mother), and fergie (whore from his youth). the movie is a musical directed by rob marshall (chicago).
taking woodstock. ang lee is directing this one. and danny elfman is scoring it. the film's about a man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills who inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969. for those who haven't heard of woodstock, google it. emile hirsch (into the wild), liev schreiber (the new sabretooth), and paul dano (little miss sunshine) are in it.
the hangover. a new comedy from the director of old school. looks like a super fun movie. nice cameo at the end.
sherlock holmes. guy ritchie directs, hans zimmer scores, and filled with a superb cast. not as great as the cast of 'nine'. but still.. robert downey jr, jude law, rachel mcadams (oh man!), and MARK STRONG. yes, hani salam and the famous back slapper is back!! the trailer is shot like an action movie..with slow mo's and zimmer's music, i'm guessing. even before his name popped up before the credits, i was thinking ''why does the music remind me of hans zimmer?''.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
shepherd's pie and paper heart.
my sister came back this weekend. her semester's now over. so it's all good. she decided to make something..cook something. she mentioned her friend made shepherd's pie and it was great. so we looked up a recipe and started getting started.
8 or so hours later..
would have been better with less potatoes and more mutton. i just had three slices and was sooo full! the potatoes of course did that. eugene/my neighbour came over too. big surprise. haha! just kidding.
paper heart. looks good. i just found out the two leads, michael cera and charlyne yi are a couple in real life. charlyne also co-wrote the script and is doing the music for the movie.
when i first saw her in knocked up, i thought she was seriously on drugs or something..which was her character there.. then in this movie..she's the same..haha. and michael cera is perfect with the brand of comedy he does. what is it called? off beat? straight faced? quirky? whatever it's labelled..he's really good.
8 or so hours later..
would have been better with less potatoes and more mutton. i just had three slices and was sooo full! the potatoes of course did that. eugene/my neighbour came over too. big surprise. haha! just kidding.
paper heart. looks good. i just found out the two leads, michael cera and charlyne yi are a couple in real life. charlyne also co-wrote the script and is doing the music for the movie.
when i first saw her in knocked up, i thought she was seriously on drugs or something..which was her character there.. then in this movie..she's the same..haha. and michael cera is perfect with the brand of comedy he does. what is it called? off beat? straight faced? quirky? whatever it's labelled..he's really good.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
trailers.
franklyn. i actually don't know anything about the movie. eva green's in it though. everyone is saying it's like dark city, which i haven't seen. dark, futuristic, noir feel to it.
next we have 500 days of summer. romantic comedy with joseph gordon-levitt and zooey deschanel. something tells me the movie's gonna have great music.
he could definately play heath ledger in some biopic in the future. ''i don't wanna get over her, i wanna get her back''.
funny people. judd apatow comedy with adam sandler, seth rogen, eric bana, and the other usual apatow clan.
jack back, michael cera, paul rudd, christopher mintz-plasse, hank azaria....this is....YEAR ONE.
will ferrel is back with ''land of the lost''. trailer looks good. i just hope it doesn't turn out to be a kids movie or something.
michael mann directs johnny depp, christian bale, and marion cotillard (''thank you life, thank you love, it is true there is some angels in this city''), channing tatum, dr. manhattan, and more. johnny is playing the main role in this one..christian, only plays the secondary character i think. public enemies.
whatever works is an upcoming movie by woody allen. it starrs larry david and patricia clarkson. it's evan rachel wood's first comedy and she's getting to work with woody allen. wow. seriously, she's an amazingly talented actress and incredibly georgous too. let's just take a look at some of the previous films that she's done. thirteen, pretty persuasion, down in the valley, running with scissors, king of california, across the universe, and the most recent, the wrestler. all brilliant movies. she's only 22 and she's already worked with edward norton, julie taymor, ron howard, cate blanchett, tommy lee jones, kevin costner, michael douglas, darren aronofsky, annete bening, and of course al fuckin' pacino. imagine that.
there's no trailer for the movie yet. so here are some pictures on set.
with henry cavill from
'the tudors'.
next we have 500 days of summer. romantic comedy with joseph gordon-levitt and zooey deschanel. something tells me the movie's gonna have great music.
he could definately play heath ledger in some biopic in the future. ''i don't wanna get over her, i wanna get her back''.
funny people. judd apatow comedy with adam sandler, seth rogen, eric bana, and the other usual apatow clan.
