Anyone that knows me will surely tell you I have at least 40 movies in my "all time top 5". It probably started about 20 years ago when I decided that "Angel Heart" was the greatest movie ever made and forced numerous pals and girlfriends to watch it with me, none of whom were as impressed as I was by the film. Over the years my Top 5 has grown to legendary status, and includes such classics as "Some Like It Hot" and "The Goodbye Girl" to modern pictures like "Gladiator" and "LA Confidential". The one thing that has remained a constant is "The Shawshank Redemption" sitting comfortably atop the list as my personal favorite film of all time, however, for the first time in a long while there is a dark horse that has leaped over some of the others and started to nip at the heels of the mighty Shawshank...
If someone asked me a couple years ago if I would ever spend $10 on a movie directed by Ben Affleck I would have first punched them in the eye and then laughed out loud for a solid minute. After I had gathered myself and then kicked them in the sack, I would answer sternly, "No f**king way asswipe," and be done with it. Why would a film lover, someone who usually agrees with many professional critics and takes the time to search for what lies beneath the obvious exterior of the average movie and dissect it, ever assume that Ben Affleck would be allowed to direct a movie never mind actually attempt to? They might as well have asked me if I thought Reese's Peanut Butter cups would suddenly start sucking...ridiculous!
Well, here it is years later and alas, Ben Affleck has indeed directed a movie. A BRILLIANT, engrossing, visually engaging, exceptionally acted, captivating morality tale that captures a slice of the South Boston experience like no other film has, including Mystic River. Now, don't get me wrong, Mystic River was a great film (in my Top 5!) and superbly directed by the all time great Clint Eastwood, but it is somehow not quite as captivating as "Gone Baby Gone". Sure, they were both stories penned by the excellent local writer Dennis LeHane about the perceptions of different people in this same environment and the catastrophic results they can cause, but Gone Baby Gone, for me at least, just captures the spirit of the inhabitants of this neighborhood more beautifully. The story unfolds in a real and tangible manner, spearheaded by the minimalist yet stunningly well acted performance of Casey Affleck, Ben's little brother. Trust me on this, Ben should stay behind the camera and let Casey handle the acting chops for as long as they both shall live. If this film is not proof enough of that, also check out Casey in the exceptional "The Assassination of Jesse James..."
Gone Baby Gone has style and intrigue and mystery, interwoven with tension and darkness that is palpable, all the while keeping you entertained with it's story and shocking language that would be comical if it weren't so representative of the actual people that inhabit this area of Massachusetts. This movie asks you to make choices, though the characters have made theirs, for right or wrong. This movie leads many of us to places we probably don't feel comfortable going but should think about visiting from time to time. It's truly a masterpiece and deserved a worthy marketing campaign and promotion to support it's wonderful gift to the audience, but sadly it was never marketed thoroughly enough when it was released last year.
Gone Baby Gone is likely going to start tearing off little pieces of Shawshank in my Top 5, and that's OK. Shawshank was a brilliant movie that was nearly flawless and will never leave that list. However, as long as guys who can't act their way out of a speeding ticket who also dated Latino dancer/singer/actresses with huge asses continue to make magic like this on film, there will always be movies breathing down its neck. My Top 5 may continue to grow, and that's OK because I really just enjoy great movies and it's hard not to give them the recognition they deserve. Interestingly though, no one really knows or cares about my Top 5 or ever consulted me for any reviews or opinions, so, whether it's a Top 5 or a Top 1000 is almost irrelevant. I guess I just like the small compact number and by telling someone who asks how a movie was, replying "It's in my Top 5 movies ever!" , seems like a good response that creates some urgency.
Gone Baby Gone deserved an Oscar, that's just the crazy truth about Ben's little film. His brother could have won best Actor and there would have been no injustice in that. Sounds crazy, I know, but the movie is just that good and is firmly placed in my Top 5. I did hear that Scott Baio is directing a remake of "The Dirty Dozen" with Mr. T and Gilbert Gottfreid starring so a little more room might need to be reserved in the near future. Until then, the Top 5 is "closed".
Thursday, October 30, 2008
So who IS the best...don't get me started!
