Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 12: Burnt Offerings

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

I put Burnt Offerings on my list primarily because John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats once mentioned it and gave it a fair amount of praise. Burnt Offerings is, first and foremost, a very long movie. It's only really 2 hours, but it feels way longer. Without giving any spoilers away really (as this is the premise of the movie), the house this family agrees to stay in for the summer appears to be draining the life from the family. Whether or not this is what is actually happening, it does appear this way, and when your movie's goal is to show the life slowly being drained from someone, you have to realize that this feeling will be experienced by your audience as well. If you're really into Dark Shadows, and love campy 70's horror, and have nothing to do, then I'd recommend that you watch Burnt Offerings. If not, then I'd heavily consider watching this one scene from it. Warning, Spoiler. That's really all you'll need.

-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 11: Who Is Harry Nilsson?

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

Everyone likes Harry Nilsson, even if you don't know who he is. I've been a fan of his since my Dad played me Son of Schmilsson when I was a kid. I particularly liked "You're Breaking My Heart." As I got older, I gathered up as much Nilsson as I could get my hands on, absorbing it like the leading brand of paper towels. Until recently I didn't look into his personal life too much, as I've never found that sort of information as interesting as the music itself. But when someone makes a doc about one of the most under-appreciated musicians of the 20th century, I figure it's my duty to find out a little about the guy. Who is Harry Nilsson? goes into immense detail about how crazy this man Harry's life really was, and how if a startling genius can also be a huge jerk, and, simultaneously, a loving man. Okay okay, that's not that startling, but still, it's a good story and a well paced documentary, so what more could you ask for?

-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

SLM Mixtape #54: Fervency

Fervency from SomeLoveMusic on 8tracks Radio.

The Companion - The Mary Onettes
Hey Mama - The Motorcycle Boy
Over My Shoulder - Paul Banks
Halleluwah - Can
Anonymous - American Taboo
Lies- Big Hair
Compressor - Biting Tongues
Rage the Viking I'm Not - The Blast Conservatory

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 10: Haunted Honeymoon

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

Haunted Honeymoon sort of slipped its way into the festival. I'd seen it before when I was a kid, and didn't put it on my list, but after watching the Expendables, and randomly seeing it in my suggested queue, the people I had over and I thought it'd be a good companion piece. Haunted Honeymoon, for those of you who don't know, was Gilda Radner's last movie before she died of ovarian cancer. Watching it honestly feels like we're looking in on a fever-dream during the last few days of love bird's Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder's marriage. Going in to this movie with this knowledge adds a strange dynamic, watching Gene and Gilda unknowingly fall into a potentially life threatening situation, and laugh, dance, and sing their way out of it feels like an all to apt swan song. But it also makes it harder to watch, because now, looking back, we know it's a swan song, but at the time that it was being made, they were still fighting hard to make it more than that. And, outside of the movie, happily ever after didn't really come through for G&G. A heartbreaking movie without ever intending to be one.

-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 9: The Expendables

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

The Expendables is everything that you think it is. It's a throwback to the testosterone-driven explosion-smorgasbord era of cinema, and really nothing more. At this point in my festival, a few friends had come over, and a few drinks were had, so any semblance of what the plot of this movie was almost entirely lost on me, but, as you probably guessed it, that didn't really matter. There were big manly men fighting each other, huge explosions, cameos, and every other sort of unabashedly self serving, masturbatory aspect of the epics given homage by this overblown production. Oh yeah, and it also totally ruled. It was just too much fun, even at its most base moments.



-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 8: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

Uncle Boonmee is a hard movie to really review.  It's certainly beautiful, and definitely an experience, but it's not for everyone.  It's another slow and contemplative movie, floating by at glacial speed. What is happening in the plot takes a back seat to deliberately weighty silences and long stretches of either metaphorical or literal wanderings.  I did like it, and found it uncannily beautiful, but I can't say I really understood what was happening, and found myself getting so lost in it that I zoned out, my mind going on trips of it's own.  When it would come back, it would appear that nothing much had changed since I left.  If explored more deeply, I may come out of it with a deeper understanding of the plot or even the message, but I'm not sure I'll be quick to revisit this admittedly strange and beautiful movie.

-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

SLM Mixtape #53: if only

if only from SomeLoveMusic on 8tracks Radio.

Peace In the Valley - Marva Whitney
That's How Strong My Love Is - The Gaylettes
I'm Coming Home (To See My Mother) - Clifton Chenier
Anyone Can Move A Mountain - Marlena Shaw
Go Now - Bessie Banks
Parallelograms - Linda Perhacs
Love is Blue - Sylvie Vartan
All I Can Do is Cry - Johnny Bond and His Red River Valley Boys

Show review: Now, Now, 4/11/2013

Last Thursday, I was cordially invited to see Minneapolis' now relatively established indie rock crew Now, Now (formerly Now, Now Every Children).  After a series of opening-set tours, and a spot on Jimmy Fallon, they've return to Denver on their second headlining tour, their first in a few years.

