Sunday, December 19, 2010

Deerhunter Revisited



Most musicians start at point A, go to point B, to point C, and continue to develop a sound that could have only evolved from all previous efforts. With Deerhunter, it seems the band has gone from point A (Cryptograms) to point B (Microcastle/Weird Era), but instead of going to C they went back, to somewhere in between points A and B with Halcyon Digest. This is not to debase the success of their latest record, as it is likely the perfect blend of the true Deerhunter sound- light at heart but also incredibly dense in scope.

The most underrated track of the Deerhunter discography...
Spring Hall Convert by olddusty

Cryptograms was a complex, mostly instrumental equation that introduced the band's more haunting capabilities; while Microcastle/Weird Era was almost the polar opposite. Though extremely drawn-out at 25-tracks long, Microcastle/Weird Era was much more direct; it did not explore the psychedelic compass of the previous record but instead ventured into more vocal pop tunes. Halcyon Digest has found its place somewhere between the broad electronic spectrum and radio-friendly appeal. Considering that Cryptograms' intrigue derived from its almost total inaccessibility, it is nice to hear Deerhunter return to these unique roots while also maintaining the likability that was achieved with Microcastle/Weird Era.



Halcyon Digest often works very independently from itself as the tracks go back-and-forth in tone and atmosphere, some remembering identically the music of two very different albums. In fact, Halcyon Digest almost functions like a greatest-hits record instead of one comprehensive piece. This hints that the band has room to develop a record that can intertwine all of their capabilities on a total album, not just individual tracks. But, with Halcyon Digest, it does appear that Deerhunter is coming into their own, with a sound that both the band and their fans are in comfortable bliss.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

True Romance



It shouldn't come as a surprise that Quentin Tarantino wrote this stylish dark comedy. True Romance is one of the most creative screenplays, which is mostly owed to its downright existential nature. As unrealistic as Tarantino's storyline usually is, this does not take away from the movie's freewheeling excitement.

The cast alone reveals this film's credibility: Dennis Hopper, Patricia Arquette, Christian Slater, James Gandolfini, Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Val Kilmer. Ironically enough, the two stars of the film, Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette, are probably the least distinguished of the bunch; however, their performances are simply outstanding for their blunt honesty. Arquette is spot-on with her portrayal of Alabama Whitman, a dim-wit former call-girl, and Slater as Clarence Worley, using his brooding voice to convince viewers that he is a schizo envisioning "Elvis" as his guardian of sorts.





Of course, it's no wonder, the best scene in the film comes from Dennis Hopper, as Clarence's father, and Christopher Walken, as a drug dealer that just got ripped off by a couple of clueless kids. The film's cinematic appeal comes from its brilliant comic relief, and this scene is no exception. True Romance is possibly one of the most mistakenly underrated works in movie history.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Low End Theory

It's pretty clear with this post and the previous, that I have been obsessing over Alternative Rap lately. Not many artists have supported Hip-Hop from a critically-acclaimed standpoint, but the majority that did were part of its sub-genre Alternative Rap. From hippies like De La Soul and PM Dawn to brilliant weirdos like Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes- they have influenced so many, yet their enigmaticness makes it nearly impossible for followers to imitate. Alternative Rap, by nature, has a translucence and free-flowing essence that is addicting and unsatisfying at the same time, only because it wants more. The true gems are unforgettable for their coolness and ease, meaning the subgenre title is misleading because Alternative Rap is in fact listenable and accessible for all music lovers- even if they have never heard anything like it before.








MISSY ELLIOTT'the rain'
Uploaded by banatchec. - Explore more music videos.



Thursday, December 2, 2010

Cashmere Thoughts

Considering that Hip-Hop is one of the most successful genres in music history, it is surprising that it is one of the least referenced in the world of high fashion. Though its true form is a bit unpolished, there have been other genres that inspired superb street style. Think about Grunge, it was founded as a sort of working-class wear and later interpreted into expensive designer styling, courtesy of Marc Jacobs at Perry Ellis. Then there is the Hippie movement, again a slightly rough-around-the-edges style that went straight to the catwalks of Etro and Missoni.

So, why are most great designers so reluctant to design a more urban and aggressive look? Especially since the genre is almost solely based on the search for the cool and luxurious...



Fashion made very few strides during Hip-Hop's Golden Age (Isaac Mizrahi and Chanel) and even fewer in its present most popular era (Tommy Hilfiger and Alexander Wang). Relevant designers everywhere should be inspired by the colorful and unique essence of genuine Hip-Hop style and finally mold it into its deserving form- a rich and tasteful aesthetic.













De La Soul, The Fugees, Lil Kim, Grandmaster Flash, M.I.A, Outkast, Missy Elliott, Eric B. and Rakim, Aaliyah, & Tribe Called Quest