I have been doing a pretty decent job of avoiding political discussions this election season, which is amazing considering the attention this race has drawn. I have a select few friends, on both sides of the aisle, that I chat with semi-regularly and I do enjoy those discussions, even if I don't always agree with what's being "pitched". As much as I try to avoid the incessant bickering that goes along with political opinions, I find it nearly impossible to extract myself from any argument involving music, especially when it concerns the timeless question of "So who is the greatest guitar player of all time?" This is one discussion I will always be in the middle of when it comes up even though it may eventually cause me to stroke out.
Anyone who knows me understands that musical conversation, especially in the Rock and Roll realm, will always draw me in no matter my mood, temperament or current activity. It's as impossible for me to ignore as a plate of Suzy Q's, though arguably more healthy. Like politics, music can be a very personal thing, and even more so when the subject of favorite this or favorite that comes up. I have opinions, like all music fans do, but often times those opinions can be woven with simple scientific fact that for some reason, the knuckleheads trying to argue with me just can't seem to understand! Usually, the argument begins with, "You know who the greatest guitar player ever was? ____________________!" This is usually when I see red and quickly try to imagine soft white bunnies and whispery winds and calming waterfalls, in an attempt to stave off the intense rise in blood pressure I know is coming. It rarely works...
There are a lot of fantastic rock guitarist out there, some living and some dead, and all brought their own unique style and sound to Rock and Roll. There are players like Eddie Van Halen who took the hammer on/pulloff style to an entire new level, some would even try to say he invented it (he didn't). There are legendary neo-classical players like Richie Blackmore whose work with Deep Purple was imaginative and soaring and speedy and inventive, and sometimes just plain boring, oddly. There is Randy Rhoads, who was cut from a cloth similar to Blackmore and took the classically inspired sound to new heights while playing his short lived stint with Ozzy, and likely would have been a bigger legend than he is today had he lived beyond his 25 years. Of course many people worship and adore Jimmy Page, as do I, for he crafted some of the most recognizable and in-your-face Blues based riffs ever to hit the eardrum. David Gilmour from Pink Floyd often times gets overlooked when guitarist discussions come up because he was rarely flashy. However, his blues-drenched note bending and passionate timing is awe inspiring at times, especially on his later solo works. Aerosmith, in my opinion, have always been at their best when they are in stripped down, bluesy form and Joe Perry is shredding away. His style and technique is impeccable, interesting and messy all at the same time, and paved the way for later greats like Slash to come along and take it up a notch. These are all true legends of the instrument, indeed, and worthy of a place in the Top Ten...but none of them can match the magic and sheer intensity that the Top 3 bring to the game.
Eric Clapton was not called "slow hand" because he played slowly. It was actually a name given to him resulting from a "slow clap" that originated in his early club years, in respect to his brilliant, bluesy playing. Later he would be called "God" and be sought after by numerous bands and legends to compliment their works. I have seen him live a half dozen times now, most recently at MSG with Steve Winwood who played along side him in Blind Faith, and I can say with no reservations that he is the greatest living blues-rock guitar player alive today. The man can work his away around minor pentatonic scales and lazy rock riffs like no other player out there. I was in complete awe of what this legend did with those 6 strings that night as he took in your face blues to a dimension few of us have probably ever seen and likely never will again. He took fellow musicians to school while he captivated the casual fans, as he simultaneously intoxicated us all.
There will never be a list of greatest rock guitarist that doesn't include the late Jimi Hendrix.. it would be blasphemy and unquestionably grounds for a minor beating from me. The man took the guitar, broke it into a billion little pieces, rebuilt it again, added a hearty helping of distortion and just shot off for the moon. What was amazing about Hendrix is that so much of his writing and playing took place while he was high and in many performances he's utterly brilliant despite the limitations his state of mind placed on him. Even when Jimi was out of tune he was ON, man. He just took the Blues and set them right the f**k on fire and didn't look back. Guys like Clapton and Pete Townsend knew they were done after they saw him play, as he fortified his reputation in London earlier in is career before tearing up the States. He worked with some of the greats like Miles Davis in his career as well, and everyone that came into contact with Hendrix knew they were part of something special. Anyone who places him at the very top of a greatest guitarist list can't be faulted for the choice, and I almost agree with them...almost.
To me, the measure of a great guitar player is not just about the speed or timing or technicality of the playing, it's not even about the sound. The best players have a combination of all of these things and some excel in certain areas more so than their peers, however the very essence of a great guitarist, or any musician for that matter, is how they ignite your emotions. Do they connect with your soul on a level that's not able to be measured in beats per minute or decibels or originality alone? Can they convey the feeling of the song or the passion of their playing in ways that no others can? For me, the one person who was always able to do that better than any other was Stevie Ray Vaughn.
