July 7th through August 10th, 2009 [Complete!]

[8/10 Re-Update] Done!

[8/10 Update] STILL still tryin'!

[8/4 Update] Still tryin'!

Keeping a blog about pop culture is like any chore. You're too lazy to do it, so you let it slip a day, and the next day it's even longer and more tiresome a task, so you let it slip and slip until... well, until a whole damn month passes.

And it doesn't help that I don't have the money to see the films or buy the albums I blog about. But that'll change soon, with any luck.

Here it goes.

MUSIC

Here comes trouble!

Holy shit... they captured Pirate Bay. It's a depressing day for all of us. Had you ever been to the Pirate Bay's "Legal" section? This is... augh. Tragedy.

The Heath Ledger-directed anti-whaling Modest Mouse video is not without its rough edges but is genuinely chilling, and I will stand behind any and all earnest animal rights statements.

Also, Drake's hard knocks (and I include the somewhat meh video as one of those knocks) keep on rolling. His recent leg injury and collapse can't be helping this stress.

Animal Collective is running this shit.

Sondre Lerche continues to be what I like about being alive.

New Kings on October 20th! Good day!

Everybody got in a fuss about the first new Muse single, which I didn't think was bad but was definitely not worth the epic puzzle/game nonsense required for a listen. It's as polemic as Bellamy has always been, and why are people surprised that the new direction is Queen-ish? Anyway, the second new single is kinda better anyway but still waaaaay overstays its welcome.

I'm kinda letting myself get really excited about The Big Pink's upcoming. Accuse single "Dominos" of being Time To Pretend Part II all you want, but there's a warm fullness to their sound that rounds out the catchiness. Also, have you heard "Velvet"? I mean, really? People are (rightfully) praising the Antlers for aiming high, so let's at least share some of that. Ya dig?

I'm really late to this Basement Jaxx party going on, but holy god damn it is a good party. What with Royksopp tearing shit up earlier and still promising another release, it is a good year to like dancing.

Oh TMT, I like the way you think.

The new Raekwon is wiiiiild.

Please Billy Corgan, please let me like you again.

M83 got kinda violent for no good reason. Guys... you're not Morrissey.

Weezer's new songs are only a few degrees separate from the vibe they used to go for, but those few degrees make a shit ton of difference.

Interpol's Paul Banks is pulling a Sasha Fierce.

Goddamn, I thought Drake was going to run away with my "favorite rapper of the year" award, but I just can't get over how ballsy TreaZon has been. He's referenced Dragonball Z, Sailor Moon, and I think Naruto, all in the last few months' worth of tracks. Referencing middle-school anime obsessions in your online leaks? Dude's letting it all hang out.

The indie world is stepping forward to support Chris Knox - including Jeff Mangum!

The new Raveonettes is actually really good.

Also, as far as finding a mixtape to succeed Drake's in terms of addictive listenability, lately the strongest contender has been Nero's new release. He can't work the 90stalgia angle forever, and that's one of the strongest selling points here, but I'm definitely getting used to his flow.

My crush on Bat For Lashes is goin' strong.

David Byrne is to U2 as Jarvis Cocker was to Michael Jackson (but evidently is no longer).

Big Sean needs some work, especially when it comes to swagger, but he's got the whole silky flow, addictive hook business locked down. Oh, and Kanye's hanging out back there or something. This and Day n' Nite as a double-feature? No-brainer. Other illRoots treats include Hova's new single, Cudi's new whatever-it-is-he-releases, and a guy named Gooz.

FILM

John Hughes is dead. Please don't underestimate the significance of those words.

Avatar is getting some wild hype. I have to admit that it's starting to grab me. They definitely owned Comic-Con, and with all the high profile stuff at Comic-Con, for an original plot to take the cake is saying something.

New York, I Love You looks fun.

Harmony Korine's next film is finished.

One of the best things about Austin is the Drafthouse, and, well, case in point.

Bad movies get sequels.

Lots of /Film Comic-Con blurbs. Where The Wild Things Are was dazzling. District 9 is apparently some kind of new religion. Kick-Ass surprised everybody with a gutpunch. Christmas Carol is going to scare you? Alice in Wonderland looks really fun. Secret Ninja Assassin screenings confirmed that the movie will feature blood. (Surprise!) Oh, and Tron Legacy is the movie I have been waiting for all these years.

Spielberg wants to stick some Elites.

Linklater is on his grind. Meanwhile, Duncan Jones is doing well.

Fantastic Mr. Fox doesn't have a great trailer, but I'm not nearly as displeased as everybody else seems to be. Flat, maybe. But not godawful.

I trust /Film, so I look forward to hearing more about Simple Machines.

Langella's joining the new Wall Street. This movie could end up pleasantly surprising me.

Definitely looking forward to Big Fan.

New Moon featuring music from Bon Iver and (gasp!) Thom Yorke? Now hear me out - what if Twilight was kinda the Pablo Honey of the film series? What if New Moon ends up being a The Bends, or even an OK Computer!? Yeah, probably not. Sigh. Oh, and Daft Punk are doing the new Tron, which makes a crapload more sense.

WEIRD

Minneapolis hates music or something. Honestly, as much as I feel for venues that'll buckle without 18+ hybrid shows, I've been offered beers at shows pretty much since I've been going to shows, and I can see the logic behind the potential laws. It's not a clean cut issue, and going all "up in arms" and pulling a Bill O'Reilly-esque "you're declaring war on Christmas!" rantfest is not going to solve an issue that requires a genuine compromise.

Lady Gaga is now confirmed to be a woman. Phew?

WORLD

I don't even know where to begin. Health care change is stuck in the mud and I doubt that any reform will pass. The real unemployment rate (the one including those who've ceased looking for work) is projected at 16.3 percent, which is beyond what I could have imagined. Typhoons pelt Asia while domestic pundits laugh off the global warming crisis. Is this the decline of U.S. dominance globally? What will that mean for my future, and the future of my friends and family? I don't have any other real facts to post in this section, just a large number of questions.

PERSONAL

The "world" section could get transplanted here.

Other things in my life seem normal. I'm working pretty hard to pull a short film together. I'm trying to stay productive. Oh, and the two bands I really want to get into: Sleater-Kinney and A Tribe Called Quest.

2009 FILMS SEEN: 23
2009 SONGS ON MY ITUNES: 969
Current Computer Situation: MacBook Pro, chilling out at the apartment..