6) Jeff Buckley
Why do the good ones always have to die? Either that or they're gay, hehe. Anyway, Jeff Buckley died way too young, and it's really a shame because he was just starting to come into his own with his songwriting right before he passed. To put it simply, he had the voice of an angel. And what an angel! I'm sure he's singing with the choirs of heaven nowadays. : ) Buckley's voice was not a baritone, but it was so full of soul and heartache. His voice makes me weep at times, I have to admit. I dare you to listen to "Lover, You Should've Come Over" and not want to cry. And personally, I think his version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" trumps Rufus Wainwright's cover. Sigh, I hate Wainwright...
7) Van Morrison
This guy. Much like Eric Burdon, he's a 40-year-old black man trapped in a white dude's body. Need I say more?
8) Dan Auerbach (the Black Keys)
My hope is that one day, Auerbach's voice will be considered to be almost as great as Burdon's or Morrison's. The bluesy singer for the Black Keys definitely has a voice not common among most indie bands, which is why he stands out in my mind. And if you thought he had a limited range, you're sadly mistaken. Listen to the latest album by the Black Keys and you'll realize he can pull off a falsetto quite nicely.
9) Nick Cave
His voice is very...cavernous. That's one way to put it. He has the voice that can make you piss in your pants if he wanted to scare you so bad. No matter what you may think of his dark, almost dreary music, for he's virtually the Prince of Darkness, you're immediately drawn to his voice. It can be angry, menacing, melancholy, heartbreaking, or rejoicing. He can firmly make you believe that "people ain't no good" as well as the pining present in "Into My Arms." His voice isn't perfect, but as you can tell by now, I like imperfect voices.
10) Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
Alright, before you roll your eyes at this one, take into account that I had a bunch of others in mind. I didn't put them in the #10 slot because of a few factors. If you're looking at (or listening to) Thom Yorke's voice as purely a singing voice, it's pretty interesting. The guy can convey so much with his lazy-sounding, almost sleepy falsetto. The guy is good, real good.
And that's my list. But there are honorable mentions. I guess it really should've been more of a top 20 list. Honorable mentions include:
Ian Curtis of Joy Division- talk about cavernous vocals
I know, I know, I've been neglecting my blog. But no more. Not that many people read it anyway. I've got a bit of listomania tonight, so here are my top 10 male vocalists of all time. Disclosure: these are purely based on my tastes and opinions, and you do reserve the right to agree or disagree.
I need to start off this list by saying that I have a certain affinity for voices of lower registers. This goes for both men and women. I can't deny it, I like my baritones and altos. There are exceptions, of course (aren't there always exceptions?), and I'm also intrigued by unique-sounding voices. I just wanted to point this out because I feel like it's a part of who I am. It's interesting that when I become attracted to someone, sexually or not, it usually first happens due to their voice. Eyes? They're overrated. Build? It's gonna fade some day. But voice...voice is something musical and enchanting that can't be forged--unless of course you're Humphrey Bogart or Lauren Bacall. Anyway, without further ado, here are my top 10 male rock/soul/pop vocalists of all time, in no particular order.
1) Eric Burdon
There are many things in life one can argue about or contest. Is smooth peanut butter better than crunchy peanut butter? Is my mom better than your mom? Does God exist? But the talents of Mr. Eric Burdon, former frontman of the Animals and War, cannot be disputed. Unless you're tone deaf or something. I mean, the man is blessed with an incredible voice. It's expressive, bluesy, unmistakably unique, and most importantly of all, full of sooooouuul. He's essentially a white dude with the voice of a soulful black man. The guy has certainly led an interesting life. He was good friends with John Lennon and once scared Jim Morrison with a .44 magnum (which is funny because I believe Burdon was chased off by Phil Spector with a shotgun once...?). Anyway, to further prove something which is already a fact, I've included an amazing video of him doing a cover of "Hold On, I'm Coming," where he's also introduced by Otis Redding, another singer who makes an appearance on my list.
2) David Bowie
David Bowie's an interesting one. Not only is he one of the greatest chameleons of rock n' roll, but he also has a pretty wide vocal range. You gotta admire him for that. Compare "Changes" to "Heroes." Two exceptional songs from the same decade, but he doesn't sound the same in them. "Changes" displays a higher register, though not quite a tenor. "Heroes" has deeper vocals, with an almost Scott Walker-like quality--not surprising, since Scott Walker is one of his biggest influences. Which leads me to...
