Archive for the ‘The Shins’ Category
Slumdog Millionaire Review and Playlist
I forgot about including the inclusion of movie reviews with music. I recently saw both Milk and Slumdog Millionaire which seem to be candidates for movie of the year. Anyway, while Juno was a popular indie flick to see at first, it got tiresome fast. Slumdog Millionaire didn’t look appealing at first, you know a romance film? The critical and fan reception was quite high though and being late on Christmas day with either an opportunity to see Yes Man or Slumdog Millionaire, the right choice was made.
Here’s my playlist for the movie. The soundtrack was pretty good and suited some of the cinematography. I did like the use of “Paper Planes” which was more about hustlin’ like the song says instead of just “getting high” like Pineapple Express used it for. Before I get carried away:
Born Out of The Hustle by Kites in Space
Paper Planes MIA
Blind by Hercules and Love Affair (for the blind singers)
Brother Watching by Shad
How I Made My Millions by Radiohead
Pressed In A Book by The Shins (for the Three Musketeers)
Let Love Be My Only Guide by The Bell
Now onto my review:
Slumdog Millionaire is a film that has its premise given away from the start. It asks a question whether or not Jamal Malik’s run at 20 million rupees on “Who wants to be a millionaire?’ is whether he is smart, if he cheated or if it was destiny. The movie’s plot is simple, Jamal Malik is accused of cheating and he is being questioned about how a “slumdog” could do better then lawyers, doctors and intellects in general.
A thinking man could likely extrapolate that Malik does quite well on the gameshow which serves as the backbone of the movie’s plot. The storyline isn’t the strongest as it can be painfully obvious that it could be one of those movie’s that end ups with the two love interests living “happily ever after and making a lot of babies” (the latter is implied). I’m not the type of person who looks for a movie that has an “aw” storyline (kind of ironic with the name of this site lol).
With that Slumdog Millionaire has been universally praised, why? Everything in between is done incredibly well. Sometimes a movie doesn’t need the greatest storyline to win you over. The movie gave off tense moments despite the outcome almost completely drawn out. Everything from the cinematography and to the direction was top notch. This movie is more proof that it’s not the quality of the story that counts but the quality of the storyteller that makes the world of difference.
Slumdog Millionaire I can see being universally liked by all types since it’s one of those feel good romantic dramas but it extends past that horrid drama with a stylish touch and fearless direction. It was at times light-hearted and funny and save for the last minute stopped being overly-cheesy. I think some of the gripes people have are the weaker storyline and the romance stinking up something great but it really just gives the movie some direction rather then being lost and all over the place.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
It will likely be the top or top 2 movie of the year (waiting on The Wrestler).
Playlist for Heroes Season 3 + Ghost Town Review
The Season 3 premiere is tonight! So what else to do but a playlist? Amiright? I have no idea what Season 3 will hold but hopefully it will be better then the strike shortened/disappointing Season 2. Season 1 was a great season that I watched it all in just a few days.
The Past and The Pending by The Shins (for Hiro)
I’m Your Villain by Franz Ferdinand (for Sylar/title of Season 3 is “Villains”)
TouchIt_Technologic by Daft Punk (for Micah Sanders)
Cries of The Dead by Chad VanGaalen (for the follow up of who’s dead)
Read My Mind by The Killers (for Matt Parkman)
Morning Bell/Amnesiac by Radiohead (for the wuss Peter Petrelli who can’t remember a goddamn thing)
Electric Feel by MGMT (for Elle Bishop… mmm Kristin Bell)
Muscle’n Flo by Menomena (for Monica Dawson and her muscle memory)
Play Your Part (Pt. 2) by Girl Talk (for Ando and Mohinder playing their part)
Secrets by Oh! Custer (for Claire who ‘s secret plagues her, and I can’t find many other songs for her)
Ghost Town Review:
I had the chance to see Ghost Town on opening weekend. Box office success was mild playing 8th. I think for the most part it’s because the storyline isn’t that appealing or original. With a character who develops the 6th sense (same as the movie as the Sixth Sense) he begins seeing ghosts after a near-death experience.
There isn’t much to the storyline other then a seemingly typical/predictable storyline. But all in all it is light hearted and the characters (including ghosts) do progress and show off a real quality about them.
Otherwise it’s just a mildly good movie, that isn’t bad nor great though a 87% RT score probably suggests that more people liked it then not.
My rating is: 3.25 out of 5. Just kind of average but worth your money I guess.
Playlist for Valentines Day
Valentines Day is great some people as it’s supposed to be a day of love but it can be a reminder on just how much it sucks to be lonely and single. Some might say it’s just a corporate ploy just for people to buy lavish gifts on some arbitrary day that I have no idea where it originated from (don’t feel like wiki-ing this one). For me personally Valentines Day, comes and go. I’m really indifferent about the day, it’s nice to see the love in the air but I can see how one can despise it as it’s really great to be with someone. I’ll do a list of some good love songs or ones that are of the “love sucks” variety.
1. No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses
Such a misleading title but have you ever felt the need to say to your lover “no one is ever gonna love you like I do” because that perfectly describes how head over heels you are?
