7.11.2008
Drumroll! My (Highly Subjective) Top Ten Animated Movies of All Time!
I whiled away the afternoon at work writing and rewriting and rewriting this list following a discussion with my lovely animator BFF Jeff Freeman about how Wall-E had easily made it into each of our theoretical top fives.
The list started as a simple way to pass the time and turned into a hotly discussed and debated piece of parchment. There were at least ten drafts before the 'final' one, below, with annotation. One aspect of the discussion (mostly between Freeman and I, unsurprisingly) was what exactly the criteria for the accolade was. There was no final word on how it should be decided but I'd say the list below uses the following criteria roughly equally:
Sentimental/personal value: These movies all mean a lot to me because I'm me. It's not meant to be universal, and I would fully expect anyone else's list to be completely different.
History / Innovation / Singularity: That said, representing major types and localities of animation was important to me, as well as recognizing certain landmarks. Fantasia almost made the cut for this reason alone, but I booted it because it's personal value to me is almost null. However, there was a sense of needing to have a representative movie from the east, a representative stop-motion film, etc.
Artistic / Creative Achievement: I think all of the top ten movies could be called 'masterpieces' from a purely artistic standpoint.
As far as what qualifies..Eventually the rule I came up with is that if it's animation on top of live action backgrounds, the animation is more of an 'effect' -- hence Who Framed Roger Rabbit was not considered. But if there is limited live action 'on top' of the animation -- i.e. Wall-E -- it qualifies as full length animation. The Phantom Tollbooth was allowed because the live action serves as a very brief bookend to what is really a full length animated movie. Puppet movies don't count, stop motion does. Shorts are excluded, that's a list of it's own.
Summer: At least half of the top ten use anthropomorphized animals or robots to deal with themes of equality or humanism -- freedom from oppression.
Jeff: Cartoons about humans are dumb.
Summer: Yeah, but they're still human themes. Unless animators are a bunch of radical animal/robot rights activists. Although NIMH might actually be about mice...
Summer: Let's not even get started on Bambi... Talk about radical!
By far the best response to the list was from Jerome: "I guess I'll forgive you for not including The Great Mouse Detective."
It should be noted that I am not really a fan of computer animation and your pleading arguments for Finding Nemo or The Incredibles will not do anything for me. Yes, I've seen them. I can appreciate that a lot of people like those movies, but I really don't. I find Wall-E to be the disarming, beautiful, wonderful, singular exception that proves my rule.
Okay, here:
Close but no cigar: Waking Life, Fantasia, Bambi, Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Spirited Away, The Rescuers, Sleeping Beauty, Watership Down, Charlotte's Web, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Metropolis, An American Tail, Princess Mononoke, Paprika, Yellow Submarine, An American Tail, Ghost In The Shell, The Corpse Bride, James And The Giant Peach, Wallace & Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit...
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Hotly contested by Freeman. But I love this movie. Maybe a little less than I did once, because as he rightly pointed out, the songs wear on you a bit after years of hearing them. But this movie was one of the first times I was overwhelmed by the beauty of animation and felt true wonder during a full-length animated film, other than as a small child. The character design is creative and classic. Jack Skellington is a perfect antihero. Sally is lovely and strange. There's a reason these characters have endured. They are Mickey and Minnie for the young and the alternative.
9. The Phantom Tollbooth
This charming and simple movie is what animation for children feels like at it's best. It's not showy or particularly innovative or splashy or bright, but the adaptation of Jules Feiffer's wonderful book illustrations is exactly what this story deserves. Magical.
8. The Secret of NIMH
This movie is representin' Don Bluth and all he did in the 80s that was really the continuation of the wonderful and funny, not-so-epic, beautifully drawn Disney movies in the 60s-70s that were all but forgotten by the languishing Disney studios at the time. I mean, didn't this come out the same year as 'The Black Cauldron'? Don Bluth picked up where they left off and proved that someone else could make wonderful children's animation. This movie is still fucking scary and dark and serious and awesome.
7. 101 Dalmations
A lot of Disney movies got 'cut' at the last minute to make room for other things, but Dalmations had to stay. It has some of the best music of any animated film ever, the art style is unique and singular to this day, the characters are unforgettable (Cruella!), the voice acting is the best I can think of, and it's always, always, always 'watchable.' I love this movie. Walt Disney kind of hated it, weirdly enough. What does he know? Oh, yeah.
6. Akira
I am not personally equipped to write eloquently about this film, although I love it very much and it has had an enormous impact and if you have not seen it, you really should. I'll leave it at that
5. The Triplets of Belleville
This delightful movie singlehandedly revitalized my passion for animation. It seems to be both a huge step forward and a nod to the past. Unforgettable. Sad. Whimsical. Funny. Heartbreaking. It's a 'cartoon' in a very real sense, but also very serious. It straddles the line between animation as 'entertainment' and animation as 'art.'
4. The Iron Giant
This movie is perfect. I cry every single time I watch it, and the animation itself takes my breath away.
3. Wall-E
This movie is perfect. It exceeded my incredibly high expectations and impressed me even further the second time I saw it. Everything from the story to the visual to the sound design to the music is innovative and different and yet completely classic. I find myself thinking about Wall-E and Eve every single day.
2. My Neighbor Totoro
This movie is perfect. Totoros are now an important part of my personal mythologies. And this has to be my favorite animated movie from a visual perspective. I could freeze any frame of this film and frame it as art. All that, while appealing to kids on a basic and primitive level at the same time. Magic, magic!
1. Lady And The Tramp
This movie is perfect. It's a romantic comedy disguised as a children's movie. And although the Lion King likes to claim this honor on a technicality, L&TT is really the first 'original story' to be made into a Disney animated feature. AND it's hilarious and true and beautiful and I never ever get tired of it, ever, although I've been watching it at least once a year for at least twenty years.
