Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Sunday, 4 August 2013
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| Semiotext(e) 978-1-58435-106-1 |
In the end I think Jarett Kobek's "Atta" is the only book one really needs to read regarding September 11. It's a tragic and sad tale. Atta was one of the key figures who was the "soldier" or "Terrorist" who flew the plane into one of the towers on that clear September day. Which I hope by the way, over time, that date becomes just a date and not a memory of the incident, that opened up Pandora's Box of 21st Century tragedies - Iraq War, etc and etc.
Atta, by all means a close-minded fellow, is repulsed and fascinated by American culture. For me, the most interesting part of this narrative is his thoughts on Walt Disney and one of his films. He saw it with his fellow thugs, and was totally repulsed by what he saw on the screen. When they started to have articles in the media about Atta, I remember the Disney fixation and how that sort of became a focus of sorts. Kobek did an excellent job in getting into Atta's head, especially his thoughts on architecture as well as popular media and the Urban Landscape, both his home in Egypt as well as in the U.S./Europe. It's amazing how suspenseful the book is, especially we know the narrative already. This handsomely designed little book is an important work, yet depressing. But one has to go through the pain (at times) to get to a truth of some sort. Essential book!
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
An iconic writer writing about an iconic city at an iconic time of history. But nevertheless this is not an essential book by Ernest Hemingway, but an interesting one because he captures the world of Paris in a series of snapshots. For some, the political history will be obscure, but one does feel the excitement of living in a foreign land at that time.
The mixture of French politics, cultural news, and daily life is a nice mixture for this book. All the pieces are actual articles that he wrote for a Canadian paper - and some are very short, and then there are others that are two or three pages long. For me the main strength of the book is when he covers the daily life of a Parisian. For whatever reasons I was charmed about the lack of good manners of Parisians on public transportations, such as the bus. Also he politely rages against the American visitor or tourist in Paris. It sort of reminds me of the boring issue of 'hipsters' in a community. Everything stays the same except for architecture, decay, and wars.
Monday, 22 July 2013
Harry Nilsson is a fascinating music artist. For me, he was someone that was around, but never the focus on any scene. On one hand he had direct contact with The Beatles (who admired Harry's work greatly as well as a friend) and on the other he was very much in tuned with the pop music market. In one way he can be seen as the bridge between music underground and music 'overground. He was very much the professional music songwriter and yet on his solo recordings took great chances. And I think now because he did took those chances, he is much and greatly admired.
Born in Bushwick Brooklyn (one would think there should be a stature of him at the Bushwick station) from a troubled family came a songwriter who wrote incredibly moving songs about the bonding of friendship and parent & child. "Me And My Arrow" is without a doubt one of the great songs about a human and his dog. And as they about the milkman whistling a tune, I do the same for this song whenever I take a walk around the neighborhood. That song works on so many levels. Alyn Shipton's biography captures the essense of this talented man, who it seems was loved by his friends and family, but had .... a hard life of sorts. With respect to drinking, that seems to me close to the glory years of Errol Flynn and WC Fields. Him, Ringo, Keith Moon, and others... being in the same room with them doesn't sound like it was good for one's health, but nevertheless a lot of fun. The fact that one meets Harry for lunch usually means they get back home about two days later, is all part of his incredible personality and sense of fun and wonder.
It is unusual for Oxford to do a biography on a contemporary music figure, but this is a superb book. A must for all Nilsson fans of course, but also for the causal curious music geek who wants to know what it was like to be in the center of the pop world during the late 1960's and '70's. The later years are kind of sad, but without a doubt he was a remarkable figure in American music as well as iconic in his stance as the ultimate party boy. But in the end one is left with the albums, and that is a great journey to go on. Make sure you have this book as you take that trip...
Friday, 19 July 2013
Once there is an illustration of one's self, I feel I made the big time. Illustration by Amy Hagemeier http://akhhka.blogspot.com/ for L.A. Record, which by the way has a fantastic interview with yours truly regarding "Sparks-Tastic" and other subject matters.
