A Segregation of Spectators, unified by Sportsmanship

Actually got the idea for this flipping through the channels.  The particular station didn't even faze me, however the scene was a Water Polo Match.  Yes with filled stadiums.  It was European I believe.  But the point was the crowd, as they were dressed in similar fashions, where the colors instantly jumped out at me.  What was more impressive to me, outside the occasionally ill-matched spectator, the colors were organized into these wonderfully crafted artificially created sections.  I thought about having some colors shift into the other sections, indicating a fight or disagreement may have broken out, but the image I saw didn't show any aggression.  The people weren't riled like at a football or  soccer match, but seemed to all just be there, showing the support for whomever it was they were supporting.  Anyhow, that's some background info.  So it's not just a bunch of colors on a page, as an unnamed friend had told me.

Dream of the Wizard

Sounds of a Playground Fading by In Flames

Sounds Of A Playground Fading [+Digital Booklet]

This album marks the latest studio album from the five-piece metal outfit from Sweden.  In addition to changing their line-up over the years, In Flames has always been eager to experiment with their own sound, in effect changing their style and perception in the process.  This stylistic experimentation has drawn both criticism, occasionally harsh, and praise from their devout fan base.  The band still produces well-polished death metal in the Scandinavian tradition, yet, with this said, they’ve more or less, over the years, fallen in line with the melodic side of the genre, all the while creating a sound unique to their own signature.

When A Sense Of Purpose (2008) was released it drew some heavy backlash from fans and industry professionals alike.  There was much disagreement as to the identity of In Flames, and even more opinions on what their identity should be.  There were jokes made and much confusion as to what we should expect from them on subsequent offerings. 

With this new release, the band addresses some of the criticism by delving deeply into the questions that surround identity.  In numerous songs, including the title track, The Attic, Fear is the Weakness and The Puzzle, they play around with the notion of identity and the effects it can have on both society as well as on an individual.  Other themes, such as loss, hope, ignorance, falsity, loneliness and remorse ring throughout the majority of Sounds of a Playground Fading, provide inspired melodies that invoke questions and contemplations within the minds of the audience. 

In flames, for me, can be aptly described by their up-tempo, catchy instrumentation, as their style is unmistakably their own.  Yet what draws me to their sound, as a fan of metal, and music in general, is the trademark vocal styling of Anders Friden.  His vocals can be described as melodic yet also harsh, a blend that, when combined with the instrumentation, provides a novel and unique experience.

As far as their albums go, I’m resolute in my belief that Clayman, is, and always will be, their best record.  It seems highly unlikely to me that its variables and nuances could ever be reproduced.  However, this discussion can be had for any group with a loyal and passionate base of fans.  You have Black Sabbath, Ozzy or Dio, Metallica pre or post …And Justice For All.  There are those that make this case anytime a group outgrows their initial audience as it expands to a more diverse sea of listeners.  In Flames is no different to those other bands and the discussions surrounding their careers.

As they tweaked with their sound throughout the years I never fell into the outraged category of fans.  I’ve always respected new and creative endeavors and will always provide myself the opportunity, to test and evaluate each recording on its own merit.  Despite the obvious tendency to compare the unknown with the known, it’s unfortunate when a body of work or artistic creation is put under an unrealistic or unfair filtration system.  Each action, every creation, deserves the opportunity to stand on its own.  Once a firm handle has been grasped about the individual effort, than it’s fine to go back and see how the latest expression compares to a previous body of work.  By evaluating in such a fashion you’re not discrediting solely because something is different from a previous effort or your own expectations, which may have been unrealistic in nature.

This is the process I used when A Sense Of Purpose was released.  At first I was not exactly enthralled by the effort, but the more I listened to the album, the more it grew on me.  I’m grateful I provided myself the opportunity, as I really grew to enjoy that record immensely.  Does it compare to earlier releases?  Not really, but it still stands alone, as a high-quality creation. 

For me, sounds of a playground fading falls in a similar fashion.  

While the first listening was not entirely nose crinkling in nature, I was, in a sense, disappointed by that initial listen.  For this reason I held off reviewing the album until now.  I had the feeling, even before making the purchase, that this would be another album that would have high points but would also take some time to grow accustomed to.  Again, I feel thankful, for providing myself the opportunity, as it’s really a tremendous album in its own right.  While it still does not resonate with me in the same manner that Clayman or even The Jester Race, it still is a wonderfully produced, exhilarating musical ride, well worth the addition to your metal library.