The list started as a simple way to pass the time and turned into a hotly discussed and debated piece of parchment. There were at least ten drafts before the 'final' one, below, with annotation. One aspect of the discussion (mostly between Freeman and I, unsurprisingly) was what exactly the criteria for the accolade was. There was no final word on how it should be decided but I'd say the list below uses the following criteria roughly equally:
Sentimental/personal value: These movies all mean a lot to me because I'm me. It's not meant to be universal, and I would fully expect anyone else's list to be completely different.
History / Innovation / Singularity: That said, representing major types and localities of animation was important to me, as well as recognizing certain landmarks. Fantasia almost made the cut for this reason alone, but I booted it because it's personal value to me is almost null. However, there was a sense of needing to have a representative movie from the east, a representative stop-motion film, etc.
Artistic / Creative Achievement: I think all of the top ten movies could be called 'masterpieces' from a purely artistic standpoint.
As far as what qualifies..Eventually the rule I came up with is that if it's animation on top of live action backgrounds, the animation is more of an 'effect' -- hence Who Framed Roger Rabbit was not considered. But if there is limited live action 'on top' of the animation -- i.e. Wall-E -- it qualifies as full length animation. The Phantom Tollbooth was allowed because the live action serves as a very brief bookend to what is really a full length animated movie. Puppet movies don't count, stop motion does. Shorts are excluded, that's a list of it's own.
Summer: At least half of the top ten use anthropomorphized animals or robots to deal with themes of equality or humanism -- freedom from oppression.
Jeff: Cartoons about humans are dumb.
Summer: Yeah, but they're still human themes. Unless animators are a bunch of radical animal/robot rights activists. Although NIMH might actually be about mice...
Summer: Let's not even get started on Bambi... Talk about radical!
By far the best response to the list was from Jerome: "I guess I'll forgive you for not including The Great Mouse Detective."
It should be noted that I am not really a fan of computer animation and your pleading arguments for Finding Nemo or The Incredibles will not do anything for me. Yes, I've seen them. I can appreciate that a lot of people like those movies, but I really don't. I find Wall-E to be the disarming, beautiful, wonderful, singular exception that proves my rule.
Okay, here:
Close but no cigar: Waking Life, Fantasia, Bambi, Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Spirited Away, The Rescuers, Sleeping Beauty, Watership Down, Charlotte's Web, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Metropolis, An American Tail, Princess Mononoke, Paprika, Yellow Submarine, An American Tail, Ghost In The Shell, The Corpse Bride, James And The Giant Peach, Wallace & Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit...
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas
Hotly contested by Freeman. But I love this movie. Maybe a little less than I did once, because as he rightly pointed out, the songs wear on you a bit after years of hearing them. But this movie was one of the first times I was overwhelmed by the beauty of animation and felt true wonder during a full-length animated film, other than as a small child. The character design is creative and classic. Jack Skellington is a perfect antihero. Sally is lovely and strange. There's a reason these characters have endured. They are Mickey and Minnie for the young and the alternative.
9. The Phantom Tollbooth
This charming and simple movie is what animation for children feels like at it's best. It's not showy or particularly innovative or splashy or bright, but the adaptation of Jules Feiffer's wonderful book illustrations is exactly what this story deserves. Magical.
8. The Secret of NIMH
This movie is representin' Don Bluth and all he did in the 80s that was really the continuation of the wonderful and funny, not-so-epic, beautifully drawn Disney movies in the 60s-70s that were all but forgotten by the languishing Disney studios at the time. I mean, didn't this come out the same year as 'The Black Cauldron'? Don Bluth picked up where they left off and proved that someone else could make wonderful children's animation. This movie is still fucking scary and dark and serious and awesome.
7. 101 Dalmations
A lot of Disney movies got 'cut' at the last minute to make room for other things, but Dalmations had to stay. It has some of the best music of any animated film ever, the art style is unique and singular to this day, the characters are unforgettable (Cruella!), the voice acting is the best I can think of, and it's always, always, always 'watchable.' I love this movie. Walt Disney kind of hated it, weirdly enough. What does he know? Oh, yeah.
6. Akira
I am not personally equipped to write eloquently about this film, although I love it very much and it has had an enormous impact and if you have not seen it, you really should. I'll leave it at that
5. The Triplets of Belleville
This delightful movie singlehandedly revitalized my passion for animation. It seems to be both a huge step forward and a nod to the past. Unforgettable. Sad. Whimsical. Funny. Heartbreaking. It's a 'cartoon' in a very real sense, but also very serious. It straddles the line between animation as 'entertainment' and animation as 'art.'
4. The Iron Giant
This movie is perfect. I cry every single time I watch it, and the animation itself takes my breath away.
3. Wall-E
This movie is perfect. It exceeded my incredibly high expectations and impressed me even further the second time I saw it. Everything from the story to the visual to the sound design to the music is innovative and different and yet completely classic. I find myself thinking about Wall-E and Eve every single day.
2. My Neighbor Totoro
This movie is perfect. Totoros are now an important part of my personal mythologies. And this has to be my favorite animated movie from a visual perspective. I could freeze any frame of this film and frame it as art. All that, while appealing to kids on a basic and primitive level at the same time. Magic, magic!
1. Lady And The Tramp
This movie is perfect. It's a romantic comedy disguised as a children's movie. And although the Lion King likes to claim this honor on a technicality, L&TT is really the first 'original story' to be made into a Disney animated feature. AND it's hilarious and true and beautiful and I never ever get tired of it, ever, although I've been watching it at least once a year for at least twenty years.
Labels: animation, lists, movies
6.13.2008
12 Tracks From Your Favorite Fuckup!
Ridiculous. My life, that is. Completely farcical.