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
I can't think of anything more enjoyable than reading a collection of essays by Geoffrey O'Brien. As a writer, I look up to him, because it seems he has it all. Good taste, good job (he's the editor-in-chief of the Library of America) and a lover or observer of pop culture. "Castaways of the Image Planet is mostly about film, but I feel he goes beyond that medium to write about culture that has spawn from the film aesthetic.
His commentary on Bing Crosby, The Marx Brothers, Mike Leigh, and Japanese Manga comics are my favorite in this collection. And again he's a guy who knows a lot, and can articulate the essence of his subject matters. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read film criticism, but also how a writer approaches his subject matter. So in one word, great.
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
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| Bodley Head Isbn: 9780224073912 |
The cover and title is basically a magnet and it pulled me in right away. But as I read it there are two mistakes that really bothered me. One is claiming that Boris Vian was married to Juliette Gréco (he wasn't) and that the Beatles met Elvis at Graceland (they didn't meet there). The author Richard Weight is a historian, so this is a major mistake on his part or his research assistants. So as you can gather, "Mod" is the history of that cult, but it goes beyond Mod to what the author feels is their influence on future cultural movements. I think the book at this point over extends the subject matter or loses the object of desire that is Mod, when focusing on almost every music and youth movement in the U.K. after the golden era of Mod.
When he writes of the original Mod figures of the 60's and before that decade, its very interesting. But he wonders off the beaten path to write about the entire history of British pop culture. Mod to me was a very unique movement at a very specific time. It would have been much more interesting if he just focused on that world and nothing else. Also the author seems distant to his subject matter. I got the feeling that he isn't really into music or culture - more of a historian looking at his subject matter. There are other great books out there on the subject matter of Mod, but this one isn't part of that pack.
It doesn't have the colorful appreciation from someone like Andrew Loog Oldham, or even the wit and charm of Simon Napier-Bell. Mod is a big subject matter, and hopefully there will be more books in the near future. But this is a very dry history on a fascinating world. At its best it can serve as an introduction and hopefully the reader will do their own research to track down authors, personalities, and other book titles. His suggested reading on Mod Culture is good, but not large enough, which is ironic because this book is pretty hefty in the page and text department.
Saturday, 6 July 2013
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| Wallace Berman and Loree Foxx in the Front of Tempo Music Shop on Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles |
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| Interior of Tempo Music Shop on Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles |
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| Artwork by Wallace Berman (age 16 or 17) for Dial Records, Los Angeles |
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| Loree Foxx Photo by Wallace Berman |
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| Loree Fox by Wallace Berman |
I'm currently working on a childhood memoir "Wonder While You Wander," and this serves me as a scrapbook of ideas/images/etc.
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Los Angeles Review of Books did a focus on "In The Words Of Sparks... Selected Lyrics" With three lyrics plus a short introduction by yours truly for this specific great website.
read it here: http://lareviewofbooks.org/
Saturday, 29 June 2013
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| A BFI Book published by Palgrave Macmillian ISBN 9781844575145 |
I read this book today, in one gulp on my couch, in a temperture that is around 90. Therefore by an open window with a slight breeze I was taken into an artificial world that Gene Kelly made - a world that was beautiful. At least conveyed in the text. This book works on many levels. One Wollen argues the importance of dance as an art, but also as an equal companion to the cinema art. Griffith to Chaplin and of course the Kelly/Astaire world had made a language for the film world that was and is totally open to dance. Wollen writes about the beauty of this combination, but with a strong critical eye. Also his in depth almost frame-by-frame look at the famous Kelly dance of the leading song here, is playful and informative. On top of that the reader also gets the political world of the early 1950's and how that played out in the Gene Kelly world. The book is an enlarged 70mm snapshot of a specific time with a very specific film with an iconic artist. Strange enough there isn't that many critical studies on Gene Kelly's work, which is a shame. But with this back in print....