3) Scott Walker (no, not the governor)
Let's just say that if I were a guy, Scott Walker's voice is the one I'd want to have. I decided that a while back. If for some strange reason I'd ever get a sex change (why would anyone WANT to be a guy?), I'd totally ask if they can give me his voice. Many people don't know who Scott Walker is nowadays, except for music aficionados like me and people interested in less mainstream music, but if you were around in the 60s, you'd be somewhat aware that he and the Walker Brothers were at one time bigger than the Beatles in the UK. Hard to believe? Well it happened. Songs like "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" and "Make It Easy On Yourself" took over the charts. He rejected the pop star image though, and he's been paying for it ever since. He's become an enigmatic figure, practically reclusive. However, he's also become one of the most respected and influential vocalists of all time. He's influenced the likes of Bowie, Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy, Goldfrapp, Radiohead, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, among others. He possesses a magnificent baritone, as you can hear.
4) Otis Redding
It's really a shame that Redding's presence had to be taken away from us so early. Despite his premature death, he has become known as one of the greatest singers of all time. I think the magic of his voice lies in the expressiveness, the soul, and simplicity of it. What woman wouldn't want to be crooned by his rendition of "Try a Little Tenderness"?
5) Leonard Cohen
Cohen's definitely an odd choice, as most people acknowledge his intelligent and profound songwriting more than his vocal talents. He's never had much of a range, and that's because he's more of a poet than a singer. But his monotone is alluring and soothing, it's quiet and at once emotional. Like dark honey.
I have to say I'm a bit excited about this post because it's my first movie review on here. Experience the film geek in me coming out people!
While I was at the United Artists theater behind the Stonestown Galleria, I thought to myself, I should've brought my Moleskine journal to jot notes (it was a rare occasion, my Moleskine is almost always in my purse/bag). Still I remember several details about the movie that are insightful, revelatory, and haunting. Blue Valentine was directed by Derek Cianfrance, and stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. It was a major contender at the Sundance Film Festival and has received rave reviews. There was some controversy surrounding it earlier on when it was given an NC-17 rating due to some supposed explicit sexual content, but the rating was retracted and it became an R (go figure). Oh yeah, and Grizzly Bear did the soundtrack, for those indie music fans. Here's the trailer:
The film is essentially about a crumbling relationship between two tragic characters, Dean and Cindy. Unlike other movies about romantic relationships falling apart or overcoming odds, Blue Valentine doesn't seek to idealize or even put at ease. It is raw and painful, but it is also real. Too real, which is why it's struck a chord with most people who've seen it. Most people who have been in relationships can relate to the story. The film jumps back and forth between two different time frames: the last two days of the marriage (by "last" I mean the last we see of them, though not necessarily THE final days) and the beginning of their relationship. It's interesting because the director chose to show only two bad days out of the entire relationship, so the viewer is limited in knowing what the relationship is TRULY like, but I think it was a very smart move. It leaves you wondering whether the rest is as bad as those two significant, yet fragmentary, days are made out to be. The director intentionally leave us with an incomplete picture of the relationship and even of the characters. Some people might think this to be a flaw, but one has to understand what's behind the filmmaker's motives. What's also interesting is that Cianfrance depicts two extremes and leaves no room for moderation. There is no middle, no insight into what Dean's and Cindy's relationship was like after two years or four years. This film doesn't seek to place blame on a single party, nor does it even really place blame on anyone. At the end of the movie, I didn't feel the need to place judgment on anyone; I mostly just felt sad and heartbroken.
