Where Pianos Roam

Shnitzel!!!!

Thanks to my niece and nephews I have acquired a rather odd new obsession.

His name is Shnitzel.

He is a character from the show on the Cartoon Network called "Chowder".    Shnitzel (the spelling has been checked on the official Chowder website btw) is an employee of the chef Mung Daal.  Chowder, the show's namesake, is Mung's apprentice who dreams of becoming a great chef one day.

Anyhoot, for me, it's ALL about Shnitzel.  He's a rock monster who talks by saying "Radda Radda".  He's funny and absolutely adorable.  Easily a scene stealer and probably the best part of this show.

Here's a Shnitzel promo .  .  .

Here is a lovely best-of compilation .  .  .

What can I say?  There's a part of me that refuses to grow up.    I think I might rank Shnitzel right up there with my ALL-TIME-FAVE .  .  .

If you've never seen "Chowder", you can watch episodes online and read all about it on the official website: http://www.chowdercartoon.com

I also really like the show Flapjack.  It's surreal, bizarre, and kind of brilliant actually. Now I wonder if they make Shnitzel stuffed animals .  .  .  .

P.S.-- Is it possible to be too old to enjoy cartoons?

Naaah

(Radda Radda!)

Early On a Sunday Morning

I've been fortunate to have the time and desire to watch movies lately.  It's really the only time I give myself to relax.  Between knitting, working on music, blogging, exercise, time with friends and family, and sleeping, my life is fairly busy these days. I wanted to take some time to share a little of what I've enjoyed lately .  .  .

District 9

I really loved this movie.   (I also need to add it to my favorites of 2009 list.)  On so many levels, this film is incredibly relevant to the ways that modern American society, and maybe humanity, exist today.  I sat at the edge of my seat the whole time.  I don't want to give anything away about it.  Surely, it is deserving of the Best Picture Oscar nomination it just received. 

Here is one of several trailers promoting this film.  It's pretty awesome.

The Brothers Bloom

Full of twists, turns, empty promises, and quirky surprises, I really enjoyed this one.  There's also a kick-ass Asian character who barely says a word but makes quite a splash through most of the movie.  Actors Rachel Weisz and Adrian Brody are past Oscar winners who give this film about con artists it's soul and essence.  Add some gorgeous cinematography to the mix and you have an effectively engaging film. 

Here's the official trailer:

By the way, last Friday I treated myself to a Toy Story marathon.  I've never seen either film, and I finally did. 

They were so good and so much fun.  I can't wait until #3 coming out in June 2010:

I have movies on the brain lately.  It's part of an effort to try to relax a little more.  I'll have more to recommend soon.

-g

Special Feature: The Third and the Seventh

I wanted to take some time to showcase a gorgeous work of art.  It is a short film called "The Third and the Seventh".  It incorporates modern art, architecture, design, and uninhibited imagination.  The real becomes surreal as lanterns float among trees, huge raindrops hover above the ground, and books flank tall, endless walls.  This is visionary.  (Of course, there's also a pretty grand piano featured in a few scenes.) Produced and directed by Alex Roman, it is an astonishing achievement. I present to you, "The Third and the Seventh" .  .  . [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSGx4bBU9Qc] Imagination is an amazing thing. -g

Gordon ' s Favorites of 2009

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that I am far from being the best judge of what is great and not great in popular culture, but I will say that I know what I like.  As the discerning and meticulous Virgo that I am, I often pay extremely close attention to even the minutest detail in anything that catches my attention. As part of my round-up for 2009, here is a list of some of my favorite films, music, and tv shows that have been released in the past year. (My final disclaimer is that since I happen to be a very busy independent musician, I haven't had time to watch all of the movies  and tv shows, and hear all of the music that has been released.   These are just the favorites that I came across.) Here goes .  .  .

Favorite Films of 2009

Favorite Overall:  "Bright Star" Director: Jane Campion Starring:  Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTetIodauIM] This gorgeous period piece is based on the three-year romance between 19th century poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25.  This film documents the dawning of Keats' most creative period in his life and the love affair that fueled it.  It is all parts epic and heartbreaking.  The acting and cinematography are purely first rate.  Jane Campion has woven a sparkling tale of love made more luminous by its own existence. Honorable Mention:  "Up" Favorite Animated Film of 2009:  "Up" Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson The first 15 minutes of this film will make you smile and tug at those heartstrings all at once.  Whodathunk that a flying house, a grumpy old man, a plump little Asian boyscout, and talking dogs would make for some of the finest animated moments ever put on screen.  This movie is an instant classic.  Purely imaginative and so endearing. Honorable Mention:  "Coraline" Favorite Action/Adventure Film:  "Avatar" Directed by James Cameron Okay, this film, at least on a visual level, is nothing short of stunning.  James Cameron has taken the 3D movie experience to a fully realized level.  It's unlike any other film I have seen.  I couldn't believe just how beautiful it was when I saw it.  In spite of some things I didn't like about the film, the visual effects more than made up for the shortcomings.   It is a hugely entertaining thrill ride.  I didn't want to take off my 3D glasses when it was over. Honorable Mention:  Star Trek