Since that's the case, why spend time doing anything other than coming up with names for "my band" 's future albums?
Premade Bears - A Grey Zone For Baby-Faced Adults
Premade Bears - Is In Your Extended Network [online release only EP]
Premade Bears - Fuck Trains, Fuck Boys, Fuck All
Premade Bears - Blue Balls For Your Heart Parts
Premade Bears - An Animal Makes A Mistake
Premade Bears - ;s are for Lovers
Premade Bears - Boom Boom! [girl groups covers EP]
Premade Bears - Another Mysterious Bruise On My Arm?
Since that's the case, why spend time doing anything other than coming up with names for "my band" 's future albums?
Premade Bears - A Grey Zone For Baby-Faced Adults
Premade Bears - Is In Your Extended Network [online release only EP]
Premade Bears - Fuck Trains, Fuck Boys, Fuck All
Premade Bears - Blue Balls For Your Heart Parts
Premade Bears - An Animal Makes A Mistake
Premade Bears - ;s are for Lovers
Premade Bears - Boom Boom! [girl groups covers EP]
Premade Bears - Another Mysterious Bruise On My Arm?
6.09.2008
4 Top 10 Lists
As you may have gathered if you have ever been within ten yards of me on the internet or IRL, I like lists. Because I am a self-indulgent and somewhat bored little lady, here are some lists.
Favorite Bob Dylan Songs [Today]
10. Going, Going, Gone
9. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
8. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
7. To Ramona
6. Boots Of Spanish Leather
5. Girl Of The North Country
4. Standing In The Doorway
3. Restless Farewell
2. Most Of The Time
1. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Favorite Drinks Available At The BookPeople Cafe
10. Hot Soy Chai.
9. Coca Cola. In a can. Cold.
8. Strawberry/Vanilla Italian Cream Soda.
7. African Nectar Hot Tea.
6. Mocha Shake.
5. Lavender Lemonade.
4. Double Shot of Espresso + Honey.
3. Vanilla or Almond Macchiato
2. Iced Coffee.
1. Double Short Soy Almond Latte.
Things To Draw
10. Robots.
9. 'People' with human faces and robot bodies.
8. Owls.
7. Bears.
6. Bunnies.
5. Girls in animal (almost always bunny) suits.
4. Boys in animal (usually bear or bunny) suits.
3. Monsters, with my eyes closed.
2. Jeff and everyone else I know.
1. Myself.
Things To Mix With Scrambled Eggs To Make Me Happy
10. Fresh basil.
9. Fake chicken.
8. Bell peppers.
7. Potatoes.
6. Cheese in any other form.
5. Tomatoes.
4. Tofu.
3. Mushrooms.
2. Onions.
1. Cheese in queso form.
Favorite Bob Dylan Songs [Today]
10. Going, Going, Gone
9. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
8. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
7. To Ramona
6. Boots Of Spanish Leather
5. Girl Of The North Country
4. Standing In The Doorway
3. Restless Farewell
2. Most Of The Time
1. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Favorite Drinks Available At The BookPeople Cafe
10. Hot Soy Chai.
9. Coca Cola. In a can. Cold.
8. Strawberry/Vanilla Italian Cream Soda.
7. African Nectar Hot Tea.
6. Mocha Shake.
5. Lavender Lemonade.
4. Double Shot of Espresso + Honey.
3. Vanilla or Almond Macchiato
2. Iced Coffee.
1. Double Short Soy Almond Latte.
Things To Draw
10. Robots.
9. 'People' with human faces and robot bodies.
8. Owls.
7. Bears.
6. Bunnies.
5. Girls in animal (almost always bunny) suits.
4. Boys in animal (usually bear or bunny) suits.
3. Monsters, with my eyes closed.
2. Jeff and everyone else I know.
1. Myself.
Things To Mix With Scrambled Eggs To Make Me Happy
10. Fresh basil.
9. Fake chicken.
8. Bell peppers.
7. Potatoes.
6. Cheese in any other form.
5. Tomatoes.
4. Tofu.
3. Mushrooms.
2. Onions.
1. Cheese in queso form.
Labels: drawing, food, lists, music
6.02.2008
twenty albums that changed my life.
This list concept is absolutely and shamelessly ripped off of the brilliant and beautiful Patton Quinn, who loves lists as much as I do.
She disclaims her list this way, which I will repeat here: "This list is not exactly complete. This list is not meant to be read as my 'favorite albums of all time.' These albums are landmarks in my life that I associate with a change in the way I think about music and a change in the way I perceive reality. It may have not been these albums that changed the way I 'perceive reality'; it just so happens that the change occured around the same time these albums were on my rotation."
In chronological order:
1. They Might Be Giants - Flood
they might be giants were my first everything the same way that isaac was. my first favorite album, the first music i tried to share with friends, and my first show - at age twelve, with my friends from the bbs i posted on all the time in the DC area. when i watched the documentary about them, gigantic, for the first time, i cried. this album is totally underrated and they might be giants is not a novelty band, i swear, and i will love them forever and ever.
2. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
this was the first album i remember really really wanting to dance to. i also used to bike around my neighborhood singing 'like a virgin' at the top of my lungs. good times.
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
i've written about this album many times before. i had it on tape when i was thirteen or fourteen and walked all over town letting dylan write definitions for romance, love, and loss all over my young brain. i've probably spent more time with this album than any other and it continues to blow me away every time i hear it.
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
joni mitchell helped me become a woman.
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
like most things that were in any way 'cool' that i liked before i was eighteen, nirvana was courtesy my older brother. i never really liked 'hard rock' until much later, but the plainative emotion of cobain's voice appealed to me in a way that rock didn't. eventually, i grew to adore the distortion and banging as well, but it was 'something in the way' that got me started.
6. Counting Crows - August & Everything After
didn't we all? don't deny it.