One of the things I always enjoyed about In Flames is their attention to metaphor and the extremely poetic nature existing within their lyrics.  They are the type of songs where you’ll gain almost as much pleasure from simply reading the lyrics, as you will from listening to them sung.

A few examples from this album:

We are ghosts of the concrete world/Genetic codes of a dying breed/Will I be left behind? /Sounds of a playground fading  

Fly into the distant/Disappear for a while/I can’t make sense of this/But we’re here today (feeling) alive

Forever, the night, is all for me now/I’m sure that one day/ I can get you…all that you lost

Looking for something to believe in, I think I’ve done my time/You can tell days by their faces, there are always signs/Answers to the puzzle, grab a piece of the light

If today was your last day, would that change a thing? / You probably believe what you told them, live each moment like your last

Track listing for Sounds of a Playground Fading:

1.            Sounds of a playground fading

2.            Deliver Us

3.            All for me

4.            The Puzzle

5.            Fear Is The Unknown

6.            Where The Dead Ships Dwell

7.            The Attic

8.            Darker Times

9.            Ropes

10.        Enter Tragedy

11.        Jester’s Door

12.        A New Dawn

13.        Liberation

If you are a fan of In Flames, then I highly recommend this record.  It may take you some time to get adjusted to, but no longer than the adjustment to A Sense of Purpose took you.  In fact, that record probably assists your adjustment to the sounds delivered here.  If you have trouble adjusting to change, or you just don’t like the stylistic alterations In Flames has already displayed, I’d then say that Sounds of a Playground Fading might not be something you’d enjoy. 

If you’ve never experienced In Flames before it would probably be a good idea to listen to this record and A Sense of Purpose prior to experiencing any of their earlier releases.  The reason being that if you hear this record first, you’ll have nothing clouding your impression.  You’ll be able to enjoy this album as a stand-alone release.  When you’re then ready to visit In Flames earlier albums you won’t taint your outlook on this album nor will you hinder your appreciation of the earlier releases.  Take a listen to this album and let me know what you feel about it. 

Affair With The Muse by Aoede

I first came to know of Aoede through social networking, where, on Twitter, she sent me a direct message that had a link to one of her earlier videos, I lost, you win, from her Push & Pull release.  I enjoyed the song and video enough that I figured it would be worth my while to find out some more about her. 

Affair with the Muse is her latest album, released on March 15^th of this year.  The album features seven new songs:

1.            Fairy Tale Love

2.            Does Your Heart Ever Stop Feeling?

3.            Crave Me

4.            If You Already Knew

5.            Love Proof

6.            Fall on Your Deaf Ears

7.            What You got

Affair With the Muse’s lyrics are dominated by reactions, observations & questions pertaining to the matters of the heart.  While classified as pop, it’s really not fair to categorize Aoede as a pop singer.  Her style is more complex than what the term, pop, categorically suggests.

The music is at times ethereal yet at others, possessed with an aery, whimsical and pop inspired.  While the music itself stands on its own merits, it’s Aoede’s vocals that you’ll find yourself immediately entranced by.  She’ll shift her singing style, between tracks but also internally within an individual song. The shifts in tonality are deliberate yet never overdone.

There are points where you’ll picture an older styled, perhaps 1920’s club, where Aoede is on stage, singing behind one of those old RKO microphones, bringing you back to an earlier, less stressful time.  There are also moments where you’ll compare her to Frente or Tegan and Sara.  Then you’ll find those where she’ll remind you of Dido or Enya.  But pinning her vocal tendencies down to any one artist is not my intent, nor would it be plausible to suggest.  The point I’m trying to make is that she shifts range and tone thoughtfully and appropriately, creating her own unique style in the process. 

What I enjoyed the most though, is her ability to use various vocal inflections to her advantage.  From bop to scat, to sounds you’d expect to hear in David Lynch films, it’s her inflections of voice that make her words and music so attractive, even seductive, to listen to. 

If you enjoy the artists I’ve mentioned above, you should appreciate Aoede as well.  This album is like a cool breeze on a warm summer day. You’ll find yourself reflecting upon your own experiences. You’ll find yourself deep in empathy, as if her words were meant for your ears alone.  You’ll also, if you’re anything like me, enjoy the subtle instrumentation that is hidden beneath her voice and the pleasantries within a slow, yet inspired pace and the calming, peaceful nature that it brings.  