And Wollen adds a kick-ass annotated bibliography that's extremely informative. It is sort of like him taking you by the hand and showing you the book titles that are important. For Dancers who need information regarding the dance history, this is a good book to pick up. For everyone else... well I am going to see the film! Peter Wollen wrote a beautiful tribute, analysis, and dance/film history in one slim 87 page book that has no wasted space. Essential!
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| Oxford University Press, 9780199747603 |
A very odd book by Tim Kasser who is a Professor of Psychology, on the subject matter of John Lennon and his wonderful song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." First of all, a Psychologist looking into Lennon's mind seems so un-rock n' roll like. Two, it sort of creeps me out that someone can do this without actually meeting or talking to the patient of sorts - Mr. Lennon.
So basically Kasser is getting his information second and third hand, and I think he's reading too literally into a work that's art - which in mind comes from numerous places in the Lennon brain and out there in the world. There is nothing wrong in writing a book like this, but it is also not that interesting. I think Kasser states the obvious, and it would have been more interesting if he focused on the culture or the roots of this song. And maybe in his eyes he did that, but I feel "Lucy..." is about the '60's, London life, as well as the world of Carroll (Alice) and Lennon's insecurity. I think Lennon was a genius in getting something raw and polishing the work till it becomes something else. And I would say he did that for his brilliant debut solo album as well. It is personal, but on a bigger plane it is about feelings, and pop songs are basically the graveyard and platform for 'feelings.' Lennon knew that, and that is what made him the artist that he is.
In one word to describe the band Big Star: Iconic. Like the Velvet Underground, Ziggy Stardust, and the early to mid Kinks, the work is faultless. Big Star is part of that grouping due that they made music at a specific time in a special city that's Memphis. To make such perfect noise in the Memphis landscape is quite remarkable. Does that genius come through the Memphis tap water? Sun Records, Stax, and then Big Star.
Rob Jovanovic did a great job with respect to research and capturing what makes Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Andy Hummel and Jody Stephens' music so special. The one sour note, and it is not the author's fault, that he didn't get to speak directly to Chilton, who without a doubt, is probably one of the most interesting figures in contemporary pop music. Bruce Eaton's book on Big Star's "Radio City" (part of the 33 1/3 series) is a much better book, due that he had actually had a relationship with Chilton, and Alex was willing to talk to him. Through that book one finds out he was devoted to Civil War history,and was quite knowledgeable about Memphis and New Orleans history. Plus he was totally devoted to the world of Zodiac signs - and had a long interesting relationship with the great photographer William Eggleston.
But by no means does that mean one should ignore Jovanovic's book. Its a very good (and detailed book, especially the early years of The Box Tops) bio on a band that is endlessly fascinating. So do get this beautifully produced edition (by the great Jaw Bone), as well as Eaton's book on "Radio City" and the masterpiece by Robert Gordon "It Came From Memphis." The beauty of the Alex Chilton narrative is one gets a bigger picture of Memphis as well as American music.
Also Read:
And:
Friday, 28 June 2013
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| Painting by Lun*na Menoh |
Thank you Colin and the Los Angeles Review of Books:
http://lareviewofbooks.org/
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Alan Myers remarkable musician. Amazing (one-of-a-kind) drummer, and an incredible human being. whenever I look at my lighting at home, I think of him. The lights are bright.
Jean Paul Yamamoto "Candy In The Dark" with Alan Myers
Jean Paul Yamamoto "Sex Never Looks Good" with Alan Myers
Jean Paul Yamamoto "Man Automated" with Alan Myers & Shin Kawasaki
Swahili Blonde
Alan Myers remarkable musician. Amazing (one-of-a-kind) drummer, and an incredible human being. whenever I look at my lighting at home, I think of him. The lights are bright.