7. Ani DiFranco - Dilate
this was the first time that my taste in music verged away from the strictly mainstream except for the happy accident of the aformentioned they might be giants (which we discovered via NPR, so really they don't count). i went to not back to school camp and a plethora of relatively under the radar musicians unfolded. ani was the most signifigant. it's easy to be bashful about her and let her be lumped in with the boring femmey pop of the 90s (all of which i loved as well, if you're good with google you can probably find my jewel fan mailing list posts. yikes.) but, honestly, i still maintain that she's better than all that. this album is a love letter and the dissection of heartbreak. it's pitiful and strong and sad and beautiful, which is why it's the perfect album for a teenage girl to listen to while wallowing in unrequited 'love'.
8. Elliott Smith - XO
jeremy loomis norris told me about elliott smith when we were sixteen or seventeen and, for that, i want to kiss his cheeks a thousand times every time i run into him.
9. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
set me up to have unreal expectations of love and romance for the rest of my life.
10. Daniel Johnston - Fun
sometime in my late teen years, i managed to purchase this album apropos of no outside influence that i can recall. i'm not sure how it happened, but i am pleased to report that i bought it at the now long gone record store sound exchange, where daniel first started selling his cassettes in austin in the late 1980s. anyway, what i hate about the johnston revivial is that i am exceedingly uncomfortable with people listening to these songs because they are 'funny' or 'cute.' sad sac and tarzan is funny and all, but i listened to this album because it articulated my heart in the simplest way i never thought possible. this is how i learned to love lo-fi.
11. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
the first time i heard 'two headed boy part two' i was at work and i started crying.
12. Cat Power - Moon Pix
the first time i heard 'american flag' i was on the bus and i started crying.
13. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
nick drake was my best friend after my first breakup.
14. Bright Eyes - Letting Off The Happiness
i struggled with which bright eyes album to put on this list. honestly, it could just as easily be 'fevers & mirrors' here, or 'lifted' a little bit later. but i remember the months of this being in my stereo literally constantly, of backtracking and playing 'the difference in the shades' and 'june on the west coast' over and over and over and over and over, and i feel overwhelmed. i know people love to diss on the bright eyes, but i refuse to back down from the earlier albums. there was this simple profound beauty in conor's openness, in his voice cracks, in his parent's basement... it is the beauty of any creative person who hasn't yet felt the pressure of success and who just wants to let everything piling up inside of them out, to be set free. it was lovely. even though i've been less and less impacted by each successive album since 'lifted', no one -- dylan, will sheff, neil young... -- has a voice that makes me feel quite as much empathy, nostalgia, and love as coco burst's does every time. did you just finish puking? let's continue...
15. The Silver Jews - Starlight Walker
the boys i knew via toy joy placed the silver jews into my hands and i think it might be the only reason i'm cool now.
16. Okkervil River - Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See
"we have come from ugliness to find some refuge here."
17. The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone
hamilton leithauser is the darkest part of my heart, paul maroon is the rest.
17. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
this is that one album that i really hope my kids listen to and associate it was the good part of 'mom music'
19. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
"You're out singing songs, and I'm down shouting names at the flickerless screen, going fucking insane."
20. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
when i first heard this album, i thought it was overrated. then i saw the arcade fire play at emo's and this album didn't leave my ears for months after, because i desperately wanted the every day to feel even a fraction as superconnected and magic as that show. sometimes it works.
She disclaims her list this way, which I will repeat here: "This list is not exactly complete. This list is not meant to be read as my 'favorite albums of all time.' These albums are landmarks in my life that I associate with a change in the way I think about music and a change in the way I perceive reality. It may have not been these albums that changed the way I 'perceive reality'; it just so happens that the change occured around the same time these albums were on my rotation."
In chronological order:
1. They Might Be Giants - Flood
they might be giants were my first everything the same way that isaac was. my first favorite album, the first music i tried to share with friends, and my first show - at age twelve, with my friends from the bbs i posted on all the time in the DC area. when i watched the documentary about them, gigantic, for the first time, i cried. this album is totally underrated and they might be giants is not a novelty band, i swear, and i will love them forever and ever.
2. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
this was the first album i remember really really wanting to dance to. i also used to bike around my neighborhood singing 'like a virgin' at the top of my lungs. good times.
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
i've written about this album many times before. i had it on tape when i was thirteen or fourteen and walked all over town letting dylan write definitions for romance, love, and loss all over my young brain. i've probably spent more time with this album than any other and it continues to blow me away every time i hear it.
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
joni mitchell helped me become a woman.
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
like most things that were in any way 'cool' that i liked before i was eighteen, nirvana was courtesy my older brother. i never really liked 'hard rock' until much later, but the plainative emotion of cobain's voice appealed to me in a way that rock didn't. eventually, i grew to adore the distortion and banging as well, but it was 'something in the way' that got me started.
6. Counting Crows - August & Everything After
didn't we all? don't deny it.
7. Ani DiFranco - Dilate
this was the first time that my taste in music verged away from the strictly mainstream except for the happy accident of the aformentioned they might be giants (which we discovered via NPR, so really they don't count). i went to not back to school camp and a plethora of relatively under the radar musicians unfolded. ani was the most signifigant. it's easy to be bashful about her and let her be lumped in with the boring femmey pop of the 90s (all of which i loved as well, if you're good with google you can probably find my jewel fan mailing list posts. yikes.) but, honestly, i still maintain that she's better than all that. this album is a love letter and the dissection of heartbreak. it's pitiful and strong and sad and beautiful, which is why it's the perfect album for a teenage girl to listen to while wallowing in unrequited 'love'.
8. Elliott Smith - XO
jeremy loomis norris told me about elliott smith when we were sixteen or seventeen and, for that, i want to kiss his cheeks a thousand times every time i run into him.
9. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
set me up to have unreal expectations of love and romance for the rest of my life.
10. Daniel Johnston - Fun
sometime in my late teen years, i managed to purchase this album apropos of no outside influence that i can recall. i'm not sure how it happened, but i am pleased to report that i bought it at the now long gone record store sound exchange, where daniel first started selling his cassettes in austin in the late 1980s. anyway, what i hate about the johnston revivial is that i am exceedingly uncomfortable with people listening to these songs because they are 'funny' or 'cute.' sad sac and tarzan is funny and all, but i listened to this album because it articulated my heart in the simplest way i never thought possible. this is how i learned to love lo-fi.
11. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
the first time i heard 'two headed boy part two' i was at work and i started crying.
12. Cat Power - Moon Pix
the first time i heard 'american flag' i was on the bus and i started crying.
13. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
nick drake was my best friend after my first breakup.
14. Bright Eyes - Letting Off The Happiness
i struggled with which bright eyes album to put on this list. honestly, it could just as easily be 'fevers & mirrors' here, or 'lifted' a little bit later. but i remember the months of this being in my stereo literally constantly, of backtracking and playing 'the difference in the shades' and 'june on the west coast' over and over and over and over and over, and i feel overwhelmed. i know people love to diss on the bright eyes, but i refuse to back down from the earlier albums. there was this simple profound beauty in conor's openness, in his voice cracks, in his parent's basement... it is the beauty of any creative person who hasn't yet felt the pressure of success and who just wants to let everything piling up inside of them out, to be set free. it was lovely. even though i've been less and less impacted by each successive album since 'lifted', no one -- dylan, will sheff, neil young... -- has a voice that makes me feel quite as much empathy, nostalgia, and love as coco burst's does every time. did you just finish puking? let's continue...
15. The Silver Jews - Starlight Walker
the boys i knew via toy joy placed the silver jews into my hands and i think it might be the only reason i'm cool now.
16. Okkervil River - Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See
"we have come from ugliness to find some refuge here."
17. The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone
hamilton leithauser is the darkest part of my heart, paul maroon is the rest.
17. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
this is that one album that i really hope my kids listen to and associate it was the good part of 'mom music'
19. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
"You're out singing songs, and I'm down shouting names at the flickerless screen, going fucking insane."
20. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
when i first heard this album, i thought it was overrated. then i saw the arcade fire play at emo's and this album didn't leave my ears for months after, because i desperately wanted the every day to feel even a fraction as superconnected and magic as that show. sometimes it works.
5.20.2008
Reasons Why I Am Quitting Myspace (Tomorrow!):
- I like facebook, goodreads, and flickr a hell of a lot better - design wise and content wise - and I would rather support and encourage websites that match my aesthetic and my beliefs.
- I spend way (way way way) too much time looking at myspace and, specifically, unhealthily obsessing over a small set of people's profiles, comments, and updates.
- I think that rather than trying to articulate my personality with words in a way that will seem appealing or magical or sexy or cute or funny, I should just try to BE all of those things in real life. And, relatedly, I think it kind of takes the fun out of getting to know people naturally to be able to refer to a list of all of their favorites and a concise summary of who they think they are.
- I would like my 'internet presence' to be content based and myspace is definitively personality based.
- Top friends. Need I say more?
- It's kind of cool to not have it at this point, right?
All of that said, I'm kind of cheating. I put up a music profile awhile back with some of my silly songs, and for now I'm keeping it. I've been working on music again and planning a show (!), so I feel like it makes sense for me to leave it there. I have a fraction of the friends that I have on my regular profile there and I'm not going to promote it any further until there are songs I'm more proud of up. I'm hoping that since I've made the definitive move of canceling my personal account, I won't start using that one the same way. To safeguard against that I'll be turning off email notification on that account and only checking on it maybe once a week.
& so that this post isn't solely an over-analysis of a trivial matter, here's a list of fake bands I've been a 'member' of:
- Shock The Nation / Shark Attack (third grade - me, Andrew, Jackie, Julia)
- Megalife (me, Isaac, Josh, maybe Robert/Mona/Jen?)
- Quicksilver Stallion (me, Sarah, Michelle, Isaac)
- The Poison Vixen Trio (me, Sarah, Michelle)
- Magic Action (me, Michelle)
- Man-Boy (me, Meaghan, Sarah Bear - 70s cover band)
- Another Day, Another Man (me, Mandy, Jen Mo)
- The Post-Sunset Muffins (me, Andy, Craig - possibly not-fake someday?)
- Slow Little Oranges (me, Mandy -- name coined by Kathleen in reference to a tree full of baby sloths (!!))
- Sloth Cabinet (me, Patrick)
- I spend way (way way way) too much time looking at myspace and, specifically, unhealthily obsessing over a small set of people's profiles, comments, and updates.
- I think that rather than trying to articulate my personality with words in a way that will seem appealing or magical or sexy or cute or funny, I should just try to BE all of those things in real life. And, relatedly, I think it kind of takes the fun out of getting to know people naturally to be able to refer to a list of all of their favorites and a concise summary of who they think they are.
- I would like my 'internet presence' to be content based and myspace is definitively personality based.
- Top friends. Need I say more?
- It's kind of cool to not have it at this point, right?
All of that said, I'm kind of cheating. I put up a music profile awhile back with some of my silly songs, and for now I'm keeping it. I've been working on music again and planning a show (!), so I feel like it makes sense for me to leave it there. I have a fraction of the friends that I have on my regular profile there and I'm not going to promote it any further until there are songs I'm more proud of up. I'm hoping that since I've made the definitive move of canceling my personal account, I won't start using that one the same way. To safeguard against that I'll be turning off email notification on that account and only checking on it maybe once a week.