Favorite in Television 2009

Favorite New TV Show of 2009: Modern Family It's just funny.  A show about a family comprised of sisters, brothers, uncles, a Columbian wife, sons, a gay couple, a cute Asian baby girl, fathers, mothers, and all of their crazy personalities is pretty darn funny.  I haven't missed an episode.  It's the diversity within this family that makes it so rich and engrossing.   A great cast and quirky writing make for some quality television. Honorable Mention: "Glee" Favorite New Reality Show:  "The Sing-off" I actually hate reality shows, but I make an exception for "So You Think You Can Dance" and a new a capella singing contest called "The Sing-off".  I grew up on an island where people sang a capella all of the time, breaking into 3 and four-part harmonies without skipping a beat.  I can appreciate pure vocal talent when I hear it.  There was some mighty fine singing during its first season.  The winning group, "Nota", was so brilliant.  The judging was all right on the money, and many of the performances were too good.  You completely forget that there are no instruments at all.  The human voice is revered as the most versatile instrument of all, and this show makes this truth sweetly, harmoniously apparent.

Favorite Music of 2009

Favorite Album Overall:  "The Crying Light" by Antony and the Johnsons There is a haunting magic to the music of Antony and the Johnsons.  This album sits at the top of my 2009 album heap because Antony's show that I saw in Atlanta with my friend Chris was one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life.  This album is a visionary masterpiece--a lesson in understated emotional power.   With all due respect to Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and all of the other artists with a slew of Grammy Nominations, ya'll ain't got nothin' on Antony. Honorable Mention:  "Inland Territory" by Vienna Teng Favorite Song of 2009:  "Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground" by Antony and the Johnsons [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j688ELeNC3Y] Honorable Mention:  "Chasing Pirates" by Norah Jones Favorite Music Video of 2009:  "Fireflies" by Owl City Honorable Mention: Chasing Pirates by Norah Jones I am looking forward to an amazing 2010 in music, tv, and movies!! More soon. -g

A Reading Frenzy

So, I've been doing  a good bit of reading lately.  In addition to all of those Chris Van Allsburg children's books, there are three wonderful books that I have been plowing through. I finished a book called "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield last week. This one was a total page-turner.  It is a story about a somewhat reclusive auther/biographer who is asked by a world-reknowned novelist to write her biography.  I don't want to give anything away, but what happens as a result is a story full of twists, turns, and emotions running deep.  As one of the best books I've read in a while, it is extremely well-written and has characters rich with depth and power.  I absolutely loved it. A couple of weeks ago, I borrowed a book called 100 Cupboards for my nine-year-old nephew to read.  Suffice it to say that he's not really into books, and so, I started to casually read it one morning while I was taking a break from working on my website.  Within the first 10 pages, I was hooked.  Since I new I had to finish "The Thirteenth Tale" first, I decided to hold off until that book was done. I am so glad I did because this book is a roller coaster ride in and of itself.  It starts off on an unusual premise when a boy named Henry arrives in a small, sleepy town called Henry, Kansas.  He arrives there to stay with his aunt and uncle because his parents were kidnapped while travelling in a South American country.    He stays in the attic, and within his first couple of days there, he discovers something hidden behind the plastered wall that his bed leans up against.  The rest of the story is imaginatively well documented, and I couldn't put it down .  .  . This book is all about adventure and non-stop action.  Don't let the slow-paced opening chapter fool you.  Once the story gets going, it won't let you go.  If you liked the Harry Potter series, then you will love this one.  What I liked the most was the main character named Henry.  There is this dignity and humility about him that is all too intriguing.  I kept rooting for him all the way through. Of course on the same day that I finished "10o Cupboards", I rushed off to the library to get part 2:  Dandelion Fire.  Within two days, I read all 466 pages of it .  .  . I was not disappointed.  This book packed more of a punch than the first one.  I am looking forward to the next and last instalment of the series when it comes out in January of 2010. Thanks to these books, I am now also a fan of their author N.D. Wilson.  (www.ndwilson.com)  He's really quite good, and I'm looking forward to reading more of his work in the future. Okay, so over the next week, I'm taking a break from reading and will return to my other passion--KNITTING!!!  There is a brand new pattern I am itching to get started on. No rest for The Asian!!! Is reading better than chocolate?  Hhhmmm, tough call. -gordo

