Book/Sequential Art: THE COMICS JOURNAL #298
The centerpiece in this issue is a long interview with the twin brother Brazilian comic creators, Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon. It’s interesting that neither of them is designated as the “writer” or “artist” - they both script and draw, sometimes bothcollaborating on one task. I particularly enjoyed the discussion about their self-publishing zine/minicomics history in Sao Paulo - at one time they used to release episodic minicomics every week! The brothers’ work can be seen in the mainstream-y The Umbrella Academy, Sugarshock , and the new limited-run series B.P.R.D. 1947 (which is awesome, by the way). I’ve had their collection De:TALES - Stories from Urban Brazil on the “to read” pile for months, but reading this interview pushed it to the top of the pile. Other interesting goodies in TCJ #298 include an interview with Perry Bible Fellowship artist Nicholas Gurewitch, commentary on alt-weeklies dropping comics, and long reviews including Jules Feiffer’s Explainers. Browse the issue here.Music: FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE
Sellersville Theater, Sellersville PA, 7/3/2009
Every time I see FoW live, I fall in love with them just a little bit more, if that’s even possible.
Nice acoustic set from Fountains of Wayne (which includes blond, bespectacled hometown boy Chris Collingwood) in a small setting (200 seats). Lots of fan favorites (Radiation Vibe, Red Dragon Tattoo, Bright Future in Sales, Joe Rey, Hey Julie, Someone to Love, Hackensack, etc.), three works in progress, and much misuse of the the word “hoagie”. (Um, you had to be there.)
Opening was Mike Viola, who collaborated with Adam Schlesinger on songs for the movie That Thing You Do!, and provided lead vocals for the title track. He was accompanied by the very sweet Kelly Jones on a few songs as well. In all, a nice night, even if the strange suburban crowd freaked me out at times with their normalcy.
Music: FARM ~ Dinosaur Jr.
Read about how Dinosaur Jr.’s new album makes me wistfully grungy.Sequential Art: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic ~ Alison Bechdel
Although I read (and then immediately re-read) FUN HOME a few months ago, it’s taken me a while to post about it, not for lack of trying. Alison Bechdel’s FUN HOME is an impressively illustrated amalgam of biography (Bechtel’s father), autobiographical self-discovery, and family history, presented in shades of black and blue. This should be used in literature or art classes as a prime example of (auto)biography and sequential art.Food: Trader Joe's Tortilla Chips with an Identity Crisis
When talking about food products from Trader Joe’s, I have an annoying tic of describing everything as either: (a) fucking awesome, or (b) like crack. Occasionally a product comes along that is both (a) and (b). Tortilla Chips with an Identity Crisis - besides having a great name - are like fucking awesome crack. They’re made with corn, potato, and brown rice flour, producing a unique taste without being too fiber-y. They go great withTJ’s Fire Roasted Salsa. If TJ’s discontinues these chips, I’ll be pissed.Television: BURN NOTICE
Thursdays 9PM, USA Network
Yet again I ask myself: Why didn’t I start watching this show earlier? At least it’s a fairly “self contained” program, and you basically get all the backstory you need during the opening credits each week. So, I’ve been watching Season 3 “live”, and catching up on S1 and S2 in tandem. Really, I should just learn to try any show featuring Bruce Campbell (aka “The Human Chin”). It’s also nice to see a cop/crime show NOT set in New York that’s snarky, smart, and self-aware. (And I’d be lying if I didn’t say that Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar are verrrry attractive.) With Burn Notice, I can almost forgive USA Network for cancelling The 4400. Almost.
Books: STORM FRONT, FOOL MOON, GRAVE PERIL (The Dresden Files) ~ Jim Butcher
Not sure how I stumbled upon this series, possibly from a book or SF blog.* Since most of the “serious” fiction I’ve read this year has been incredibly disappointing, I decided to give this “paranormal noir” (as in vampires, demons, etc.) a try, and picked up the first few books. To use a phrase from the library profession, they were the right books for me at the right time, slightly-but-not-too-cheesy page turners. Not sure if I’ll continue reading the series immediately (it’s up to more than 12 books by now), but if I ever need lighter literary calories, I’ll know where to look. (Or maybe try the comic adaptions from Dabel Bros.)* Although maybe it was from the endless commercials during Battlestar Galactica a few years ago for the adaptation that ran on SciFi Network. The Dresden Files series is available at Hulu (for now) - it’s an improvement on the novels, actually. The writers knew what to keep, what to leave out, and what to alter (the use of a hockey stick as a blasting rod, for example). Plus, there’s some nice shots of Chicago. And Paul Blackthorne (24 Season 3, Lipstick Jungle, and forthcoming this season in Burn Notice) was obviously not taking this seriously.