The film opens with the introduction of a little girl, whom we soon find out is the daughter of the disastrous couple. She's looking for the family dog and runs inside the house to ask her dad for help. He joins the search but with no luck. What follows is an absorbing look into what appears to be a typical morning for the family. Cindy, played by Williams, is an RN struggling to please her daughter, and struggles with juggling work and her daughter's school. The impression Dean, played by Gosling, gives the viewer is that he's sort of a stay-at-home dad who drinks in the morning and can be juvenile, but loves his little girl very much. Cindy seems wound up by her stressful job and annoyed by her husband's immaturity. Dean indulges the little girl, while Cindy insists on a more traditional parenting style. At first sight, they appear like polar opposites. But when one sees the flashbacks of the beginning of their relationship, one can see that they weren't always so different from one another, though not necessarily exactly the same. They understood each other. Both had quirks about them that were endearing to one another. Here's a clip from a scene during one of the flashbacks:
The last two days are emotional and frustrating. The couple cannot communicate in an effective or healthy way. It's almost as if they speak two different languages. Cindy is an educated woman who went to college and studied medicine, while Dean is a working-class guy who dropped out of high school and has simple values. Cindy wishes her husband could make more of himself and fulfill his true potential, but he wants none of it. He claims he doesn't desire to be anything else other than a devoted husband and a loving dad. He says at one point, "I didn't want to be somebody's husband and I didn't want to be somebody's dad, that wasn't my goal in life. But somehow it was. I work so I can do that."
What I liked about this movie is its subtleties and vague indications. For example, if one pays careful attention, one can see that Cindy has had a bit of an abusive life, with her witnessing her father being cruel to her mother and her former boyfriend being a dominating and aggressive type. It's not mentioned more than once, but Dean comes from a broken home, his mother having abandoned him and his father when he was a kid. One could think his tenacious, almost smothering affections towards his wife are a result of possible abandonment issues, or even mommy issues.
At the core, they both love each other very much, but Cindy no longer believes it's enough, and even believes she has fallen out of love. Dean is the type of person who believes love is the end all, be all and that it's what's most important. In one scene, when Dean hasn't met Cindy yet, he talks to a co-worker about how he feels that men are more romantic than women.
"I feel like men are more romantic than women. When we get married we marry, like, one girl, cause we're resistant the whole way until we meet one girl and we think I'd be an idiot if I didn't marry this girl she's so great. But it seems like girls get to a place where they just kinda pick the best option...'Oh he's got a good job.' I mean they spend their whole life looking for Prince Charming and then they marry the guy who's got a good job and is gonna stick around."
Both characters are flawed but also have redeeming qualities. Yes, Dean drinks at 8 a.m. and can be childish, but he's selfless and loving. He goes through a lot of shit for Cindy (watch the movie and you'll know what I mean). Cindy disregards her husband sometimes, but she wants him to pursue goals and interests, to do things for himself. In the end, the audience feels almost mournful as they see a relationship with potential and lots of love disintegrate after two terrible days. The ending is indeterminate, vague, with a leaning towards a heartrending end to something that was once beautiful, though not perfect. Of course one can only speculate what will happen to the marriage, as one can only speculate what truly went wrong.
Although the movie is pretty bleak and solemn, I feel that it did a great job of portraying a realistic and vulnerable relationship slowly falling apart. What we get is not a full story but just a snapshot of these two people's relationship, which makes it more interesting. I have to say that most of the movie was shot with close-ups and medium shots, so it makes things even more intense. Both actors did a terrific job and the writing was intelligent. I also like the fact that some of the dialogue was improvised. I just think it's a shame that Ryan Gosling got snubbed by the Academy for this movie, whilst his co-star got a nomination. The Oscars suck, so whatever.
Definitely one of the most haunting movies of the year.
So I'm officially an aunt as of 6:30ish pm today. : ) I have a niece named Magnolia. I had a feeling it was going to be a girl, not sure why. Guess I won the baby shower game? I can't wait to see some pics of the baby.
I'm a bit annoyed with AT&T right now, since my DSL was supposed to be activated last night and it wasn't. I've called them a few times and they claim it'll be up and running tonight. Let's hope so. In the meantime, I'm using good ol' Borders's wifi.
I think it's about time I review Arcade Fire's latest album, The Suburbs. I know, I'm a bit of a late starter, seeing as how the album came out about 5 months ago. Actually, it was released on the day my aunt passed away... Weird connection, eh? Interestingly enough, their first album, Funeral, was titled as such because that previous year, many of the band members had relatives who passed away.
Let me begin this review by saying that I've never been a big fan of those notorious Canadian "super" groups. I've never been into the New Pornographers. I kinda dislike Broken Social Scene, although I do like the artists that came out of it, i.e. Feist and Metric. And though they're not Canadian, but rather from Portland, Oregon, the Decemberists have never really appealed to me. That being said, last year was the year I came to like Arcade Fire. I have to admit, I thought Win from the band was a douche because of some comments he made about Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips, another favorite band of mine. But Arcade Fire's pretty damn good. Sometimes you have to ignore what an artist is actually like and enjoy the art itself. "Separate the art from the artist." God knows how many artists, actors, and writers I've been put off by because of stupid things they've said or done, but I guess when you're talented, you're talented. I still refuse to read Ezra Pound or watch Russell Crowe's movies with a desire to witness his acting though.