S.R.V used to go out on stage and feel that he was "channeling" Jimi Hendrix, who he worshiped. He played some of Jimi's tracks like Little Wing and Voodoo Chile(Slight Return) complete with feathery scarves and cowboy hats and a wild way about him, ripping through the songs like a man possessed. His interpretation were not only very accurate and complimentary, but they were even more inspired and electrifying than the originals. Stevie used heavier gauge strings to add "thickness" to his sound, but still managed to play faster and more harshly than Jimi, ramping up the bluesy rock numbers to a frantic pace and sometimes just shredding them to pieces. Then, in a blink he'd be bending a note with so much focus and passion that B.B. King would be stunned. Stevie Ray had long wanted to be a black man, he had said, and rightly paid tribute to many of the Blues greats like BB and Albert King and Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy with his playing, and often times sharing a stage with some of them as well. He blew them all away, and they knew it, and they loved it.
What Stevie Ray Vaughn did with the guitar was pick up where Jimi left off and inject a southern-inspired shot of adrenaline into it. He had what Jimi had and a little more, and not only played like a maniac but also wrote some great Blues Rock music to boot. If you watch him play live on any of the numerous live concerts available on DVD you'll see a man that was so in touch with his instrument I have often wondered if he wasn't cosmically connected to it. He was a technician beyond compare, but he was also a passionate soldier of the Blues that drenched every note with inspired emotion. S.R.V was the man, and that's just the way it goes.
Now, I understand there are still lots of people who prefer Jimi or Eric or Eddie, or many that think the younger gunslingers like Satriani and Vai are "the shit", and I do love and respect all these players as well. Guys like John Petrucci and Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Yngwie Malmsteen are insanely talented, in another universe at times. Pete Townsend and The Edge and Alex Lifeson are all somewhat underrated legends of the 6 string that likely deserve more credit than they ever receive. Jazz players like John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth are so mind-numbingly impressive technically that it makes my head hurt to watch/listen to them play! However, for me the guitar is simply a vessel for administering joy and pain and inspiration and in my opinion the captain of that ship will always be Stevie Ray. He was a God among the divine, man.
My Top 10:
1. SRV
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Eric Clapton
4. Randy Rhoads
5.Jimmyi Page
6. David Gilmour
7. Eddie Van Halen
8. Richie Blackmore
9. Joe Perry
10. Eric Johnson/ Slash (tie)
Anyone who knows me understands that musical conversation, especially in the Rock and Roll realm, will always draw me in no matter my mood, temperament or current activity. It's as impossible for me to ignore as a plate of Suzy Q's, though arguably more healthy. Like politics, music can be a very personal thing, and even more so when the subject of favorite this or favorite that comes up. I have opinions, like all music fans do, but often times those opinions can be woven with simple scientific fact that for some reason, the knuckleheads trying to argue with me just can't seem to understand! Usually, the argument begins with, "You know who the greatest guitar player ever was? ____________________!" This is usually when I see red and quickly try to imagine soft white bunnies and whispery winds and calming waterfalls, in an attempt to stave off the intense rise in blood pressure I know is coming. It rarely works...
There are a lot of fantastic rock guitarist out there, some living and some dead, and all brought their own unique style and sound to Rock and Roll. There are players like Eddie Van Halen who took the hammer on/pulloff style to an entire new level, some would even try to say he invented it (he didn't). There are legendary neo-classical players like Richie Blackmore whose work with Deep Purple was imaginative and soaring and speedy and inventive, and sometimes just plain boring, oddly. There is Randy Rhoads, who was cut from a cloth similar to Blackmore and took the classically inspired sound to new heights while playing his short lived stint with Ozzy, and likely would have been a bigger legend than he is today had he lived beyond his 25 years. Of course many people worship and adore Jimmy Page, as do I, for he crafted some of the most recognizable and in-your-face Blues based riffs ever to hit the eardrum. David Gilmour from Pink Floyd often times gets overlooked when guitarist discussions come up because he was rarely flashy. However, his blues-drenched note bending and passionate timing is awe inspiring at times, especially on his later solo works. Aerosmith, in my opinion, have always been at their best when they are in stripped down, bluesy form and Joe Perry is shredding away. His style and technique is impeccable, interesting and messy all at the same time, and paved the way for later greats like Slash to come along and take it up a notch. These are all true legends of the instrument, indeed, and worthy of a place in the Top Ten...but none of them can match the magic and sheer intensity that the Top 3 bring to the game.
