"I've seen your frown, and it's like looking down the barrel of a gun. And it goes off and out come all these words. Oh there's a very pleasant side to you, a side I much prefer. It's one that laughs and jokes around. Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah, to get things off the ground. And it was up, up and away. Oh, but it's right hard to remember that on a day like today when you're all argumentative and you've got the face on." ~arctic monkeys
Okay, it's a day later and already I'm changing my list. I forgot about and have to add Ray LaMontagne's "'Til the Sun Turns Black." Which means I have to remove one. So, after careful consideration, I'm taking off Arctic Monkeys. Sorry, guys. Q Magazine called "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" the best album of the year and one of the best debut albums ever, it's one of the most talked-about albums of the year, and it's done extremely well in terms of sales (especially in Great Britain), but it didn't resonate with me as much as the other albums on my list. Even though it's still fantastic. "Mardy Bum" is a particularly good song, so it gets the opening quote today. Here's my updated list (still subject to change):
Damien Rice, "9"
The Strokes, "First Impressions of Earth"
The Killers, "Sam's Town"
Dashboard Confessional, "Dusk and Summer"
Regina Spektor, "Begin to Hope"
Bruce Springsteen, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions"
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, "Rabbit Fur Coat"
John Mayer, "Continuum"
Ray LaMontagne, "'Til the Sun Turns Black"
Bob Dylan, "Modern Times"
Some runners-up are Arctic Monkeys, M Ward, The Decemberists, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam.
I went to see the movie Notes on a Scandal today. I've been waiting forever to see it, and it finally opened in my area. It was incredible. It was such a well-made film. The directing, acting, script, were all superb. Have I mentioned that I love Cate Blanchett? I saw her in Hetta Gabler at BAM last year and she gave one of the best live stage performances I've ever seen (and I've seen lots), so that exponentially increased my respect for her as an actress. She's great in this movie, and so is Judi Dench. And Bill Nighy. It's definitely one of the best movies of the year, and I really hope it gets an Oscar nod for best picture. Dench and Blanchett will surely get noms for best actress and best supporting actress, respectively.
Ooh, I don't think I've written about Dreamgirls yet. Sorry if I already have, I forget. I saw that a couple of weeks ago and loved it as well. I predict that it will (deservedly) win the best picture Oscar. Jennifer Hudson blew me away. Her "And I am Telling You..." was phenomenal. The theater was completely packed (there wasn't an empty seat; I think we saw it on the day it opened) and J. Hud. got a standing ovation after that song. It was the kind of movie where you wanted to just stand up and clap at multiple times throughout the movie. It definitely inspired hope in me that the movie musical genre is not dead.
Praxis II is tomorrow. I'm afraid I haven't studied nearly enough. I don't even know how many points it's out of. I'll be glad when it's over.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
"Well, we are big rock singers, we've got golden fingers, and we're loved everywhere we go. We sing about beauty and we sing about truth at ten thousand dollars a show." ~dr. hook
Lots of magazines, websites, radio stations, etc. have recently released their lists of the best albums of 2006. Most of those lists frustrate me greatly because each one manages to overvalue, undervalue, or omit at least one deserving album. Of course I do realize that, to a certain degree, it is a subjective task to pick the best albums of the year. Anyway, here are my top 10, in no particular order because it's too difficult to place them:
Damien Rice, "9"
The Strokes, "First Impressions of Earth"
The Killers, "Sam's Town"
Dashboard Confessional, "Dusk and Summer"
Regina Spektor, "Begin to Hope"
Bruce Springsteen, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions"
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, "Rabbit Fur Coat"
John Mayer, "Continuum"
Arctic Monkeys, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
Bob Dylan, "Modern Times"
It's very difficult to choose just 10. I'm sure I'll think of another album I love that I'll want to add to this list in favor of one of those already listed, but these are the ones that initially come to mind. They're all wonderful and I recommend checking out and buying the ones that you don't already have if you're looking for some good music.