jack back, michael cera, paul rudd, christopher mintz-plasse, hank azaria....this is....YEAR ONE.
will ferrel is back with ''land of the lost''. trailer looks good. i just hope it doesn't turn out to be a kids movie or something.
michael mann directs johnny depp, christian bale, and marion cotillard (''thank you life, thank you love, it is true there is some angels in this city''), channing tatum, dr. manhattan, and more. johnny is playing the main role in this one..christian, only plays the secondary character i think. public enemies.
whatever works is an upcoming movie by woody allen. it starrs larry david and patricia clarkson. it's evan rachel wood's first comedy and she's getting to work with woody allen. wow. seriously, she's an amazingly talented actress and incredibly georgous too. let's just take a look at some of the previous films that she's done. thirteen, pretty persuasion, down in the valley, running with scissors, king of california, across the universe, and the most recent, the wrestler. all brilliant movies. she's only 22 and she's already worked with edward norton, julie taymor, ron howard, cate blanchett, tommy lee jones, kevin costner, michael douglas, darren aronofsky, annete bening, and of course al fuckin' pacino. imagine that.
there's no trailer for the movie yet. so here are some pictures on set.
with henry cavill from
'the tudors'.Monday, April 20, 2009
brokeback mountain
i watched brokeback mountain recently. very touching movie. and i watched it on a bluray copy..so it was even more marvelous. i'm sure most people have already seen it so i'm not gonna do some critical review or something.
heath ledger played ennis del mar brilliantly. i don't know how ang lee did the audition process but it was the perfect choice. the gay scenes, i have to say, look very animalistic! haha..
the soundtrack is amazing and very fitting. before this, i never was a fan of country music..but the selection was amazing. my favourite was teddy thompson's "i don't wanna say goodbye", emmylou harris' "a love that will never grow old". i know when i'm obsessed with something. i start you tubing like crazy till my eyes get tired and shutdown. this was literally what happened. emmylou has 12 grammy's. shit. she's been alive since..a long time. and rufus wainwright also sings on the ost.."the maker makes". amazing stuff. and of course gustavo's score won best score for the oscars. when i first popped the disc into my pc..the menu appeared with this beautiful music playing in the background. so my expectations increased just a tiny bit. haha.
and the score has a basic theme but expands slowly, adding strings to it. my favourite piece is the last track on the ost, ''the wings''.
this movie was actually a blind buy for me. wasn't playing on buying..but i don't know. i guess something drew me to it.
this is one of teddy thompson's. not from the movie. ''tonight will be fine''.
heath ledger played ennis del mar brilliantly. i don't know how ang lee did the audition process but it was the perfect choice. the gay scenes, i have to say, look very animalistic! haha..
the soundtrack is amazing and very fitting. before this, i never was a fan of country music..but the selection was amazing. my favourite was teddy thompson's "i don't wanna say goodbye", emmylou harris' "a love that will never grow old". i know when i'm obsessed with something. i start you tubing like crazy till my eyes get tired and shutdown. this was literally what happened. emmylou has 12 grammy's. shit. she's been alive since..a long time. and rufus wainwright also sings on the ost.."the maker makes". amazing stuff. and of course gustavo's score won best score for the oscars. when i first popped the disc into my pc..the menu appeared with this beautiful music playing in the background. so my expectations increased just a tiny bit. haha.
and the score has a basic theme but expands slowly, adding strings to it. my favourite piece is the last track on the ost, ''the wings''.
this movie was actually a blind buy for me. wasn't playing on buying..but i don't know. i guess something drew me to it.
this is one of teddy thompson's. not from the movie. ''tonight will be fine''.
Friday, January 16, 2009
films i watched recently.
the golden globes is now over. how can a movie like slumdog win best movie? i saw it. it wasn't that great. but then the others, i haven't seen yet. so, how would i know? Rahman's score for slumdog won. the score is pretty good. with him singing few tracks and featuring other artists too. he uses a different formula than other composers. he once said in an interview that music should be created to make an impact and make people dance. adding that what today's composer's practice, excessive minimalism and ambient music, shouldn't be used in films. i disagree 100% on this point. not all films require a thematic approach to the score. it does not have to be earth shattering either. this is not to say the dark knight's score is too 'loud' or 'thematic'. it's supposed to be like that. that's what the movie needs (in my humble opinion).
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