Anyway, The Suburbs is quite the concept album. I'd definitely say it's the album of the year, the year being 2010. The album's about exactly what it's named after, the suburbs, but it's also about so much more. The first track of the same title as the album grabs you with its simplicity and--dare I say?--catchiness. "The Suburbs" has a melancholy feel to it, with lyrics like "Sometimes I can't believe it, I'm movin' past the feeling" being sung with a sad falsetto. It definitely sets the mood for the rest of the album. The next track, "Ready to Start," is a faster-paced song that almost has a Strokes sound to it (although I don't really like the Strokes). Obviously a song is open to interpretation, but I feel like the lyrics are talking about several things: the transition from youth into adulthood, a breakup, a desire to find oneself and be free. "Modern Man" is another likable song. "Empty Room" is another highlight, with its almost dreamy sound. It could almost be a shoegaze song. "Half Light II (No Celebration)" clearly has Talking Heads influences and is a decent track. I feel like they could've done more with "Suburban War," though it appears like it has some Bowie influence.
One of the more rockin' songs is "Month of May," which I can definitely dance to at a show. It's a perfect song, with an awesome beat and intelligent lyrics. "Deep Blue" is another melancholy-sounding track, with its beautiful strings and despairing vocals. "We Used to Wait" is a bit too long and doesn't deliver, hence I feel like it's one of the weaker songs of the album. I can appreciate the Bowie influence though. "Sprawl I (Flatland)" is the first part of a perfect pairing. The male vocalist sounds sad and seeming to long for something, almost grieving. It's a shorter track than most of the songs on the album. Then there's "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)," which sounds like the antithesis of its predecessor. It's possibly the most perfect song on the entire album, with its almost 80s New Wave sound and catchy beat. It's more a dance song than the other tracks, but it also has the most beautiful lyrics. It outshines "Sprawl I." This particular song has been stuck in my head for the last few days, and you can listen to it below to see what I'm talking about.
The last track, "The Suburbs (Continued)," is a lovely, Bowie-influenced, and string-filled track. Win and Regine both lend their voices to this great ending, with their voices and the music slowly fading away into what one can imagine is a dying suburban night.
Overall a really good album. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
I promise, this will be the last post with this title. For a while, at least. And I don't intend to post a new entry every day, I'm just sort of trigger happy for now. It happens.
Today was my second day of school and my first class of the day seemed pretty amazing, despite the fact that my professor was almost 45 minutes late. Apparently the class was originally scheduled for a different time and they didn't bother to notify him when they made changes. It sounds like it's going to be a fun and intriguing class, what with one of our texts being a graphic novel and some of the films we'll be watching are by Todd Haynes. Oh, and we'll also be viewing some porn.
My next class should be pretty rad as well, since it's titled "Music, the Listener's Art".
I learned today that I received a check from SFSU back at my uncle's house in Glendale. I told my brother to open the letter and when he told me the amount, I was pleasantly surprised. Let's just say I only expected about half of the said amount. Hmm, methinks it's time for a new laptop...
A friend of mine reminded me of something that happened to me the other day. A couple days ago, I decided to venture out into San Francisco's downtown shopping area in the afternoon. The idea was to go job hunting, but as soon as I saw some of the stores, I knew I wouldn't be hired. Besides, would I REALLY want to work at Banana Republic, or Gucci for that matter? I don't think I'd be able to afford their clothes, even with an employee discount. I began to feel hungry, but I knew the restaurants and food shops around that area were not places I could really afford with my budget, so I walked around and around looking for a little stand or something. I found a few hot dog stands, but I told myself they were too pricey for what they were. I didn't really feel like spending $5 on a hot dog. And then I started to feel really hungry. I was starving in fact. An excerpt from Kerouac's On the Road began to run through my head. Remember the part where he goes to Frisco with Dean and Marylou, and Dean leaves Sal with Marylou for some days at a hotel? Marylou runs off with some nightclub owner and leaves poor Sal alone, and he, being the broke beatnik that he was, can't afford much of the delicious food of San Francisco.