My New Obsession, Pt. 2

Continuing on with my new fascination with books by children's book author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, I wanted to highlight a few more books of his that I've come across .  .  . First off, there's one called Ben's Dream .  .  . This one is another beautiful gem.  The illustrations are outstanding, and Allsurg infuses his magical other-worldliness into this story of a boy who takes a nap and dreams of visiting faraway iconic landmarks from all over the world.  The images of a house floating by places like the Eiffel Tower, The Great Wall of China, the Statue of Liberty, and Mt. Rushmore are so stunning.  I can't get enough of how brilliant this stuff is.  I think this, The Garden of Abdul Gassazi, and The Stranger are my top three favorite Allsburg books thus far. I just read The Z was Zapped .  .  . This book is a fun take on an illustrated alphabet book.  Each letter performs on a stage and acts out an occurrence.  For example, the "D" was "Drowned", the "H" was "Hidden", the "Z" was "Zapped".  What I like most about this book is the illustrations.  I think I truly prefer Allsburg's black and white, charcoal/pencil illustrations far more than the ones he's done in color.  They're more dramatic and offer much more to the imagination. Here's another book called Two Bad Ants .  .  . This book tells a story of two ants who decide to break off from their colony in pursuit of their own pleasure and independence.  They wind up in a world full of great danger and monstrous scariness which, in this case, happens to actually be your average kitchen.  Allsburg again transforms the ordinary and mundane into something strikingly (and literally) larger-than-life.  With expert story-telling and vivid imagery, this is another wonderful book by a masterful author. Well, I have more books of his I want to highlight, but I think this is good for now.  To check out my previous post on Allsburg's books, click HERE. Happy Hump Day! -gordon

The Reading Room Now Updated

Finally, The Reading Room is now updated to the present day.  You can check it out by clicking HERE. Of course, I'll be adding reviews of each book as time permits, but my goodness, this is quite a sizable list considering how busy I've been over the last few years. You may notice that I did far more reading in some years than in others.  I guess I had other priorities at the time.  For example, last year (2008) did not allow me to frequent the world of the written word due to the gargantuan amount of time occupied by the recording of my album.  Yeesh.  So far, this year is going along much better in this regard. You might be able to gauge from this archive the kinds of books I like to read and enjoy more than others.  I welcome any book suggestions that some of you might have.  I'm always interested in a great read regardless of the genre. More to come soon. -gordo

Video of the Week: Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground

Make no mistake.  I am a huge fan of the band Antony and the Johnsons.  It does not take a rocket scientist to know that they hold something special in their music.  I love them even more knowing that Antony himself is a fellow pianist. Earlier this year, I had the chance to see them in concert in Atlanta.  It was by far one of the most beautiful shows I'd ever been to.  Antony is just magical onstage.  I got to sit in the front row and right in front of him sitting at gorgeous grand piano. On their latest album "The Crying Light", I have to say that the very first song is my favorite.  It is called, "Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground", and it is just a stunner--rich, haunting, otherworldly, and mesmerizing all at once. This week's Video of the Week is footage of a very recent live performance of this song in Amsterdam with the Metropole Orchestra. If you ever get a chance to see Antony and the J0hnsons live, just go. What you will experience will stay with you for a very long while  .  .  .  . [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQQBsZxqdFI] Here are the lyrics: Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground Lyrics and Music by Antony and Nick Hegarty Her eyes are underneath the ground I have heard the crying sound No one can stop you now No one can stop you now Her eyes are basking in the sun No one knows why she did the things she’s done Ocean, swallow me now Ocean, swallow me now In the garden, with my mother I stole a flower With my mother, in her power I stole a flower I saw six eyes glistening in my womb I felt you calling me in the gloom Rest assured your love is pure Rest assured your love is pure In the garden, with my mother I stole a flower With my mother, in her power I chose a flower _______________________________________________________ The new Antony and the Johnson's album "The Crying Light" is now available everywhere!!  It is music with a melancholy tenderness--sweetness and sorrow walking hand in hand. Gosh, I love this band. -gordon

All Hail Optimus Prime!!