I picked up their first release back in '08 and found it nothing short of charming and heartwarming, and was excited to see how their new material would stand up live.  After two openers who did nothing but cause concern for the outcome of Now, Now's performance, I was quickly rewarded for my patience.  Now, Now continues to be the real deal.

Now, Now's now three members quietly set their things up on stage, did a quick check up on the levels, and them warmly eased into their first song.  Now, Now's performance was reserved, calculated.  There didn't seem to be a single note out of place, or thoughtlessly added.  There being the lack of a talented producer to filter their performance through, they had to rely on their ability to live up to their recorded sound, and they wonderfully.

Now Now's songs are patient, in no rush to win you over, rewarding you for your own patience with winsome, kinetic, tempestuous verses and choruses. Their Sleater-Kinney set up, but with occasional programmed keyboard tracks as bass back up, flaunted their understanding of the necessity to be as tonally aware as they are, that more volume, more drum fills, more vocal inflections don't make an interesting or enjoyable song, it's the attention to detail and pure, unwavering sense of direction that makes a song special.

Now, Now is currently on tour, and you'd be remiss to miss them:

Apr 14    The Blue Moose TapHouse, Iowa City, IA
Apr 15    Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
Apr 16    Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI
Apr 17    Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN
Apr 19    Highdive, Champaign, IL
Apr 20    Young Avenue Deli, Memphis, TN
Apr 21    Dan's Silverleaf, Denton, TX
Apr 22    Stubb's BBQ, Austin, TX
Apr 24    Pub Rock Live, Scottsdale, AZ
Apr 25    The Loft (UCSD), La Jolla, CA
Apr 26    The Wire, Upland, CA
Apr 27    Satellite Club, Los Angeles, CA
Apr 28    Constellation Room, Santa Ana, CA
Apr 30    Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA
May 01    Cozmic Pizza, Eugene, OR
May 02    Mississippi Studios,Portland, OR
May 03    ELECTRIC OWL, Vancouver, Canada
May 04    The Crocodile, Seattle, WA

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 7: Trollhunter

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

There were moments while watching TrollHunter that I was leaning forward, jaw agape, eyes wide, and heart racing. It doesn't have to rely on the audience pretending they're watching a "real" found footage movie, which honestly makes the movie more engaging and a hell of a lot more fun. Yes it's a bit of a Blair Witch rip off, but it I think it accomplishes a thing that Blair Witch would have killed to: It's a blast to watch. I was laughing and smiling the whole time. It's a fun, unassuming, unexpected adventure.
 
-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

SLM Mixtape #52: Lives, Lived

Lives, Lived from SomeLoveMusic on 8tracks Radio.

Song Of Songs - Two Gallants
Seen It All - Jake Bugg
Dream Girls - The Fresh & Onlys
Child of God - Josephine Foster
Greeneyed Monster - Jena Malone
Lines - Lucy Rose
Eric - I Was A King
All Cats Are Grey in the Dark - Henry Adam Svec

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 6: I Love You Phillip Morris

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

I Love You Phillips Morris is a fun, funny, twisted tale of one man's selfishness never really catching up to him. The moral of the story may have been lost, but with this movie it really is all about watching this based-on-a-true-story movie unfold. Jim Carrey's portrayal of real life Steven Jay Russel is charming and hypnotic, most of the joy found in the movie being derived from watching him get away with all of the just-barely-believable madness that occurs throughout the movie. Jim and Ewan act their tushes off in the playful, colorful, outrageous, blast of a movie. Definitely the feel-good-movie of year (two years ago).


-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

SLM Mixtape #51: Chariot

Chariot from SomeLoveMusic on 8tracks Radio.

Tracklist:
Rooster - Doron Diamond
Family Tree - Evening Hymns
A Lifetime in Heat - The Guggenheim Grotto
Leviathan - God's Little Eskimo
Boyfriend - Chelsea Wolfe
Cabin In The Burn - Evening Hymns
USA - Yellow Ostrich
Thumb - Meursault

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 5: THE THING

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

There are few movies that occupy the upper echelon of movies I consider good (there are a lot of good movies, but few perfect is what I'm saying). I bring this up because, obviously, The Thing is one of the few movies I consider basically perfect. From the terrifically chilling soundtrack to the stellar performances from every cast member, from Rob Bottin's godlike visual effects mastery to the straight up bonkers premise, from the brilliant cinematography to the spot on look into the human psyche, John Carpenter's The Thing is an unstoppable behemoth of a movie. No matter how many times I see it, the sense of terror present during my first seeing it surfaces again in new and bizarre ways. It's flat out an effective movie. And if you haven't see it, I envy you, because you get to see it for the first time now that you're going to go out and see it right away.