& so that this post isn't solely an over-analysis of a trivial matter, here's a list of fake bands I've been a 'member' of:
- Shock The Nation / Shark Attack (third grade - me, Andrew, Jackie, Julia)
- Megalife (me, Isaac, Josh, maybe Robert/Mona/Jen?)
- Quicksilver Stallion (me, Sarah, Michelle, Isaac)
- The Poison Vixen Trio (me, Sarah, Michelle)
- Magic Action (me, Michelle)
- Man-Boy (me, Meaghan, Sarah Bear - 70s cover band)
- Another Day, Another Man (me, Mandy, Jen Mo)
- The Post-Sunset Muffins (me, Andy, Craig - possibly not-fake someday?)
- Slow Little Oranges (me, Mandy -- name coined by Kathleen in reference to a tree full of baby sloths (!!))
- Sloth Cabinet (me, Patrick)
Labels: funny, internets, lists, lovedones, politics
1.01.2008
2 0 0 7, y'all.
Albums of the year:
1. The Stage Names / Golden Opportunities mixtape - Okkervil River
2. Cease To Begin - Band Of Horses
3. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
4. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
5. In Rainbows - Radiohead
6. Kala - M.I.A.
7. Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
8. The Shepherd's Dog - Iron & Wine
9. Ola Podrida - Ola Podrida
10. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman
EP of the year: my friend Seth's band The Tiny Tin Hearts' demo.
Saddest: the death rattle of Dinosaur Jr's 'Beyond' and, even though I usually hate this accusation, the actual selling out of Rilo Kiley.
Movies of the year:
1. No Country For Old Men
2. Darjeeling Limited
3. Juno
4. Paprika
5. Grindhouse (really, Planet Terror)
Overrated: Waitress
Way, way, way better than I thought it would be: Enchanted
I still don't really know if it was brilliant or terrible: I'm Not There
(I still haven't seen Atonement, Into The Wild, and lots of other lauded films. It's been a bad year for me and movie-time.)
Love:
1. The Stage Names / Golden Opportunities mixtape - Okkervil River
2. Cease To Begin - Band Of Horses
3. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
4. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
5. In Rainbows - Radiohead
6. Kala - M.I.A.
7. Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
8. The Shepherd's Dog - Iron & Wine
9. Ola Podrida - Ola Podrida
10. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman
EP of the year: my friend Seth's band The Tiny Tin Hearts' demo.
Saddest: the death rattle of Dinosaur Jr's 'Beyond' and, even though I usually hate this accusation, the actual selling out of Rilo Kiley.
Movies of the year:
1. No Country For Old Men
2. Darjeeling Limited
3. Juno
4. Paprika
5. Grindhouse (really, Planet Terror)
Overrated: Waitress
Way, way, way better than I thought it would be: Enchanted
I still don't really know if it was brilliant or terrible: I'm Not There
(I still haven't seen Atonement, Into The Wild, and lots of other lauded films. It's been a bad year for me and movie-time.)
Love:
Labels: lists, lovedones, music
6.19.2007
Adventures!
About the top of the BookPeople parking garage:
There are bats! EVERYWHERE! Do you think it would work to get a fishing line and try to catch one?
About the 'name game':
Calling some random person on the street 'Tobin' is probably the funniest thing you could ever think of. Ever.
About 'Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer':
Cheesiest superhero movie since Adam West as Batman. Worse than Daredevil. For real. Also, I really hate Jessica Alba.
About Noah Baumbach's 'Kicking and Screaming':
I know I've talked up this movie to anyone who will listen enough already, but OMG how hilarious is it when Max is doing a voice for some stranger in the bar and he says "I'm thinking about getting 'I hate it' tattooed inside my mouth."? I LOVE THAT SHIT!!
About the jukebox at Austin's pizza:
Turns out that 25 selections is about 20 more than good songs in that thing. Oops.
About the arcade:
I feel like I'm pretty good at DDR and then I see the sweaty sweatshirted hispanic kid literally moving faster than the speed of light (literally!!!) and I don't really know what to think. I suck at Street Fighter, though. If only I had been Chun Li.
About 'The Last Waltz':
Better than I even remembered. Robbie Robertson's face! Dylan et al! Neil Young is so high! Van Morrison is so gross and awesome! I could kill Neil Diamond! I love Joni even when she's being a hippie! Yes!
About small jeans and very precise guitar playing and the funniest jokes ever and:
A thousand times yes.
There are bats! EVERYWHERE! Do you think it would work to get a fishing line and try to catch one?
About the 'name game':
Calling some random person on the street 'Tobin' is probably the funniest thing you could ever think of. Ever.
About 'Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer':
Cheesiest superhero movie since Adam West as Batman. Worse than Daredevil. For real. Also, I really hate Jessica Alba.
About Noah Baumbach's 'Kicking and Screaming':
I know I've talked up this movie to anyone who will listen enough already, but OMG how hilarious is it when Max is doing a voice for some stranger in the bar and he says "I'm thinking about getting 'I hate it' tattooed inside my mouth."? I LOVE THAT SHIT!!
About the jukebox at Austin's pizza:
Turns out that 25 selections is about 20 more than good songs in that thing. Oops.
About the arcade:
I feel like I'm pretty good at DDR and then I see the sweaty sweatshirted hispanic kid literally moving faster than the speed of light (literally!!!) and I don't really know what to think. I suck at Street Fighter, though. If only I had been Chun Li.
About 'The Last Waltz':
Better than I even remembered. Robbie Robertson's face! Dylan et al! Neil Young is so high! Van Morrison is so gross and awesome! I could kill Neil Diamond! I love Joni even when she's being a hippie! Yes!
About small jeans and very precise guitar playing and the funniest jokes ever and:
A thousand times yes.
