The Social Network Opens October 1

After a summer of films that I just couldn’t get behind (still haven’t seen Iron Man 2, and that was the most appealing one for me), I am ready to geek out this fall. I’m looking forward to three films (all three based on books, by the way). I’m excited for Harry Potter 7.1 (even though David Yates is directing) and Johnny Depp’s retelling of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel, The Rum Diary (it has a September release date in Europe…should come to the States sometime after). However, the movie I’m most excited about is The Social Network.

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time on this site knows that I am a huge Aaron Sorkin fan. I absolutely loved “Sports Night” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”, and his films A Few Good Men and The American President. I love the pacing of his stories and the witty banter between characters (a style I have tried to replicate in my writing. To see what I mean, buy my book).

The film is based on the book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal by Ben Mezrich. The film chronicles the progression of Facebook and portrays the company’s founder as a socially-awkward egomaniac who did whatever it took to make his social network the second largest website in the world.

The first draft of the screenplay has been available online for more than a year. I read it a few months ago, and it’s classic Sorkin. It’s witty, fresh and paced within an inch of its life. Just my style.

The new trailer features Scala’s cover of Radiohead’s “Creep”. The Belgian girls’ choir executes the song flawlessly. The minor chords give the song a more melancholy feel (if that was possible) than Thom Yorke’s stellar debut performance.

I already have the date circled on my calendar. Rest assured I will write a review of it.

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The Joe Versus The Volcano List; Bad Albums By Reputable Artists

Originally posted on Sundry Notes of Music, the music column for Praxis Magazine

Do you think that Tom Hanks leaves Joe Versus the Volcano off of his resume? After winning two Academy Awards in a row (only one of two people to pull that off), does it piss him off when USA Network shows that God-awful film, and bills it as "Oscar winner Tom Hanks in Joe Versus The Volcano"? Conversely, I'm sure that Meg Ryan talks it up. She'll shout it to anyone within earshot. "I was in three movies with Tom Hanks, and he never returns my calls. I used to be cute, you know!"

Every artist has that at least one embarrassing piece that makes them cringe. It's the same embarrassment you feel when your mom shows your significant other your naked baby pictures. It happens a lot in music. Sometimes an established artist will try something new that just doesn't work, or they really need the money. Sometimes they were just doing someone a favor (Michael Jackson singing back up on "Somebody's Watching Me" comes to mind). Here are a few albums by otherwise respectable artists that confused the hell out of their listening audience, and may have prompted some to demand their money back.

Hot Space – Queen (1982)
Although one of the band's most loved song is on this album, Queen's 9^th album leads off this list. It's a shame that "Under Pressure" closes the CD, when it's too late for the band's David Bowie duet to save the album. Coming in at the tail end of the Disco Era, the album attempts to meld Queen's signature sound with a tired dance beat and bass line, as well as a liberal use of (the word) "funk-tion". The only positive thing about this album (besides "Under Pressure") is that the band learned its lesson and produced a more successful album, The Game, a year later.

Emotional Rescue – The Rolling Stones (1980)
On the late, lamented TV show Freaks and Geeks, a roller disco DJ (played by Joel Hodgson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame) trumpets "Rock and roll sucks!" and notes that even the Rolling Stones have "gone disco". Of course he was talking about Some Girls, the beginning of Stones' long downward spiral. This album made it apparent that Mick and Bianca had attended one too many cocaine-fueled orgies at Studio 54, and the credibility of a once-great rock band had been compromised. The Stones never fully recovered from their two disco albums, and their next release, Tattoo You, was a case of "too little, too late."

Kilroy Was Here – Styx (1983)
I've tried to look at this work from the perspective of Styx. Yes, the music landscape was changing. Bands like Journey, REO Speedwagon, and Styx needed to change their sound to survive the decline of classic rock. While the others found their niche, Dennis DeYoung's vision of the band's future was inspired by The Who's Tommy, and the rock opera Kilroy Was Here was born. Although the album is mostly known for its Top 40-friendly songs "Mr. Roboto" and "Don't Let it End", the concept behind Kilroy's story and lyrics is laughable. In the "story" Kilroy (DeYoung) is an aging rocker when a fascist dictatorship outlaws rock and roll. Kilroy is imprisoned by Dr. Righteous (David Young), and escapes his shackles by hollowing out a Roboto (yes, there's a story behind that stupid song). Kilroy then seeks to track down Jonathan Chance (Tommy Shaw), a young rebel who is trying to bring back rock. The heroes fight an outdated foe (Communists were the villains of choice in 1983, not fascists), armed with the most ridiculous names this side of James Cameron. The result is an unbearable cheese-fest of an album, loaded with songs like "Heavy Metal Poisoning". Unsurprisingly, nobody wanted to see the live show of Kilroy, and the disastrous concept album drove the band members apart. It would take seven years before Styx recorded another studio album.