Eric Clapton was not called "slow hand" because he played slowly. It was actually a name given to him resulting from a "slow clap" that originated in his early club years, in respect to his brilliant, bluesy playing. Later he would be called "God" and be sought after by numerous bands and legends to compliment their works. I have seen him live a half dozen times now, most recently at MSG with Steve Winwood who played along side him in Blind Faith, and I can say with no reservations that he is the greatest living blues-rock guitar player alive today. The man can work his away around minor pentatonic scales and lazy rock riffs like no other player out there. I was in complete awe of what this legend did with those 6 strings that night as he took in your face blues to a dimension few of us have probably ever seen and likely never will again. He took fellow musicians to school while he captivated the casual fans, as he simultaneously intoxicated us all.
There will never be a list of greatest rock guitarist that doesn't include the late Jimi Hendrix.. it would be blasphemy and unquestionably grounds for a minor beating from me. The man took the guitar, broke it into a billion little pieces, rebuilt it again, added a hearty helping of distortion and just shot off for the moon. What was amazing about Hendrix is that so much of his writing and playing took place while he was high and in many performances he's utterly brilliant despite the limitations his state of mind placed on him. Even when Jimi was out of tune he was ON, man. He just took the Blues and set them right the f**k on fire and didn't look back. Guys like Clapton and Pete Townsend knew they were done after they saw him play, as he fortified his reputation in London earlier in is career before tearing up the States. He worked with some of the greats like Miles Davis in his career as well, and everyone that came into contact with Hendrix knew they were part of something special. Anyone who places him at the very top of a greatest guitarist list can't be faulted for the choice, and I almost agree with them...almost.
To me, the measure of a great guitar player is not just about the speed or timing or technicality of the playing, it's not even about the sound. The best players have a combination of all of these things and some excel in certain areas more so than their peers, however the very essence of a great guitarist, or any musician for that matter, is how they ignite your emotions. Do they connect with your soul on a level that's not able to be measured in beats per minute or decibels or originality alone? Can they convey the feeling of the song or the passion of their playing in ways that no others can? For me, the one person who was always able to do that better than any other was Stevie Ray Vaughn.
S.R.V used to go out on stage and feel that he was "channeling" Jimi Hendrix, who he worshiped. He played some of Jimi's tracks like Little Wing and Voodoo Chile(Slight Return) complete with feathery scarves and cowboy hats and a wild way about him, ripping through the songs like a man possessed. His interpretation were not only very accurate and complimentary, but they were even more inspired and electrifying than the originals. Stevie used heavier gauge strings to add "thickness" to his sound, but still managed to play faster and more harshly than Jimi, ramping up the bluesy rock numbers to a frantic pace and sometimes just shredding them to pieces. Then, in a blink he'd be bending a note with so much focus and passion that B.B. King would be stunned. Stevie Ray had long wanted to be a black man, he had said, and rightly paid tribute to many of the Blues greats like BB and Albert King and Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy with his playing, and often times sharing a stage with some of them as well. He blew them all away, and they knew it, and they loved it.
What Stevie Ray Vaughn did with the guitar was pick up where Jimi left off and inject a southern-inspired shot of adrenaline into it. He had what Jimi had and a little more, and not only played like a maniac but also wrote some great Blues Rock music to boot. If you watch him play live on any of the numerous live concerts available on DVD you'll see a man that was so in touch with his instrument I have often wondered if he wasn't cosmically connected to it. He was a technician beyond compare, but he was also a passionate soldier of the Blues that drenched every note with inspired emotion. S.R.V was the man, and that's just the way it goes.
Now, I understand there are still lots of people who prefer Jimi or Eric or Eddie, or many that think the younger gunslingers like Satriani and Vai are "the shit", and I do love and respect all these players as well. Guys like John Petrucci and Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Yngwie Malmsteen are insanely talented, in another universe at times. Pete Townsend and The Edge and Alex Lifeson are all somewhat underrated legends of the 6 string that likely deserve more credit than they ever receive. Jazz players like John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth are so mind-numbingly impressive technically that it makes my head hurt to watch/listen to them play! However, for me the guitar is simply a vessel for administering joy and pain and inspiration and in my opinion the captain of that ship will always be Stevie Ray. He was a God among the divine, man.
