As usual, 100 words or fewer, for the delectation of the weaning-themselves-from Adderall crowd:
Secaucus, The Wrens (1996; Wind-Up, 2006)
The Wrens and Spoon share similar career arcs: in 1996 they released alt-rock masterpieces to little fanfare (Secaucus and Telephono, respectively), endured subsequent record-label legal battles and watched helplessly as their back catalogs went out of print, only to emerge triumphant in the noughts, sporting a more sophisticated, stunningly produced sound (The Meadowlands and the Girls Can Tell/Kill the Moonlight/Gimme Fiction trifecta, respectively).
Until this year, fans of the bands’ adrenalized early albums have had to bootleg copies or drop $150 on eBay. Fortunately, Telephono was re-released this year, followed by Secaucus on November 14. With any luck, The Wrens will finally enjoy the acclaim that has caught up with their spiritual brothers Spoon.
–Rachel Berkowitz
The Rules of the Game (La règle du jeu, 1939, dir. Jean Renoir)
Partly based on a 19th-century comedy, The Rules of the Game is both comic and tragic, a fast-moving comedy of manners and a devastating critique of the decaying French upper classes in the years before World War II. Every shot counts as multiple romantic entanglements and misunderstandings combine to produce an unexpectedly tragic conclusion, an NCSC weekend on coke. (“Put an end to this farce immediately!” “But sir, which one?”) And the bit where the mechanical organ goes on the fritz will blow noise lovers’ minds! Justly considered one of the great films of all time, a newly restored print is currently showing at Film Forum, if you can make it.
–Dave B
The Exchange Session Vol 1., Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid (Domino Record Co., 2006)
A three-track collaboration between Reid, an ebulliently creative drummer, and Hebden, an unrestrained electronics improviser. Together, they create nimble and subtle music. Rhythmic motifs by both musicians intertwine, with snatches of melody chasing each other through garbled oscillations. The ground of the music, rhythmic and tonal, is constantly shifting, pulling the rug out from under itself almost psychedelically. The end result has the freshness and anarchy that free jazz and advanced electronic technique promise, without the formal slack that makes so much of the “Look Ma! No chord changes!” world so tedious.
–Dave B
Rachel,
We just have to meet at some point! “Withnail” and now Seacaucus. It’s one of my favorite records (and Telephono, too). Also, The Meadowlands is a great album. I’ve seen The Wrens a couple times, but missed them here just last week.
Further, I really wanted to see Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid when they played LA last year. Alas, something I’ve now forgotten intervened. Damn. Thanks for the review, Dave!
Tim, are you my soul brother? That would make you BW’s psychic twin (MINUS the curious Moby-Dick obsession).
Hey, has anyone seen the Borat movie?
My 2 cents: don’t go on a full stomach.
Moby DIck’s good, but pretty much anything on Led Zep III is better. And that version on The Song Remains the Same? Fuhgeddaboudit.
Rules of the Game is just the best. I always get something new out of it after every viewing. Can’t recommend it enough. And if you like that, try Lubitsch’s Trouble in Paradise-nowhere as profound or hearbreaking but even more fun.
Black ‘n’ White – You wanna talk fuhgeddaboutit? “Dazed and Confused,” The BBC Sessions… FUHGEDDABOUDIT!
Rachel – Borat: I did laugh. Yes I did. Oh yes, how I laughed. Jeremy was annoyed by my side. Jeremy, did I laugh?
Yes, Scotty laughed. And so did I. Yes, Borat. I liked it.
I recommend the recently released (stateside, at least) I’m Alan Partridge, a brilliant BBC program that stars Steve Coogan. It’s out on DVD this month. Uncomfortably hilarious.
You bet your sweet ass I laughed, Zitter.
Ooh, so good to hear Alan Partridge is coming out on DVD. We have a bootlegged VHS version in my apartment and it’s amazing.
Tim, did you really almost go see Hebden and Reid, or is that just a story to make me think you’re cooler than you are? Cause if it’s true, that’s pretty fuckin cool.
But Dave, I didn’t go. If I had gone, maybe then I’d be cool. As it is, I’m just a guy who almost went. If I remember correctly, they were going on really late, and I was all, “Oh, I don’t know, I’m tired and need to sleep.” Dumb dumb dumb. I have seen Fourtet, though, does that count?
No.
Ouch.
P.S. Dave, I’m home.
No, Tim. After a dis’ like that, it should be:
P.S. Dave, I’m NOT home.
Is anyone else secretly lamenting how lame they are by not even knowing who the hell Hebden and Reid are?