Metal Machine Music – Lou Reed (1975)
This would be a fun party game: see how long you can listen to the first track of Metal Machine Music before you tap out and beg for it to end. If you last longer than two minutes, you win a prize. There are some who believe that this two-record "experimental" electronic noise was Reed's way of cutting loose from his contract with RCA. Reed has claimed that this album was a serious attempt at music, but he also confessed to being really high at the time. This album also marks the end of Reed's creative streak, and it gives John Cale fans all the evidence they need to prove that he was the true musical mastermind behind the Velvet Underground's best work.

Amnesiac – Radiohead (2001)
I really wanted to like this album. I gave it an honest listen. Twice. But after repeatedly subjecting myself to Amnesiac, I got the feeling that this is what severe head trauma must sound like. I guess after writing Radiohead's four previous albums, Thom York must have grown weary of composing actual songs. There is plenty of blame to be meted out for this one: by the band's third album, OK Computer, it was evident that Radiohead was en route to a major misstep in their musical catalog. Instead of staging an intervention and issuing the band an ultimatum, critics praised OK Computer as original and refreshing, ignoring the strange arrangements and weird lyrics. As a listening public, we should recognize signs like this as a musical affront, and vow to auto correct any band at the first sign that they have gone off the rails.

The Andy Dufresne List of the 00s Part 2: The Top 10 of the First 10

Happy New Year! We continue the Andy Dufresne List, already in progress.

10. Super Theory of Super Every Thing – Gogol Bordello (2007)
The first time I heard this song was in July 2007. D was in town as she was prepping to move to Minnesota (because in the summer, it seems like a good idea). We were on Lake Street on the way back to my apartment when we heard this Ukrainian goofball talking about the first time he had read The Bible. This was not our first exposure to lead singer Eugene Hutz.

If you have ever seen the movie Everything Is Illuminated, he plays the role of Alex, the not so premium translator for Jonfen in Odessa. In fact, when we heard this (not knowing that Hutz was "singing"), D said "Wow, that sounds like 'Alex'!"

9. Paranoid Android (Live) – Brad Mehldau (2000)


In the interest of full disclosure, I never really bought into the whole "Thom York is a genius" philosophy. I liked Pablo Honey and The Bends, and then Radiohead went down the rabbit hole. I always felt that the first release from their third album was a little disjointed. I was never convinced that "Paranoid Android" was actually a good song that was just poorly recorded. Fast forward to 2000 when a jazz pianist named Brad Mehldau grabbed a hold of it, shook it up, and laid it out in a stunning 9:23 make good for everyone who wanted this to be a great song, and were let down by the author.

8. If I Ever Leave This World Alive – Flogging Molly (2002)
Any song from the album Drunken Lullabies could have made this list, but If "I Ever Leave This World Alive" has the edge over the title track, "What's Left of the Flag" and "Rebels of the Sacred Heart". The song speaks of a very close friendship that starts as an acoustic number. After the second bridge, the song picks up to a rockin' tribute that out Pogues the Pogues.

7. Skinny Love – Bon Iver (2008)
When I first heard this song, I was really getting into Beck's Sea Change CD. I was re-introduced to "Lost Cause" and exclaimed that it was his best work. A week later, I heard "Lost Cause" again on the Current, and they played it back to back with this new song called "Skinny Love" by some guy from Wisconsin. Not only was I floored at the pure genius of the playlist, but I was also taken by the structure of the song. I immediately went home and bought it on Amazon. Since then, it's been one of the songs that I play whilst I am working on the second novel.