Music: FANTASIES ~ Metric
“Who would you rather be, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?”
Digging Emily Haines’ almost Shirley Manson-esque vocals layered over not-cheesy 80s sounding synthpop quite a bit. The Metric have made one of my favorite albums so far this year. FANTASTIES would be a great summer album (if it ever decided to stop raining here in Philly).
Movie: FUTURAMA: INTO THE WILD GREEN YONDER
2009, Directed by Peter Alvanzeno
I’m convinced that this, the final direct-to-DVD Futurama movie, is what recently convinced Comedy Central to bring the show back in 2010 for 26 episodes. Of the four direct-to-DVD movies released over the past two years, this is among the strongest of the group. Smart, full of both visual and verbal gags & geeky in-jokes, INTO THE WILD GREEN YONDER manages to make fun of feminists, tree-huggers, feminist tree-huggers, land developers, scientists, the mentally unstable, old people, the judicial system, and erotic robot Vegas stage shows in a loving manner. I’ll need to watch it again with the commentary track on, since the Futurama DVD commentaries (at least on the TV box sets) are actually as entertaining as the actual episodes. Two products from this movie that I want: Dr. Farnsworth’s “Scientist Approved” stamp, and the failed but still snuggly “Tickle Me Bender” - “Hee, hee, hee! Quit touching my junk, pervert!”.
Music: COUNTRY CLUB ~ John Doe and the Sadies
Although historically a punk rocker as a member of X, John Doe always had a strong country streak, as evidenced by his occasional band The Knitters and alt-country feel of his solo albums. Country Club is a true country album, mainly covers with a few originals tossed in for good measure. Cover picks: “The Cold Hard Facts of Life”, “I Still Miss Someone”, “Are the Good Times Really Over for Good?” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night”. (See all songwriting credits.)Sequential Art: CHEW
John Layman, story; Rob Guillory, art & cover
Tony Chu is a “cibopath”. When he eats anything, he immediately knows its entire production history. Since this has turned him off of ever eating meat again, so he sticks to mainly beets, which don’t generate anything. He’s also a cop, currently staking out an illegal chicken speakeasy. (Chicken has been banned due to the bird flu.) As a combination cop/cibopath, sometimes Tony has to really sink his teeth into the work. (Ugh, sorry.) The story and art are both beautifully twisted, and I’m eagerly awaiting Issue #2 in July.
(CHEW 5-page preview.)
Music: JAGGEDLAND ~ Marshall Crenshaw
This is Marshall Crenshaw’s most introspective, mid-tempo, melancholy, and at times damned depressing album in his entire oeuvre to date (hence the title, probably). It’s still quite good, but lacks any of the usual jangly power pop that is his trademark. Listening to songs like “Never Coming Down”, “Sunday Blues”, and “Live and Learn” (an apology song if there ever was one), I have to wonder if Crenshaw recently endured a loss, had his heart broken, or is just getting older. (After all, even Paul Westerberg gave up singing about getting drunk eventually.) Hopefully, Marshall Crenshaw hasn’t lost his jingle-jangle (to borrow an Archies song) permanently.TV: TOP CHEF MASTERS
Wednesdays 10PM, Bravo
Although only one episode has aired so far, I’m really enjoying the Top Chef Masters competition. For the first six episodes, four Master chefs compete against each other. The six winners will then compete in the finals, a smart set up. So far the show has all of the great cooking drama of Top Chef, but without the “personalities” that tend to develop over the course of the season (e.g., the bitch, the snob, the guy with technique but no palate, etc.). It was great fun to watch Hubert Keller (of San Francisco and Las Vegas’ Fleur de Lys restaurants) cook a three course gourmet meal in a dorm room with only a microwave, toaster over, and hot plate, running to the shower to drain the pasta for the luscious Mac & Cheese with Prawns, Mushrooms, and Fresh Herbs. (And how cool is it that Keller is also an accomplished DJ?)
Hopefully Bravo won’t screw this special edition up as the season unfolds.