Lots of magazines, websites, radio stations, etc. have recently released their lists of the best albums of 2006. Most of those lists frustrate me greatly because each one manages to overvalue, undervalue, or omit at least one deserving album. Of course I do realize that, to a certain degree, it is a subjective task to pick the best albums of the year. Anyway, here are my top 10, in no particular order because it's too difficult to place them:
Damien Rice, "9"
The Strokes, "First Impressions of Earth"
The Killers, "Sam's Town"
Dashboard Confessional, "Dusk and Summer"
Regina Spektor, "Begin to Hope"
Bruce Springsteen, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions"
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, "Rabbit Fur Coat"
John Mayer, "Continuum"
Arctic Monkeys, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"
Bob Dylan, "Modern Times"
It's very difficult to choose just 10. I'm sure I'll think of another album I love that I'll want to add to this list in favor of one of those already listed, but these are the ones that initially come to mind. They're all wonderful and I recommend checking out and buying the ones that you don't already have if you're looking for some good music.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
"Questions I have many, answers but a few. We're here to learn the spirit burns, to learn the greater truth." ~dolly parton
I love that song. I'm surprised it didn't win the Oscar last year (it was considered the lead contender among the nominees and was upset by "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp," which shocked everyone).
On Friday I went to see Freedom Writers. It's about a first-year high school English teacher, which is what I'll be in about 8 months, so it was a little frightening because it hit so close to home. I hope my job isn't as challenging as Hilary Swank's character's. And I hope I can be half as good a teacher as she was. I really enjoyed the film.
On Saturday night I went into the city and Nic and I went to see Mook play at a bar downtown. They weren't bad. Paul Dano (you probably know him as Dwayne from Little Miss Sunshine) is the lead singer and guitarist. Here's a really bad picture that I took:
I stayed at Nic's apartment that night. Then on Sunday we went to see The Little Dog Laughed, a hilarious Broadway play. It was sooo good. It's about an actor trying to navigate the movie business and live a happy life, and his crazy agent doesn't help him with the latter all that much. The cast consists of 4 actors, all of whom are incredibly talented. Julie White will probably win the Tony this year for her performance. Ari Graynor was absolutely hilarious, and Tom Everett Scott was also great. I'm a huge fan of the movie That Thing You Do!, and he's the star of that, so it was cool to see him perform live. And I sure saw a whole lotta him. There was some full frontal nudity going on. Anyway, here's me and Tom Everett Scott:
I read Wintersmith, which was great. I was sad when I finished it, though, because it's the last book in the Tiffany Aching series and I want to know what happens to her. Of course I can imagine for myself, which is fun to do, but that doesn't seem as real as reading Pratchett's ideas.
I need to start studying for the Praxis II, which I'm taking on Saturday. I don't know how to study for it, though. Basically you have to know the material or else you're screwed; it's not exactly something that you can cram for, it's something that you've been preparing for throughout your entire education.
I love that song. I'm surprised it didn't win the Oscar last year (it was considered the lead contender among the nominees and was upset by "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp," which shocked everyone).
On Friday I went to see Freedom Writers. It's about a first-year high school English teacher, which is what I'll be in about 8 months, so it was a little frightening because it hit so close to home. I hope my job isn't as challenging as Hilary Swank's character's. And I hope I can be half as good a teacher as she was. I really enjoyed the film.
On Saturday night I went into the city and Nic and I went to see Mook play at a bar downtown. They weren't bad. Paul Dano (you probably know him as Dwayne from Little Miss Sunshine) is the lead singer and guitarist. Here's a really bad picture that I took:
I stayed at Nic's apartment that night. Then on Sunday we went to see The Little Dog Laughed, a hilarious Broadway play. It was sooo good. It's about an actor trying to navigate the movie business and live a happy life, and his crazy agent doesn't help him with the latter all that much. The cast consists of 4 actors, all of whom are incredibly talented. Julie White will probably win the Tony this year for her performance. Ari Graynor was absolutely hilarious, and Tom Everett Scott was also great. I'm a huge fan of the movie That Thing You Do!, and he's the star of that, so it was cool to see him perform live. And I sure saw a whole lotta him. There was some full frontal nudity going on. Anyway, here's me and Tom Everett Scott:
I read Wintersmith, which was great. I was sad when I finished it, though, because it's the last book in the Tiffany Aching series and I want to know what happens to her. Of course I can imagine for myself, which is fun to do, but that doesn't seem as real as reading Pratchett's ideas.