2. I Don’t Love Anyone by Belle & Sebastian
One of my favorite songs and one that makes me feel good about being alone and single.
3. Lover I Don’t Have To Love by The Bright Eyes
This song is dedicated to those who aren’t looking for a relationship but are just looking for flings and not being emotionally tied to someone.
4. First Day of My Life by The Bright Eyes
Arguably one of the best love songs out there.
5. Crown of Love by The Arcade Fire
One of my favorite Arcade Fire tracks. Mainly about the inability to love just one person and usually involving moving on to the next person and the next.
6. Everyday I Love You Less and Less by The Kaiser Chiefs
Sometimes love does wave and this song perfectly describes it an upbeat manner.
7. Song For A Sleeping Girl by the Devics
This song describe the feeling of sleeping next to someone and really the sheer enjoyment of watching someone sleep. It’s one of my favorite love songs.
8. Modern Girls & Old Fashioned Men by The Strokes and Regina Spektor
Needed an excuse to include this awesome song, it’s about love so it fits.
9. What I’m Trying To Say by Stars
Saving you love someone is harder then it looks (when you whole-heartedly mean it).
10. Girl Inform Me by The Shins
This one goes for us guys who don’t really “understand” women and just sometimes need to be told!
11. I’m Leaving You Because I Don’t Love You by Jens Lekman
Pretty self-explanatory.
12. You Were Meant For Me by Jewel
I love this song, not ashamed heh.
13. Strange Powers by The Magnetic Fields
Some people just hypnotize you.
14. Love Astronaut by Murder Mystery
I like the line “I go looking for love but is it looking for me?”.
Allan’s Top Songs of 07 #25-1
I decided to change my mind and do the rest of the list today. As you can see, Okkervil dominated the top songs of ’07 quite handedly with 4 tracks placing in the top 50.
I actually hated doing this list…not that it was subpar but I think I would’ve felt better doing a review today. Just no writing quality in putting out this list though it’s great for traffic bait.
25. She’s a Rejector by Of Montreal (link)
24. Patty Lee by Les Savy Fav (link)
23. Open Doors by Josh Ritter (link)
22. White Dove by John Vanderslice (link)
21. Handsome Furs Hate This City by The Handsome Furs
20. Weekend Without Makeup by The Long Blondes (link)
19. Meat Market by Everybody Else (link)
18. 1234 by Feist
17. Wolf and Crane by Siberian (link)
16. Walcott by Vampire Weekend
15. Fluorescent Adolescent by The Arctic Monkeys
14. Apartment Story by The National (link)
13. Red Rabbits by The Shins
12. Impossible by The Shout Out Louds
11. Right Moves by Josh Ritter (link)
10. Up On Your Leopard, Upon The End of Your Feral Days by Sunset Rubdown (link)
9. (Antichrist) Television Blues by The Arcade Fire (link)
8. Bunny Ain’t No Kind of Rider by Of Montreal (link)
7. Unless It Kicks by Okkervil River (link)
6. Back in Your Head by Tegan & Sara
5. The Mending of the Gown by Sunset Rubdown
4. Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend
3. Once and Never Again by The Long Blondes (link)
2. Mistaken For Strangers by The National
1. Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe by Okkervil River (link)
Allan’s Top Songs of 07 #50-26
I actually quite enjoyed picking out the top songs of 2007. There were many tracks from albums I loved and other singles that stood out in a lackluster album. Most of these tracks I have posted before (I’ll link to the post if you wish to dig hard enough to download them) and are mainly bands I am familiar with. Generally, I blogged about the band if they appeared in the top 50. There are some tracks I haven’t posted yet so you’ll be able to download them here (I think it looks bad if I have every mp3 listed available for download). I linked to the post where the other mp3s are available.
I did hate uploading tracks though and the linking stuff (takes forever). I also had to re-upload some tracks after annoying my friend Jack with bandwidth usage. Look out for the rest tomorrow.
50. A Girl in Port by Okkervil River
49. Shirin by Jens Lekman (link)
48. I Know I’ll See You by A Place To Bury Strangers (link)
47. For Science Fiction by Maritime (link)
46. Freak Out by Liars (link)
45. Phantom by Justice (link)
44. Sleep Deprivation by Simian Mobile Disco
43. Take Me To the Ballroom by the Moonbabies
42. Tthhee Ppaarrttyy by Justice (link)
41. Myriad Harbour by The New Pornographers (link)
40. Objects of My Affection by Peter, Bjorn and John
39. Blue Headlights by The Shout Out Louds (link)
38. No I in Threesome by Interpol
37. My Moon, My Man by Feist
36. Kookaburra by John Vanderslice
35. Paper Birds by Siberian (link)
34. Make A Plan To Love Me by the Bright Eyes
33. Philadelphia Grand Jury by the Fiery Furnaces
32. I Believe by Simian Mobile Disco
31. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb by Spoon
30. I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You by the Black Kids
29. You Can’t Hold the Hand of the Rock and Roll Man by Okkervil River
28. Airship by Siberian (link)
27. Turn On Me by The Shins (link)
26. White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes (link)