6. Up From The South – The Budos Band (2006)
I first heard about this band was after I read an article in the Star Tribune about the 2007 SXSW music fest in Austin. The writer of the piece said that one of the highlights for him was this funk/soul band from Staten Island called the Budos Band. Starving for some new music, I looked them up on iTunes, and previewed the first song on their self entitled CD. In 30 seconds, I was sold on the bass, rhythm, and brass. I promptly bought the songs and listened to it over and over again. The song was fast tracked on the VBC, and became a staple of the playlist. You may have heard it, as it was featured on a commercial for the NFL Network.

5. In The Sun – Joseph Arthur (2000)


This is probably not the only list in which this song has appeared. This beloved song (as my friend, Andie, likes to call it—"the God Song") has appeared in such films as The Bourne Identity and Saved and television shows including The L Word and Scrubs (it has also appeared in Grey's Anatomy, but since I mentioned it was in Scrubs, it's assumed that "GA" grabbed a hold of it too, as it has ripped off the half hour comedy show countless times). It's been covered by Peter Gabriel, Michael Stipe and Howie Day. The song is usually noted for the line "May God's love be with you", however, it certainly not a spiritual song. In fact, it takes the position of the agnostic ("I'm not even sure if there is anyone who is in the sun will you help me to understand").

4. Time – Tori Amos (2001)


Strange Little Girls wasn't what I would call a solid effort for Tori Amos. Again, it's not an original concept; an entire album of covers. Annie Lennox and Shawn Colvin had already done this, and Tori had made a career of doing awesome covers. I don't think I had a great appreciation of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" until I heard her take on it. So why do this album? Why risk the reputation with an unconventional line up (I'm still trying to figure out why she did Eminem's "97 Bonnie and Clyde"). She was already the queen of the covers, she had nothing to prove. On first listen, I was about to give up in this album until track 7 played. At the time, I was still immersing myself in the Tom Waits catalogue; digesting songs slowly, but I was not well versed yet. Although I didn't recognize the song at first, I recognized that it had to be Tom's work. I sat back, smiled, and played the song again and again. To date, it is the only cover of a Waits song that I like better than the original.

3. Your Ex-Lover is Dead - Stars (2005)
I usually don't buy a CD just by hearing it at a record store, but it has happened a few times (this is how I came to own a Me First and the Gimme Gimmes CD). I was rifling through the Elvis Costello stack at Cheapo Records when I heard this song that started off imitating a small chamber orchestra. It then shifted gears with a rhythm guitar riff that crawled out of a Lou Reed song book. As I had received some news about an ex-lover (that she was moving out of town), I was struck by a particular passage (which I quoted in a Episode 2 of the Neil Casey series).

There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave
You were what I wanted
I gave what I gave
I'm not sorry I met you
I'm not sorry it's over
I'm not sorry there's nothing to save

After I caught my breath, I asked the guy behind the counter what this was. He preceded to hand me a copy of Set Yourself On Fire by Stars, a band out of Montreal. As soon as I got home, I listened to the entire album twice in a row. Without a doubt, it's one of my top CDs of the 2000s. Hands down.

2. The Way it Is – Nicole Atkins (2007)


What the hell is it about New Jersey and its talent pool. You have Sinatra, Springsteen, and this young lady from Neptune City (which is the title of her 2007 CD). If you have ever asked yourselves the question "If Chrissy Hynde and Roy Orbison ever has a love child, what would she sound like?" you would have your answer. My first introduction to "The Way it Is" was when I was auditioning songs at the VBC. Nicole is agonizing over a guy who clearly isn't into her as she is into him. Simply beautiful.

1. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) – Arcade Fire (2004)


As with many songs that I have obsessed over, this story starts off with Todd saying "you've got to hear this song." Thus was the case for another band from Montreal when I was on a return trip to WTTS. There really isn't much I can say about this song. At this point words fail me to explain why this song hit me so hard. It just—fits.

Honorable Mention: It Keeps Rainin' – Robert Plant and the Lil' Band O' Gold (2007), Don't Know Why – Norah Jones (2002), List of Demands – Saul Williams (2004), Baby Please Don't Leave – Buddy Guy (2000), Happy As Can Be – Cut Off Your Hands (2009), Blitzed – The Raveonettes (2007), Fresh Feeling – Eels (2002)