Labels: lists, love, lovedones
4.12.2007
[one]
I've been drawing a lot, mostly because of drawing parties with Jeff. I made one of my favorite drawings I've ever done last night, except that when I colored it, sucktown started. I'll keep working on color. You'll see some of these drawings soon, I just need an actual day off to scan and internet.
[two]
Today an old woman thought I was trying to short change her on purpose.
[three]
I really like virb the most of all the general social networking sites, but no one is on it. If you like feeling out dumb profiles as much as I do, you should join and add me.
I've been drawing a lot, mostly because of drawing parties with Jeff. I made one of my favorite drawings I've ever done last night, except that when I colored it, sucktown started. I'll keep working on color. You'll see some of these drawings soon, I just need an actual day off to scan and internet.
[two]
Today an old woman thought I was trying to short change her on purpose.
[three]
I really like virb the most of all the general social networking sites, but no one is on it. If you like feeling out dumb profiles as much as I do, you should join and add me.
4.04.2007
another useless list of clothes i would buy
if I had extra money, ever:
A bunch of Alternative label basics for summer time, like this, this, and this.
A bunch of Reckon stuff, like Harold Et Maude & Elvis Costello.
Prettttttty.
SWEET!
Scroll down to the rainbow moose purse... Seriously.
Not ridiculous at all.
A bunch of Alternative label basics for summer time, like this, this, and this.
A bunch of Reckon stuff, like Harold Et Maude & Elvis Costello.
Prettttttty.
SWEET!
Scroll down to the rainbow moose purse... Seriously.
Not ridiculous at all.
Labels: lists
3.13.2007
Hello.
It is pouring rain for the third day in a row. Sunday night, Patrick and Larissa and I ran down Red River screaming and soaked and it was one of those times where you feel like you're in a movie directed by John Hughes. Now I am just sitting at Cafe Caffeine (stupid name, cute place) and listening to The Weakerthans on my ipod and staring at the rain and trying to decide what I have to say that could possibly interest you.
I have really fond memories of thunderstorms in Austin, and whenever one happens now I get the kind of nostalgia that gives me goosebumps all over my arm. I want to just lay in bed with the covers over my head and listen to the thunder crash straight into my nervous system.
I've had a really weird and difficult and emotional week for a lot of reasons I certainly don't feel like explaining here. But suffice to say my week has included: sleeping way too long for a normal person, crying in the manager's office, and screaming in Patrick's ear at Sidebar. It's been really hard to not cut my hair (my automatic defense mechanism for bad times).
Things I am grateful for when things are rough:
- My house.
- Braedyn and Larissa.
- Patrick.
- Margaret.
- My parents.
- Everyone else.
- Double iced mochas.
- Breakfast tacos.
- Mixtapes filled with sad songs.
Anyone got a mix CD theme for me? Kester, I'm working on your songs like photographs mix, again. It's been difficult to finish; I think I've been overambitious about it. I made a CD for some of our family friends titled "The New Classic" -- it's music made in the last ten years by people of (more or less) my generation that I hope will define 'my' time for my kids and their kids.
Here's the tracklist:
First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes
Major Leagues - Pavement
There's Too Much Love - Belle & Sebastian
Wake Up - The Arcade Fire
Hey Ya! - Outkast
Rainbows In The Dark - Tilly And The Wall
Jackeyed - Micah P. Hinson
With Arms Outstretched - Rilo Kiley
A Passing Afternoon - Iron & Wine
Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
Waltz # 2 - Elliott Smith
Good Woman - Cat Power
Monument - Mirah
Lost Cause - Beck
The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields
Red Right Ankle - The Decemberists
War Criminal Rises & Speaks - Okkervil River
She's A Jar - Wilco
I'll Be Yr Bird - M. Ward
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
It is pouring rain for the third day in a row. Sunday night, Patrick and Larissa and I ran down Red River screaming and soaked and it was one of those times where you feel like you're in a movie directed by John Hughes. Now I am just sitting at Cafe Caffeine (stupid name, cute place) and listening to The Weakerthans on my ipod and staring at the rain and trying to decide what I have to say that could possibly interest you.
I have really fond memories of thunderstorms in Austin, and whenever one happens now I get the kind of nostalgia that gives me goosebumps all over my arm. I want to just lay in bed with the covers over my head and listen to the thunder crash straight into my nervous system.
I've had a really weird and difficult and emotional week for a lot of reasons I certainly don't feel like explaining here. But suffice to say my week has included: sleeping way too long for a normal person, crying in the manager's office, and screaming in Patrick's ear at Sidebar. It's been really hard to not cut my hair (my automatic defense mechanism for bad times).
Things I am grateful for when things are rough:
- My house.
- Braedyn and Larissa.
- Patrick.
- Margaret.
- My parents.
- Everyone else.
- Double iced mochas.
- Breakfast tacos.
- Mixtapes filled with sad songs.
Anyone got a mix CD theme for me? Kester, I'm working on your songs like photographs mix, again. It's been difficult to finish; I think I've been overambitious about it. I made a CD for some of our family friends titled "The New Classic" -- it's music made in the last ten years by people of (more or less) my generation that I hope will define 'my' time for my kids and their kids.
Here's the tracklist:
First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes
Major Leagues - Pavement
There's Too Much Love - Belle & Sebastian
Wake Up - The Arcade Fire
Hey Ya! - Outkast
Rainbows In The Dark - Tilly And The Wall
Jackeyed - Micah P. Hinson
With Arms Outstretched - Rilo Kiley
A Passing Afternoon - Iron & Wine
Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
Waltz # 2 - Elliott Smith
Good Woman - Cat Power
Monument - Mirah
Lost Cause - Beck
The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields
Red Right Ankle - The Decemberists
War Criminal Rises & Speaks - Okkervil River
She's A Jar - Wilco
I'll Be Yr Bird - M. Ward
In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
Labels: lists, love, lovedones, mixtapes
3.04.2007
Because there is nothing i like to do more...
than picture myself stranded on a desert island. And write lists about music. And bore you to death.