Last night, I went to see a late night showing of the new movie "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". Now, after much thought on the way home, as I lay in bed this morning, while I took a shower, and as I ate breakfast, I offer up my review of this long-awaited Transformers sequel. First off, I have some disclaimers .  .  . 1.  I went into the movie theater wanting to love this movie, and so, admittedly, this review is coming from a Transformer fan/enthusiast (and not some casual moviegoer fulfilling a simple curiosity over cars that turn into robots). 2.  When I do a review, I try to base it solely on the film's actual merits and to take the film for what it is (as opposed to what I might want it to be).   I make the strongest consideration for what I feel the film-makers were going for, as opposed to making comparisons to other films and/or prequels. 3.  I might suggest that you see this movie for yourself before reading my review.  (There are no plot spoilers here.)  Otherwise, if you do read this, take my review with a grain of salt and decide for yourself how you feel about it.  All are welcome to agree and/or disagree with my assessment. So, here goes .  .  . Yes, I sat in the movie theater with the best of hopes that I would love "Revenge of the Fallen".  As it turns out, I do love it, but unfortunately, not as much as I had hoped. First, the good news .  .  . In terms of special effects and masterful visual art, director Michael Bay and friends have clearly outdone themselves.  Colossal meteors falling from the sky, panoramic fighting scenes on rugged Egyptian landscapes, slick and modern machines traveling at ungodly speeds, fighting scenes jam-packed with action and swift movement .  .  .  I could go on and on.  The cinematography is first rate--every shot framing each dazzling focal point with skill and a visual artist's discerning eye. Color is used to great effect as well.  Bright and shiny primary colors for the Autobots, and darker, dirtier, metallic hues for the largely camouflaged  Decepticons. The entire film has such a vivid look to it.  It's all quite beautiful. Then, there is the sound.  On a technical level, this film should receive recognition for the sounds it employs.  The fighting sequences are made more jarring and  more spectacular with these piercing and otherworldly sounds--making the scenes so much more potent and effective. Just about all of the main characters from the first film have returned for this second instalment.   I'm quite happy about this since I think they made for a pretty solid ensemble cast. Shia Lebouf puts in a more beffuddled and dorky performance this time around and does so to great effect.  One scene in particular had me  rolling. There was a good bit of humor in this film that helped balance out all of the gloom and doom.  I can appreciate it when a  film doesn't try to take itself too seriously.  This movie has some very funny moments. This sequel has also not diminished my love for Optimus Prime.  He's one of my favorite leaders and heros in films.  He does not disappoint in this sequel.  (I hold a high fondness for trucks.   Always have.) Finally, I actually really liked that the Decepticons took most of center stage this time around.  We get to see the sheer scope and volume of what they are capable of--the wrath with which they hone their particular brand of selfish evil.  They are quite a resourceful and scary little batch of villains. So now, the not so good news. I think I can some up most of what I did not like about this film in one sentence .  .  . This film lacks depth.  (Cringing while I typed this.) With the presence of huge fighting scenes and all out war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, there was the absence of substantive character and plot development.  I found myself trying to latch onto some sort of emotional handle on this thrill ride but could not find one.  The chemistry between Shia and Megan Fox left much to be desired.  No friendships and bonds were neither strengthened nor dissolved.    It all felt a little empty.   (For example, I really loved the bond between Shia's character "Sam" and Bumblebee.  A man's car has always rivaled dogs as his best friend.  There was very little interaction between them.) Now, most people would dismiss a movie like Transformers and say that it's not exactly the kind of film that Oscar-voters would salivate over (although it should clearly be in the running for all of the technical awards).   This latest instalment which favors more of a formulaic, action-driven model would justify such a dismissal; however, it doesn't have to be this way. With themes of compassion, friendship, transformation,  humanity, good triumphant over evil, and love, I feel that these Transformer films are capable of so much more depth.  These are the kinds of elements that can transform a film from being a regular summer blockbuster into a timeless classic.  These are the kinds of qualities that help a viewer personally relate to a film.   These Transformer movies  could be on the level of brilliant epic sagas like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and even the latest Batman films.  Sadly, this  sequel does not  elevate the Transformer franchise  to such a lofty status. (Incidentally, there is a new addition of Autobots in the film who are "twins" as it were.   While they had a couple of funny moments, they just seemed odd and out of place.  A comparison to Jar Jar Binks comes to mind, but that would be too harsh.  They were not so much annoying as they were unnecessary.  I wouldn't be sad if they disappeared in the next film.) In closing, I have to say that all is not lost.  I still strongly recommend seeing this movie in theaters.  The visual work alone is worth seeing on the big screen.  It's all fantastically, mind-bogglingly amazing!  (I plan on seeing it again in an IMAX theater.) It's still 2 and a half hours of non-stop thrills, fun, and action-packed Autobot magic.   Bumblebee is still adorable.  Megan Fox is still ridiculously GORGEOUS, and thank the almighty powers that be .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  rest assured .  .  .  . .  .  .  .  Optimus Prime is still a motherfucking badass!! (Pardon the French.) -gordon

Transformers Week!!!!

In celebration of the release of the new Transformers 2 Movie (Revenge of the Fallen) on Wednesday, June 24, I hereby announce that it will be Transformers Week starting today here at Where Pianos Roam!!! Why? Because I'm a total Transformers geek/nut job!  That's why!! To start things off, here are some clips from the new movie!  (Yay!) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-c-SPqOnAA] I've been waiting for this movie ever since I saw the first one!!! Yay!!!!!! I'll be geeking out all week.  Aaah Yeah!  That's right! More to come.  Stay tuned. -gordo