I need to start studying for the Praxis II, which I'm taking on Saturday. I don't know how to study for it, though. Basically you have to know the material or else you're screwed; it's not exactly something that you can cram for, it's something that you've been preparing for throughout your entire education.
Friday, January 05, 2007
"In New York, freedom looks like too many choices. In New York, I found a friend to drown out the other voices. Voices on the cell phone, voices from home, voices of the hard sell, voices down the stairwell. In New York, just got a place in New York." ~u2
Yesterday was one of the best days ever. I'm still reeling. So here are the highlights:
1. I went to MTV to visit my old office. I spent about an hour and a half hanging out with some of my favorite people in the world. I laughed harder than I have in a long time. It was wonderful. While I was there, I completely forgot what had been making me nervous for the past few days (see #2).
2. I had an interview with the NYC Dept. of Ed. for a teaching position. After the interview (which went okay, even though there were so many things I thought of afterwards that I should have said), the interviewer offered me a contract. And I signed it. So now I am officially employed by the NYC Dept. of Ed. and are guaranteed a teaching position for the 2007-2008 school year. I have a job. A real job. A career. And I know that it is what I really want to do. It's what I've wanted to do since forever. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I will be an actual teacher in 8 months, in the only place in the world I want to be. I am beyond happy. I don't have a specific placement yet; I have a Recruitment Manager and a Case Worker with whom I'll be collaborating to find the position for me. And I have a whole lotta tests to take and papers to fill out to get certified in New York. But I don't care, because I have a job.
3. You're probably wondering how this day could have gotten any better, but it did. I went to see The Vertical Hour on Broadway. It was a very good, thought-provoking play about politics written by David Hare. The acting was great. Bill Nighy was the stand-out. He's so good at using his whole body to act, and his facial expressions are priceless. Here's Bill Nighy in a scene from Love Actually, one of my favorite movies. I love him in that film. Check out his ridiculous outfit:
Julianne Moore was also wonderful. I have believed for a long time (and still do) that she is the most talented actress working today. Someone needs to give that woman an Oscar already (she's been nominated 4 times).
What really topped off the whole evening, though, was the fact that both actors were so incredibly friendly and gracious. I love it when famous, talented people are nice, because they don't have to be and often they aren't. Here's my pics:
So it was a good day.
Yesterday was one of the best days ever. I'm still reeling. So here are the highlights:
1. I went to MTV to visit my old office. I spent about an hour and a half hanging out with some of my favorite people in the world. I laughed harder than I have in a long time. It was wonderful. While I was there, I completely forgot what had been making me nervous for the past few days (see #2).
2. I had an interview with the NYC Dept. of Ed. for a teaching position. After the interview (which went okay, even though there were so many things I thought of afterwards that I should have said), the interviewer offered me a contract. And I signed it. So now I am officially employed by the NYC Dept. of Ed. and are guaranteed a teaching position for the 2007-2008 school year. I have a job. A real job. A career. And I know that it is what I really want to do. It's what I've wanted to do since forever. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I will be an actual teacher in 8 months, in the only place in the world I want to be. I am beyond happy. I don't have a specific placement yet; I have a Recruitment Manager and a Case Worker with whom I'll be collaborating to find the position for me. And I have a whole lotta tests to take and papers to fill out to get certified in New York. But I don't care, because I have a job.
3. You're probably wondering how this day could have gotten any better, but it did. I went to see The Vertical Hour on Broadway. It was a very good, thought-provoking play about politics written by David Hare. The acting was great. Bill Nighy was the stand-out. He's so good at using his whole body to act, and his facial expressions are priceless. Here's Bill Nighy in a scene from Love Actually, one of my favorite movies. I love him in that film. Check out his ridiculous outfit:
Julianne Moore was also wonderful. I have believed for a long time (and still do) that she is the most talented actress working today. Someone needs to give that woman an Oscar already (she's been nominated 4 times).