My Top 10:
1. SRV
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Eric Clapton
4. Randy Rhoads
5.Jimmyi Page
6. David Gilmour
7. Eddie Van Halen
8. Richie Blackmore
9. Joe Perry
10. Eric Johnson/ Slash (tie)
The Politics of Politics...
It's just over a month until what some people are calling, "The biggest election of our lifetime", and many of us are whipped into a frenzy about it. Up until about three months ago, at which time I told most everyone I know that I would no longer be responding to/forwarding/discussing political emails, I was pretty caught up in the political mania surrounding this election as well. So what happened three months ago, you ask? Well, I finally came to the conclusion that politics, discussion of politics, and really anything of a political nature was truly pointless and/or irrelevant to discuss among friends and colleagues. Let me elaborate...
As a Self-Employed person, and someone who has been without a corporate job for over 10 years now, I discovered a long while ago how important it is to be involved in decisions about who controls my money in Washington. The less money I have, primarily due to taxes I pay the federal government, has a direct relation to how I can and will run my business and this caused me to become very interested in politics back in the 90's. However, what I discovered very early on is that it doesn't make much difference who you call or write or complain to, as these elected officials in our pseudo-democracy are going to just do whatever they choose to do, influenced by money, incentives, etc., etc. Though I leaned (and still do, at least fiscally) conservative, I never joined any political party because honestly I didn't see ideal solutions from either party. However, what I did see very quickly is that as soon as you begin to adopt certain ideologies and political beliefs you are instantly branded a __________ or a ___________ by folks on the other side of that belief, and for awhile I was guilty of doing the same to others.
As the years passed and numerous arguments/debates ensued I learned that at the end of the day you are really never going to change someone's mind who's thoroughly entrenched on one side of the line, but sometimes you can have some amount of influence on those that teeter on the line itself. Even with those folks, however, what's generally happening is that you're "convincing" them of something they very well may be unconvinced of the moment someone influential on the other side of the topic gets their ear; the reason there are so many "undecided's" in every election is because so few people truly pay attention to or care about the Political Machine. So, if that's the case then what's the solution?
Well, there really isn't a solution, per se, but rather a "trick" to survive the heated political discussions that may come up in mixed company, especially this year. Before I offer that up, however, I think it's important to mention that I don't think any President, or any politician for that matter, Democrat or Republican, in the history of this great nation can be held fully accountable for or given credit for the day to day woes and victories we have as human beings, as truly great victories and defeats are shared by a number of involved parties, including civilians. I have made some mistakes in my life, some minor and some huge, and many of them were in the 90's, but none of that in any way is Bill Clinton's fault. I bought 3 different homes between 2000-2008, made a nice profit off some that I sold, but none of the credit goes to George Bush. It always makes me laugh when people think any President or political figure has the ability/power to truly shape one's life when in fact it is we ourselves that control 99.9999% of that. Even in the current financial mess, which has it's roots deep into Democratically controlled territory, spills heavily into Republican areas; there's blame for EVERYBODY in this one, folks. However, you can log on to a number of political blogs and find the blame put squarely on this Democrat or this Republican or at least 10,000 sites that blame GW for it. Well, we share in the blame ourselves, but as a society who loves to bicker and deflect, it's much easier to levy charges against "the other side" I guess. Although I have heard for years that Liberals were the party of "inclusion" and "diversity", strangely many of those I know who are self proclaimed "liberals" have very little Republican or Conservative friends. Also, the few highly religious Christian conservative folks I know, that support an "all knowing" and "forgiving" God, they don't seem to be fond of most liberals and have few if any as day to day pals. Well, here is where the "trick" comes in...