You can purchase her albums on itunes as well as on Broadjam.com, where you’ll also be able to preview full songs. 

I think, as with all “undiscovered” artists, you should give them an opportunity, as there’s no rule stating that an artist must already be established for their work to be enjoyable. 

Her first two releases, Push & Pull and Ear Candy, are also worth your listening pleasure.  Take a listen and let me know what you think.

Larry Crowne

Larry Crowne

Larry Crowne is the newest project for mega-stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.  Hanks starred, directed and co-wrote the film (with Nia Vardalos). 

In addition to Hanks (Larry Crowne) and Roberts (Mercedes Tainot), it also features Sarah Mahoney (Samantha), Cedric The Entertainer (Lamar), Wilmer Valderrama (Dell Gordo), Pam Grier (Frances) and Rita Wilson (Wilma Q. Gammelgaard)

Larry Crowne, while being a love story at face value, is really a story of loss and recovery, as experienced by Larry and Mercy.  Larry’s losses involve love and economy, while Mercy’s include love and purpose.

The film opens and we can instantly see Larry’s strong work ethic and dedication.  We are told he’s been employee of the month eight times while working for Umart. However, due to corporate downsizing, Larry is betrayed by his superiors and is let go from the job he loves. 

The management use Larry’s lack of education as their basis for his termination.  They claim there’s no point having an employee that will never advance the corporate chain. The burden of economy repeats throughout the film.  Some examples:

1.            Larry’s discourse with the loan manager at his bank

2.            The yard sales and price haggling neighbor Lamar

3.            As a direct result of gasoline cost, Larry starts using a moped over his Tahoe.

4.            Larry’s enrollment in an Economics class

5.            The move from his home, which he can’t afford, to a smaller apartment.

6.            Early in the film Larry mentions his days as a line cook are over with, yet this is the exact position he winds up accepting later in the film

Larry’s losses involving love include:

1.            Before the film begins we are told that Larry’s wife left him.  A wonderfully depicted scene illustrates this brilliantly.  Larry is entering his driveway and we see the emptiness within the enormous garage.

2.            Larry loved his job at Umart. When he’s fired, his sunny disposition becomes a look of fear and uncertainty. We can see a piece of his heart had just been torn out.

3.            Larry is virtually forced from his home.  He loves his home; it represents all that’s left of his marriage.  He loves his neighbors.  The look on his face, as he drives away, for the last time, perfectly captures this sense of loss.

Mercedes experiences loss in much different way.  She is leading a loveless marriage. She feels her ability to teach has disappeared.  She feels she doesn’t make a difference. 

As the film progresses we see the other side of the theme, that being Recovery. 

Mercedes’ recovery, pertaining to love, includes the breaking ties with her husband and standing up for herself.  He made an insulting remark, to which she responded by having him immediately stop the car, to which, she gets out, right there, in the middle of the street. 

This is her first movement away from her pain.  Shortly after we see Mercy, sitting alone, at a bus stop, in the darkness of the night. Moments later Larry offers her a ride home.  She hesitates at first, but does wind up accepting the ride.  Upon the ride home, we see her husband is seen arrested for DUI.   Then in the morning, her husband returns home from jail, only to find his belongings in the yard.

Finally her purpose is found when Larry, in his final class presentation, states the effect her class had upon him.  This brought a smile to her, but it wasn’t until LaLa, one of her students, mentioned that Larry said that her class changed his life.  Once she confirmed this statement with Larry, we know her recovery is now complete. 

The “class changed my life” line is also a direct call back to an earlier moment in the film, properly linking the ending of the movie to the beginning of the film.

Larry recovers from lost love through his feelings for Mercedes.  His recovery from Economical loss is seen through his understanding and success in his Economics class.  In addition, we later see his application of that knowledge as he voluntarily forecloses on his home.  He needed to put the past aside and move forward.  It is in this moment, although a loss in itself, that he’s able to make the push, away from his failed marriage and economic troubles, to a life filled with possibilities not weighed down by his previous baggage.

Throughout the film, Larry’s own sense of self-worth can be seen evolving.  He goes from playing the victim to a man seen as the owner of his own fate.  He goes from uneducated to knowledgeable.  From lost to found.