"In the window I smelled all the food of San Francisco.... Just show me the bluefish spangle on a seafood menu and I'd eat it; let me smell the drawn butter and lobster claws. There were places where they specialized in thick red roast beef au jus, or roast chicken basted in wine.... And oh, that pan-fried chow mein flavored air that blew into my room from Chinatown, vying with the spaghetti sauces of North Beach, the soft shell crab of Fisherman's Wharf--nay, the ribs of Fillmore turning on spits! Throw in the Market Street chili beans, redhot, and french-friend potatoes of the Embarcadero wino night, and steamed clams from Sausalito across the bay...."
God just reading that passage again makes me hungry. I finally gave in and went to a Starbucks to buy a blueberry scone.
But today I'm treating myself. I'm splurging a bit, spending $4 on a cookies 'n' cream blended coffee drink from Seattle's Best Coffee while at Borders. Small though it is, I'm taking my time with it, enjoying every sip.
Today was my first day of school at SFSU, which consisted of going to one class and being told that there would be a 10-page research paper due in the next few months and that the topic should be turned in by Feb. 7th. And then there was roll call. Class was only about half an hour long, which was nice. Tomorrow it'll be two classes, fun classes by the sound of it.
I also had my first San Fran job interview today. And of course, I was a bit late. I think the interview went fairly well though. Can I see myself working at a stationery store? For $11 an hour? You bet.
Been listening to the Arcade Fire's The Suburbs today and I enjoy it so far. I'll write a review once I've digested it all a few times. I like to listen to an album a few times before I make a real assessment. Sure, an album can sound amazing the first time, but can it hold up after an infinite amount of listens? And then there's the opposite. An album can sound unappealing at first, but it can definitely grow on you. THOSE are the ones I find myself adoring the most, the ones you don't quite get or can't digest completely the first or even second time. Sometimes I feel like the ones that take some getting used to are the best albums. Of course that's not true 100% of the time. Exceptions that come to mind would be something like David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust or the Jesus and Mary Chain's Psychocandy. It's not that I automatically put an artist down if an album sounds too good to be true at first, it's just that it can sometimes be ear candy that perhaps doesn't have deeper meaning. I don't know, anyone agree or disagree with me on that?
And now I've gone on another tangent. Let's get back on track...
Last night I made some pasta, and I have to admit, it wasn't my best effort. I guess I was just feeling tired and sorta lazy. I've been cooking every day for the most part. I can't wait until I make more money and I don't have to be thrifty with the amount of food I eat. I don't feel like losing more weight and I'd like to be able to buy more groceries.
Yes I finally did it, I've started a blog. And yes, the title of my first post is inspired by Bob Dylan's "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again." And hey, the name of the blog is also taken from a Dylan song. Yeah I'm pretty lame.
I guess I should start by mentioning my motivations for starting a blog. The main one is that I'm now living more than 300 miles away from home and what will always be home (because no matter how hard I try to get away from it, I'll never really get away from it completely). I want to maintain contact and interaction with my friends and relatives. Of course I can also do that with Facebook, Skype, AIM, texting, calling, etc. But I also wanted to create something more intellectually stimulating. My other motivation is the desire for another creative outlet. I want a place I can ramble, rant, or inform. This blog will be used for all sorts of things, like writing about the latest music I've been listening to and recommend, the latest movies I've seen and recommend, everyday adventures while exploring San Francisco, and yes, feelings...
Which leads into how I've been feeling these last five days. It's hard to believe I've only been in SF for five days. I feel like I've been here longer than that. I feel lonely at times, mostly because I don't really know anyone here. I also sometimes feel displaced. It's weird, I fit in with the typical San Francisco native/citizen, but I'm also somewhat of an outcast. I'm pretty sure there are certain LA traits I express which I'm not fully aware of yet that native Bay Area peeps see. Old habits die hard, so whatever.
Well Borders is closing and I must go. But I'll add to this later if I feel like it. I'll try to update this blog whenever possible, now that I've committed myself to it...
Hmm, I'm contemplating seeing Blue Valentine some time soon, since it's so "controversial" and stuff. It just seems like a good movie. Perhaps I should post a review once I do?