What really topped off the whole evening, though, was the fact that both actors were so incredibly friendly and gracious. I love it when famous, talented people are nice, because they don't have to be and often they aren't. Here's my pics:
So it was a good day.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
"If the children don't grow up, our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up. We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turnin' every good thing to rust. I guess we'll just have to adjust." ~the arcade fire
I may have written about this before, but I don't care because I just listened to that song and it's in my mind now and I feel like writing about it. Seeing U2 live in concert has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life; I've seen them 3 times, and the 3d time was the best. It was in Madison Square Garden, and I had an impossible-to-get GA floor ticket. I was on the railing in the front row around the ellipse. That day I waited outside in line for about 10 hours so that I could get a good spot. While we were standing inside the arena waiting for the concert to start, my legs hurt and I was tired and still thawing (because it was late November and it was cold and windy outside and I had spent 10 hours out there). But when that song, The Arcade Fire's Wake Up, started playing, I can't even describe the feeling that came over me. That's the song that played right before U2 came onstage at each concert on their Vertigo tour. So the song started playing and the crowd went crazy because we were all insane U2 fans and all knew that the band would be coming out next. We all sang along, because of course we all knew all of the words. I know I just used the word "all" quite a few times in the last two sentences, but it's appropriate because there was a feeling of inclusiveness, like we all were feeling the same thing and wanted to shout it out together. Chanting that opening refrain (I would write it but it's basically just chanting notes and I don't know how to write that) in unison with 20,000 people in the greatest arena in the greatest city in the world was just so cool. The song was perfectly chosen by U2 to open their show; it perfectly encapsulated the audience's anticipation and excitement. And then suddenly Bono was directly in front of me (he started the show on the ellipse right in front of where I was standing) and confetti was falling all over us and I was just so filled with joy that I thought my heart was going to explode. It's amazing what music can do. So whenever I hear the song Wake Up, I think of how I felt as that U2 concert started.
The Arcade Fire is releasing a new album soon, and I can't wait. It's called Neon Bible. If it's anywhere near the quality of Funeral, it'll be fabulous. A release date hasn't been officially announced but most people are guessing late March. The album is finished already.
Today I went shopping with Kim and my mom. We spent almost 3 hours at Loehmann's (sp?) and hardly bought anything. Then we decided to check out this really cheap store called Shopper's World, which my mom described as a clothing version of the dollar store. There were no dressing rooms so Kim and I went to the back of the infant section, hid behind some clothing racks, and tried on everything. It was pretty funny. It was a good day.
Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful 2007!
I may have written about this before, but I don't care because I just listened to that song and it's in my mind now and I feel like writing about it. Seeing U2 live in concert has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life; I've seen them 3 times, and the 3d time was the best. It was in Madison Square Garden, and I had an impossible-to-get GA floor ticket. I was on the railing in the front row around the ellipse. That day I waited outside in line for about 10 hours so that I could get a good spot. While we were standing inside the arena waiting for the concert to start, my legs hurt and I was tired and still thawing (because it was late November and it was cold and windy outside and I had spent 10 hours out there). But when that song, The Arcade Fire's Wake Up, started playing, I can't even describe the feeling that came over me. That's the song that played right before U2 came onstage at each concert on their Vertigo tour. So the song started playing and the crowd went crazy because we were all insane U2 fans and all knew that the band would be coming out next. We all sang along, because of course we all knew all of the words. I know I just used the word "all" quite a few times in the last two sentences, but it's appropriate because there was a feeling of inclusiveness, like we all were feeling the same thing and wanted to shout it out together. Chanting that opening refrain (I would write it but it's basically just chanting notes and I don't know how to write that) in unison with 20,000 people in the greatest arena in the greatest city in the world was just so cool. The song was perfectly chosen by U2 to open their show; it perfectly encapsulated the audience's anticipation and excitement. And then suddenly Bono was directly in front of me (he started the show on the ellipse right in front of where I was standing) and confetti was falling all over us and I was just so filled with joy that I thought my heart was going to explode. It's amazing what music can do. So whenever I hear the song Wake Up, I think of how I felt as that U2 concert started.
The Arcade Fire is releasing a new album soon, and I can't wait. It's called Neon Bible. If it's anywhere near the quality of Funeral, it'll be fabulous. A release date hasn't been officially announced but most people are guessing late March. The album is finished already.
Today I went shopping with Kim and my mom. We spent almost 3 hours at Loehmann's (sp?) and hardly bought anything. Then we decided to check out this really cheap store called Shopper's World, which my mom described as a clothing version of the dollar store. There were no dressing rooms so Kim and I went to the back of the infant section, hid behind some clothing racks, and tried on everything. It was pretty funny. It was a good day.
Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful 2007!
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