The acting in Larry Crowne is exceptional, from Hanks and Roberts down the line.  The film has moments where it feels like a polished Hollywood product, yet there are also several times when you feel like you’re watching a low budget independent film. This mix worked extremely well, as it shifted tone and space, highlighting the emotions of the characters from sequence to sequence, from scene to scene. 

Larry Crowne is a film for anyone who likes romantic films.  It’s a film for those who like a subtle style of comedy.  It’s also for anyone that enjoys quality acting, where the star owns their role but doesn’t overshadow the nature of their character. Let me know what you think, I’d love to her your take.

Renovation Test

For anyone thinking about home renovation, do yourself a favor, take this test before you begin. 

To take part, all you’ll need is a digital camera, a notepad, pen and your mind.

For those in an average sized home, I’d estimate the test will take between 3 & 4 hours to complete.  I consider two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, a living and a dining room as average.  I do not include basements, second floors, attics or outdoor space in the estimate.  If your home exceeds these specifications, I would suggest allotting for additional time.  I also advise providing leeway for any delays.

Decide on a time and block it off on the calendar.   As simple as this may sound, many skip this step.  I strongly advise you not to skip any of the steps, but especially this one.  Memory reminders, to-do lists, outlines and so forth are important pieces to any project.  They remind you of key information as well as providing a reference to gauge your progress and pace.

This test uses lateral thinking. It calls upon your creative side, to develop and work through ideas. It lets you see things from various angles.  Allowing your creative side to roam, without restriction, traditionally produces many ideas, without sacrificing quality.   

The test is reproduced for each room. 

1.   Pick a room to start with.  I prefer working backwards, from largest to smallest.

2.   Use the digital camera by photographing every inch of the room.

3.   Take out the notepad and pen.  Record your impressions of the room. The impressions can be:

A.     Areas/features you like/dislike

B.  Ideas for structural change (drastic) (wall removal etc.)

C.  Ideas for structural change (minor) (room design etc.)

D.  Ideas for aesthetic change (paint, carpet etc.)

E.  Ideas for aesthetic change (furniture, décor etc.)

F.  Areas for improvement consideration

Think in terms of what you can do to build upon your ideas in sections A-E.  Many times you’ll be repeating yourself.  However, this step is important, it provides another opportunity to assess each detail.   You’ll see if your ideas are reasonable or unrealistic.    

4.   Draw a rough sketch or diagram based on step 3.  Artistic ability is not necessary.  You’re just making a visual aid for future reference.

5.   Evaluate your sketch.  Does your design still work or do you need to repeat step 3?  By seeing things visually:

A.   We affirm our initial impressions.

B.   We refute our initial impressions.

C.   We see points to build upon or remove

6.   Write down your reactions to Step 5. 

7.   If you’re not happy with the results, repeat the steps until satisfied. If you are satisfied move on to the next room.

You’ll repeat steps 2-6 for each subsequent room.  After each room has been assessed satisfactorily you’ll move on to the test’s final section. 

1.   Log on to your computer

2.   Attach your digital camera

3.   Open up your photographs

4.   Use a photo program to sort the pictures.

5.   Combine them, like a jigsaw puzzle, until you have a full representation of your room.

6.    Refer to your sketches

7.   Start editing the picture: 

A.   See how objects from other rooms fit into the current room.  How do you feel about the Armoire in your bedroom instead of the living room?  How does the large flat-screen fit in the dining room?

B.   Do the same thing, this time for walls, ceilings and floors?  Tile Vs. hardwood?  Carpet Vs. Throw-rug?  How would teal look in your kitchen?  How would lime work, surrounded by oak furniture? 

C.   Keep playing around. See the difference removing a wall creates.  Look at the change new windows makes.  How does alteration affect ambiance? How does the lighting design?

Once you’re done experimenting you should be able to make a confident decision regarding your renovation. 

Before you start your project, here are a few additional ideas to keep in mind:

1.            Estimated cost

Cost may not be an issue, but it’s always a good idea to compare value.  You may really like two differently priced designs.  In this case, cost may play a role in your choice.

2.            Home Value

How will your renovations affect the value of your Home?  Many changes can increase or decrease home value.  This can vary by regionally and demographically. 

3.            Ordinances/Regulations/Permits

Ordinances are common in most regions.  Permits are almost always required to begin a project. This information is essential for the do-it-yourselfer. But even if you use a contractor, it’s beneficial to be aware of the requirements.  In addition to ensuring the contractor doesn’t take shortcuts or liberties with permits or regulations, this knowledge can also be useful during negotiations.