-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

SLM Mixtape #50: ohmygodshutup

ohmygodshutup from SomeLoveMusic on 8tracks Radio.

track list:
Flipless in What Plastic Box - Baby Walrus
Fathers Day - Neal Morgan
Shut Up & Deal - Radiator Hospital
Tony's wife - Sun Ra
Windows Open - Which Magic
I Won't Hurt You - West Coast Art Experimental Band
Movies Is Magic (Van Dyke Parks) - Mike Cooper
This Is War... - Spoon Boy

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 3: In the Mood For Love

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review! 

Wong Kar-wai’s second in his informal trilogy, In the Mood for Love is the most accessible of the three. Faster paced than Days of Being Wild, more concise than 2046, In the Mood For Love is a heartbreaking exploration of the processes of losing a lover to infidelity. It’s still very much a contemplative movie, slow and deliberate, but more emotionally charged. There are conversations that are so unbelievably hard to watch that I felt uncomfortable just being in the same room as the movie. The soundtrack comes in gracefully during emotional moments, causing the heart to swell and one's breath to freeze in their lungs. It's a desperately beautiful movie.

-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

SLM Mixtape #49: Something Powerful

Something Powerful from SomeLoveMusic on 8tracks Radio.

Track list:
Leading Me Now  -  The Tallest Man On Earth
Second Place Blues  -  Luke Roberts
Randy Quaid  -  Graham Wright
Emmylou  -  First Aid Kit
The Motherlode  -  The Staves
Night Bus  -  Lucy Rose
The First Day Of Snow  -  The Mad Skeleton
Undone  -  Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles

New Layout!

(photo credit)

Hello Everyone!

As you may have noticed, the site looks a little different.  Well that's because my good buddy Jasper went through and tore up the fabric of space and time (read: code and stuff) and came up with this wonderful new layout!  Everything fits now!  Everything looks wonderful!  Now I'll be able to write new things and not feel embarassed by the sickly and disturbing design!

New content coming atcha soon.  I hope you like the new layout!

Check out Jasper's personal website if you think you may need his assistance with any of your own stuff.  He's awesome!

Retroview: Tuff Fest I: Movie 2: Days Of Being Wild

A Retroview Review. 
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Luke here, back with a new limited series where I talk about like 60 movies over the next 60 days. Click here for an explanation. Read on for the quick and dirty review!

The first of Wong Kar-wai’s informal trilogy, Days of Being Wild is a slow, contemplative, mood focused film that follows around a Hong Kong playboy’s exploits with one woman, whom he quickly becomes bored of, and another whom he can’t seem to rid himself of. The movie explores courting, copulation, certain people’s compulsion to constantly remain on the hunt, and the inevitable emotional fallout that all of these things may bring about. It’s a sad movie, and moving, but it is certainly not for everyone. Bring your patience and be prepared to let it wash over you and you may find it rewarding.



-Luke Hunter James-Erickson
To see all the movies written about so far, click here: Tuff Fest I
Again, for an explanation, click here: Introduction to Tuff Fest I
To suggest movies I should schedule for Get Tuff Fest II, e-mail me: TheeLuke@gmail.com

SLM Mixtape #48: what. what is it that you want.

what. what is it that you want. from TuffLuke on 8tracks Radio.

White Jeep - Mayyors
Make Force (Album Version) - Xbxrx
Drunkship Of Lanterns - The Mars Volta
stabbing - Manual Zombie
Amplifuckation - Science vs. Witchcraft
Vaneigem Mix - Royal Family And The Poor
Birdtown - DD/MM/YYYY
Zs - Zs

Ivan & Alyosha, Live review (with Arc Life, Dana Falconberry)

 (photo: Live Letters)

Last Wednesday, I was invited to see Ivan & Alyosha, a self described "indie-rock, folk-pop, indie-pop" quintet from Seattle, Washington.  Being that the majority of the new music I come across sits a little further from center than a band like Ivan & Alyosha, I hadn't heard of them until I received the invitation.

They had a laundry list of accolades from a variety of reliable sources, and I liked the song in their newest video, so I decided to take my best friend out for the night and hit up the Hi-Dive, a venue which rarely disappoints.

Terminally early, I found myself at the Hi-Dive roughly an hour before the music started. As the crowd formed around me, the people-watching portion of the evening began.  It great to see so many people so excited, unironically, for a show, that there were "whoops" and "yahoos" well prior to the first band even taking the stage. Denver is an excitable town, true, but it was ready for a show.