I'm not crazy about the gloves, but I have to give her a break because the rest looks so... slick. For the record, I think she looks good most of the time when other people are picking on her, so maybe I'm not a good judge of Kelly's appearance. Via Stereogum.
Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal refused to attend Sunday's 77th Academy Awards - because Antonio Banderas replaced singer Jorge Drexler to perform at the ceremony. The Motorcycle Diaries star was horrified when he learned that Uruguay's Drexler wouldn't be able to perform his own "Al Otro Lado Del Rio" on the show "for commercial reasons" and was replaced by Banderas and Carlos Santana. But Bernal was thrilled when Drexler scooped an Oscar for the song and made a point of singing some of the song instead of making a speech. He says, "At the time his song is being honored, all a sudden, that's the moment he does not exist? It was impossible for me to be there as part of the film. I didn't want to pretend the song was not part of it; that would have been like an act of murder in the family. And secondly, the film and the song are about respecting people's identity."
Although I admit to not having seen the movie yet, I thought Drexler sounded better in his few-second acceptance speech than Banderas did at any point in his performance, even though Banderas didn't sound bad.
Thursday, March 03, 2005 :::
Thanks to a persistent local rocker with the initials BV, I have purchased tickets for the Garbage show at the 9:30 Club on April 21. Yay!
Also, for some reason I don't quite understand, I sort of want this shirt from glarkware, although I'm pretty sure that yellow color doesn't look good on many people:
Detail:
It would be pretty awesome to wear it when I DJ my Fjord Fiesta on March 16, though...
Update: I gave in to temptation and bought the shirt. It should be here in time for Fjord Fiesta. And while I was at it, I bought the I Heart Irony shirt too.
Check out the Long-View media player over at bluestate if you're in the mood for some melodic, melancholy rock from the U.K. It isn't really up my alley, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it when I listened to it, but I know some of you will like it.
The verdict on Bloc Party's Silent Alarm: It doesn't all sound like "Helicopter" or "Banquet," if that's what you're expecting, but it's a really damn good listen.
I've linked to a new MP3 blog, Hushreality. It's written by Chris who works at a music PR company and sends me cool new music, so I'm looking forward to downloading whatever he posts.
Speaking of cool new music, you may have heard of a band called Maximo Park. I played them at the first bluestate and just got their full-length CD in the mail, so I'm sure you'll be hearing them again. Here's a Drowned in Sound interview with them.
“Let’s pretend we don’t exist / let’s pretend we’re in Antarctica”
Of Montreal’s “Wraith Pinned To The Mist (and other games)” is my favorite new antisocial song.
Yesterday was a good day for mix CDs. First MG made me a mix with all five of the leaked Fiona Apple tracks plus some Asobi Seksu, Of Montreal and United State of Electronica. Then I stopped by Gate 54 and DJ Indiesoc handed me six mix CDs. Seriously, six. And he makes great mix CDs so I’m really excited to hear what’s on them. Plus he gave me a copy of The Realistics’ Real People Are Overrated, to which I began listening on the way to work this morning, and I have to say that their recent EP was much, much better.
And how’s this for a disappointment – the 9:30 Club Garbage presale sold out in under a minute, “instantly,” according to someone at the club. I was sort of expecting this, but it’s still disappointing. So, I don’t have tickets to the sold-out Garbage show. I love Garbage. They were one of the first bands I ever really got into. I’ve seen them twice, once in 1996 and once in 2002, and they were amazing both times. So I really hope my “tastemaker” status will lead to a ticket (and those Marc Jacobs clothes I’ve been talking about). Otherwise I’ll be outside the 9:30 Club on April 21 hoping someone has a friend who couldn’t go. At least it will be warmer by then, so the loitering won’t be as bad.
Well, at least I have lots of shows to look forward to in the next few weeks:
Secret Machines with Autolux and Moving Units / Ambulance LTD with VHS or Beta and Robbers on High Street / Visqueen / Ash with The Bravery / Hot Hot Heat with Louis XIV and Washington Social Club / the Sex Worker Art Show / and of course the next bluestate at Gate 54
Tuesday, March 01, 2005 :::
I know I'm a day or two behind on this, but three more Fiona Apple tracks leaked out. You can get them here (scroll down a bit) via Melody Nelson or here via Stereogum. Thanks to WeirdCurves for the heads up.
Hello, and welcome to the 77th Annual Beyoncé Awards.
I agree with the Academy Awards’ producers that the bootylicious Beyoncé is indeed multi-talented, but come on...
There she is singing in French. (What the hell?)
There she is covered in diamonds singing a song from Phantom of the Opera while Minnie Driver, who sang the song in the movie, probably stews in the audience – how gracious of the Academy not to zoom in on Driver during the performance. (According to this article: “Beyoncé is reported to have demanded several changes were made to the song for the ceremony, to ensure it suits her voice.”)
There she is singing a vomit-inducing duet with the weasely-looking Josh Grobin.
As it was announced that Yo-Yo Ma would be performing the musical tribute to the entertainers who died this year, my first thought was, “What, not the multi-talented Beyoncé?? Dammit, bring on Beyoncé.”
Overall, the awards were incredibly boring, and Chris Rock was funny maybe twice. Robin Williams was funnier in his five minutes on the stage than Chris Rock was the entire night, and I usually prefer Chris Rock. One of the few funny things Rock said the whole night was that next year the awards would be given out in a drive-through. Giving out awards in the audience? Bringing all the nominees of the “minor” categories up on stage together? Lame. If the producers thought this would spice up the ceremony, they were sadly mistaken. But the ratings are up slightly, so I guess the masses don’t agree with me.
Ugliest dress: Hilary Swank. Hottest dress: Virginia Madsen. Best breasts in the business: Selma Hayek. Best acceptance speech: Jorge Drexler for Best Song.
01/05: Taint and Bliss present INFAMY, 9:30 Club
01/10: Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton, 9:30 Club
01/19: Benjy Ferree, Meredith Bragg and the Terminals, Greenland, Black Cat 01/24: Hej Hej, Cafe Saint-Ex