4.            Open houses

An open house can be an easy way to locate new ideas.  In addition to observing layouts and design, you may find a nuance you were previously unaware of, that can enhance or improve your own renovation design.

Once you’ve completed this test you should be ready to start renovating. By completing each step you should feel confident moving forward, as you’ve experimented with numerous facets of the layout and design process.  Lateral thinking and creative design helps raise unlimited possibility in your design. It can make the invisible visible, providing you with a new way to see and interpret. The test should help you make better decisions and instill a sense of enjoyment into the process of your design.  

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Shia Labeouf (Sam Witwicky), Josh Duhamel ( Lennox), Tyrese Gibson (Epps) and John Turturro (Simmons) return for Transformers: Dark of the Moon.  Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Carly) replaces Megan Fox’s role as Sam’s love interest.  Patrick Dempsey (Dylan), Frances McDormand (Mearing), Ken Jeong (Jerry Wang) and John Malkovich (Bruce Brazos) join the franchise for Dark of the Moon.

The latest Transformers film is, well, what you probably have come to expect from the franchise.  A summer blockbuster that is filled with amazing special effects, action and a few laughs. 

I have a few points to mention regarding this film.  The first, which I’ll get out of the way early here, is that the 3D didn’t do much for me.  I’ve yet to find the perfect 3D film yet.  There were some neat moments that I wonder how they’d look in 2D, but for the money, which is what it typically comes down to for me, I’ll be recommending this film for the 2D format.  Take the $5.00 difference and buy a soda.

The second point I’d like to make is the length of the film.  Transformers: Dark of the Moon runs for 257 minutes, not counting the additional 20 minutes of previews.  The film is about a ½ hour too long.  There is about 35-40 minutes of footage that could have been cut from the final version.   

We didn’t need to see all of the job interviews that Sam went on.  Sure, some of these scenes were funny to a point, but that’s the problem.  It seemed to me that there was an inordinate amount of comedic sequences in this installment.  

I am fully aware that the previous efforts did have their comedic moments, but this one exceeding the earlier offerings and plainly just weren’t all that necessary and certainly not intrinsic to this film’s storyline.  

I would also severely, if not entirely cut the scenes that dealt with Sam’s parents.  They just weren’t necessary to the overall plot of Dark of the Moon.  All these scenes did was add a little more transition from the previous Transformer films to this one as well as adding a little more humor and to drive home Sam’s disappointment.  Again, not necessary, and to some extent a bit condescending in the fact that the writers felt the need to include their roles, as I can only guess they felt the audience couldn’t piece things together on their own.

My final point with this film is the story itself.  I really like what the writers did in this respect.  I believe the storyline is the most creative and the best of the Transformer films.  The way they twisted history to fit their need was incredibly intelligent and almost flawless in the entwining reality with fiction. 

The story shows how an Auto-bot ship is damaged leaving their home planet of Cybertron.  The ship winds up crashing on the moon.  The Transformers on the ship go into a type of hibernation.  The US & USSR arms race plays a role in the discovery of the ship.  What follows is a well-formed plot that includes underhanded activity and betrayal, by Decepticons as well as human involvement.  The story that takes place is in direct relation to this backstory and obviously leads to Auto-bots Vs. Decepticons, where the Earth’s fate awaits the outcome of their battle.

The Transformers films provide a nice reprieve from the every day experience.  They offer a good deal of Sci-fi action complete with state of the art special effects.  The subtraction of Megan Fox made no difference to this film whatsoever.  Rosie Huntington-Whiteley did a very good job in the role Megan would have played.  The main reasons to see Dark of the moon, in my opinion are:

1.            The already discussed storyline

2.            The special effects

3.            Optimus Prime. 

I won’t go into too much detail with this here, but the points of the film, as can be said for the previous Transformers films as well, when Optimus Prime engages in battle is worth the price of admission alone.  In Dark of The moon however, Optimus had viciousness, a resolve for destruction that we did not fully see in the previous films.  This “kill them all” mentality brought a brand new dimension to his extremely entertaining battle scenes.

As I mentioned, I recommend this film, but go see the 2D version, the drop off from 3D won’t be enough to warrant the higher ticket price. Also make sure you plan accordingly, as this film is almost 3 hours in length when you add in the time it takes for the trailers.  Let me know what you thought of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, I’d love to hear your take.