Inspired by Kester and Grainer and my entire life.
Edited and in order since I posted it as a comment. So if you think I should only get five or ten or eighteen, you can just trim them from the bottom. Sexy!
Twenty Five Albums for me and my island:
1. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
2. Paul Simon - Graceland
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
5. Bright Eyes - Lifted Or The Story's In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground
6. The Beatles - Abbey Road
7. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
8. Okkervil River - Down The River Of Golden Dreams
9. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
10. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
11. Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things
12. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
13. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
14. Nanci Griffith - The Flyer
15. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
16. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
17. One Kiss Can Lead To Another box set of girl groups (I'm now counting this as one, even though it's four discs, because I love cheating)
18. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
19. The Beatles - White Album
20. Elliott Smith - Elliott Smith
21. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
22. The Velvet Underground - Loaded
23. Nirvana - Nevermind
24. Cat Power - Moon Pix
25. Mazzy Star - Among My Swan
Albums I feel really weird and overly sad about leaving out even though 25 seems like a lot:
Neil Young - Tonight's The Night
Tilly And The Wall - Bottoms of Barrels
M. Ward - Transfiguration of Vincent
Micah P. Hinson - And The Opera Circuit
Willie Nelson - Redhead Stranger
All the other Bright Eyes, Wilco, and Okkervil albums.
Several other Bob Dylan and Beatles and Paul Simon albums.
Tom Waits - Blood Money
Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk
Shearwater - Winged Life
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Mirah - You Think It's Like This But It's Really Like This
Bjork - Debut
The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
Beck - Sea Change
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Inspired by Kester and Grainer and my entire life.
Edited and in order since I posted it as a comment. So if you think I should only get five or ten or eighteen, you can just trim them from the bottom. Sexy!
Twenty Five Albums for me and my island:
1. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
2. Paul Simon - Graceland
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
5. Bright Eyes - Lifted Or The Story's In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground
6. The Beatles - Abbey Road
7. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
8. Okkervil River - Down The River Of Golden Dreams
9. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
10. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
11. Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things
12. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
13. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
14. Nanci Griffith - The Flyer
15. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
16. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
17. One Kiss Can Lead To Another box set of girl groups (I'm now counting this as one, even though it's four discs, because I love cheating)
18. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
19. The Beatles - White Album
20. Elliott Smith - Elliott Smith
21. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
22. The Velvet Underground - Loaded
23. Nirvana - Nevermind
24. Cat Power - Moon Pix
25. Mazzy Star - Among My Swan
Albums I feel really weird and overly sad about leaving out even though 25 seems like a lot:
Neil Young - Tonight's The Night
Tilly And The Wall - Bottoms of Barrels
M. Ward - Transfiguration of Vincent
Micah P. Hinson - And The Opera Circuit
Willie Nelson - Redhead Stranger
All the other Bright Eyes, Wilco, and Okkervil albums.
Several other Bob Dylan and Beatles and Paul Simon albums.
Tom Waits - Blood Money
Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk
Shearwater - Winged Life
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Mirah - You Think It's Like This But It's Really Like This
Bjork - Debut
The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
Beck - Sea Change
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
3.02.2007
Because obviously you care.
Songs I've Been Listening To On Repeat For The Last Two Weeks:
Bob Dylan - Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You*
(this is seriously one of the sexiest songs of all time. i'm very pleased with conor for reminding me of it via mixology.)
The Long Winters - The Commander Thinks Aloud*
(pretty, pretty.)
Micah P. Hinson - Don't Leave Me Now!
(heartbreaking. every week i have a new favorite micah song.)
Okkervil River - Love To A Monster
(probably the most brilliant and mean and sad breakup song that's been written in my lifetime.)
The Supremes - When The Lovelight Starts Shining In Your Eyes
(makes me shake and clap and freak out in the heartparts.)
Bright Eyes - Tourist Trap
(dusty and pretty. i'm not that into the rest of the four winds ep, but this song gets better every time i listen to it.)
* courtesy Conor's mix CD. <3
Bob Dylan - Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You*
(this is seriously one of the sexiest songs of all time. i'm very pleased with conor for reminding me of it via mixology.)
The Long Winters - The Commander Thinks Aloud*
(pretty, pretty.)
Micah P. Hinson - Don't Leave Me Now!
(heartbreaking. every week i have a new favorite micah song.)
Okkervil River - Love To A Monster
(probably the most brilliant and mean and sad breakup song that's been written in my lifetime.)
The Supremes - When The Lovelight Starts Shining In Your Eyes
(makes me shake and clap and freak out in the heartparts.)
Bright Eyes - Tourist Trap
(dusty and pretty. i'm not that into the rest of the four winds ep, but this song gets better every time i listen to it.)
* courtesy Conor's mix CD. <3
Labels: lists
2.04.2007
A short list of extravagant and mostly girly things I would buy if I had approximately 1000 extra dollars right now
Because I know this fascinates you. And, for the record, I'm pretending that I can't spend the money on charity or my friends or savings or anything practical or nice. And I'm pretending I already have a Wii. And I'm wasting time.
These ludicrous Irregular Choice heels
These boots
This keyhole belt buckle
Dememter Scents - Honey, Paperback, Peach, and Snow
The red/gold Seagull camera
A yard of this, this, this, and this.
This dress for Valentine's Day partying
These ludicrous Irregular Choice heels
These boots
This keyhole belt buckle
Dememter Scents - Honey, Paperback, Peach, and Snow
The red/gold Seagull camera
A yard of this, this, this, and this.
This dress for Valentine's Day partying
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