Alan was not only kind enough to play with my wife Lun*na Menoh's band 'Jean Paul Yamamoto' but also added brilliant touches to the arrangements/songs. For whatever reason YouTube doesn't allow me to Embed the video - so I'll do separate videos here. This is "Starbuck's Hyper Bitch." With Moeko as well!
DEVO "Gut Feeling" / Slap Your Mammy" France, 1978
DEVO "Mongoloid" / "Gut Feeling" 1977, New York?
DEVO "Smart Patrol"/ "Mr. DNA" 1977, NYC
DEVO live in their early years as they were making the noise. Alan's drumming is the engine that made these live shows so intense and powerful. During this time I went to every show when they played in Los Angeles, and it was like someone smacking you in the head. The beat and rhythm was relentless. Often I wanted to stand right behind Alan to see if it was a magic trick of some sort. It wasn't. He was the greatest drummer of his generation. No doubt about that.
DEVO "Satisfaction" (Official Video)
DEVO "Satisfaction" France, TV
DEVO's total re-worked version of the Stones classic. Alan at (one of his) best.
Skyline Electric @ Unknown Theater
Skyline Electric, July 7, 2007
Another side of Alan's interest is improvisational music. Skyline Electric served the purpose of making music in unusual settings and locations. I have seen one or two performances through out the years, and both were exceptional events.
http://youtu.be/Xcg3qHPPJr4
Swahili Blonde (With Alan on drums)
Will continue with the subject matter in another blog.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
A wonderful memoir by a man of great taste and sort of the bridge between American avant-garde filmmaking and Hollywood. It's strange one doesn't get the sense that Curtis Harrington passed away a couple of years ago by reading "Nice Guys Don't Work In Hollywood." It sounds like he is very much with us, and alas, at least in this book, he is.
For those who are not in the know, Harrington was very much into the underground and overground of American cinema. He knew and worked with everyone from Kenneth Anger to Bette Davis. My favorite film of his is "Night Tide" starring Dennis Hopper as a sailor who comes upon a mermaid in Venice, California. Or is it a mermaid? Nevertheless it is one of the great Los Angeles films, that is both haunting and beautiful at the same time. One of the great extras you get with this book is his short story that became "Night Tide." Its a great little narrative, and its nice that its included with this book, as well as his essay on the films of Josef von Sternberg, which is compact and full of information regarding the slightly decadent work of this fillmmaker. As I mentioned Harrington had taste.
My only complaint is that he didn't write more about working with Kenneth Anger or the artist Cameron. I imagine there are readers who will go to this book for more information regarding these two remarkable artists - but still, this is an enjoyable read on a figure that's important to the Los Angeles landscape.
"Night Tide" (Complete film)
Friday, 21 June 2013
Sunday, 16 June 2013
For reasons I don't fully understand, since I live in Los Angeles, I love novels by Londoners when it has London in its narrative. Stewart Home maybe my favorite London novelist in the 21st Century, and I am saying 'maybe' because i haven't read every novel by him.... yet. But nevertheless his new novel "Mandy, Charlie, and Mary-Jane" is a superb piece of work.
Like his other writings, this novel runs on different pistons of the engine. Its a commentary on culture, its politics and the by-products of that culture - for instance film. The slasher film to be more specific, and at times the novel is a consumer's (in a hysterical way) guide to the films that are out there. Someone (not me right now) should list all the albums, bands, music artists, as well as the filmmakers and their films that are listed in this novel - which comes to mind that one day there will be an annotated edition of all his works. But till then the reader can pick and choose the references that are posted in Home's work, and just go off into another adventure. And in some cases the author goes into detail about those references, which I always finds fascinating.
The one of many aspects of Home's aesthetic that I love is his take on cultural history set in a narrative. One is reminded of other books, for instance, "American Psycho" but i think Stewart is much more entertaining and in-tuned into London culture and all its by-products that I love so dearly. Future historians will look back on Stewart Home's novels as set pieces of their time. A cultural historian who writes fiction; that's Stewart Home in a nutshell.
Thursday, 13 June 2013
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