I say believe in EVERYTHING! Of course, not literally, though I do tend to weave and bob with some of these pet causes which makes me some sort of ConservalibRepubacratependent I suppose. What I mean is, when heated political discussions come up in social settings, let's say Abortion, I just agree totally. "Oh yes, a woman's right to choose is crucial, you gotta have that. You rock it sister!". But, if I am with a couple people who are Pro Life, that's easy too: "Oh yeah man, life begins at conception, for sure. Abortion is murder!" Now, it makes no difference where my opinion fits into this because honestly, am I going to change (or dare I think I have the right to try??) their mind? Of course not, and why should I? This applies to Obama vs. McCain just as easy: "McCain is the best choice, of course. Experience, a tough guy, a Maverick, a "hot" wife!" Whatever, just fill in as needed. "Obama is all about Hope and Change and Change and Hope and he's classy and a great speaker!" Blah Blah Blah. Again, easier to just go with the flow of the room than try to change minds and argue points that are truly irrelevant as they will not "fix" or change anything anyway. I have told my wife for years how awesome a threesome (with another woman...sorry Hodge) would be, laid out charts and graphs and offered up years of clean bathrooms and floors. Guess what? No threesome...
So, does this mean I won't vote and I no longer have opinions? Of course not! It simply means I am not stubborn or foolish enough to think one man (or woman) in office is going to be able to affect enough change in the 4-8 years that it will do anything better (or worse) for me than I could do for myself and my family. President's don't create nor cut jobs, they simply act as a figurehead for a much larger system that we as consumers essentially attempt to control, and sometimes we do, when other elected officials in suits aren't busy behind closed doors trying to screw it up. I say that if you feel like Obama will make America what you think it needs to be, go for it man, pull that lever! If you think McCain is the right choice for your vision of America then hit the button, make it happen. My point is that at the end of the day, 4, 8, 16, 32 years from now there will still be liberals, there will still be conservatives, and just like every election cycle previous, there will still be arguments about who's right and who's wrong. I think we all are...
As a Self-Employed person, and someone who has been without a corporate job for over 10 years now, I discovered a long while ago how important it is to be involved in decisions about who controls my money in Washington. The less money I have, primarily due to taxes I pay the federal government, has a direct relation to how I can and will run my business and this caused me to become very interested in politics back in the 90's. However, what I discovered very early on is that it doesn't make much difference who you call or write or complain to, as these elected officials in our pseudo-democracy are going to just do whatever they choose to do, influenced by money, incentives, etc., etc. Though I leaned (and still do, at least fiscally) conservative, I never joined any political party because honestly I didn't see ideal solutions from either party. However, what I did see very quickly is that as soon as you begin to adopt certain ideologies and political beliefs you are instantly branded a __________ or a ___________ by folks on the other side of that belief, and for awhile I was guilty of doing the same to others.
As the years passed and numerous arguments/debates ensued I learned that at the end of the day you are really never going to change someone's mind who's thoroughly entrenched on one side of the line, but sometimes you can have some amount of influence on those that teeter on the line itself. Even with those folks, however, what's generally happening is that you're "convincing" them of something they very well may be unconvinced of the moment someone influential on the other side of the topic gets their ear; the reason there are so many "undecided's" in every election is because so few people truly pay attention to or care about the Political Machine. So, if that's the case then what's the solution?
Well, there really isn't a solution, per se, but rather a "trick" to survive the heated political discussions that may come up in mixed company, especially this year. Before I offer that up, however, I think it's important to mention that I don't think any President, or any politician for that matter, Democrat or Republican, in the history of this great nation can be held fully accountable for or given credit for the day to day woes and victories we have as human beings, as truly great victories and defeats are shared by a number of involved parties, including civilians. I have made some mistakes in my life, some minor and some huge, and many of them were in the 90's, but none of that in any way is Bill Clinton's fault. I bought 3 different homes between 2000-2008, made a nice profit off some that I sold, but none of the credit goes to George Bush. It always makes me laugh when people think any President or political figure has the ability/power to truly shape one's life when in fact it is we ourselves that control 99.9999% of that. Even in the current financial mess, which has it's roots deep into Democratically controlled territory, spills heavily into Republican areas; there's blame for EVERYBODY in this one, folks. However, you can log on to a number of political blogs and find the blame put squarely on this Democrat or this Republican or at least 10,000 sites that blame GW for it. Well, we share in the blame ourselves, but as a society who loves to bicker and deflect, it's much easier to levy charges against "the other side" I guess. Although I have heard for years that Liberals were the party of "inclusion" and "diversity", strangely many of those I know who are self proclaimed "liberals" have very little Republican or Conservative friends. Also, the few highly religious Christian conservative folks I know, that support an "all knowing" and "forgiving" God, they don't seem to be fond of most liberals and have few if any as day to day pals. Well, here is where the "trick" comes in...
I say believe in EVERYTHING! Of course, not literally, though I do tend to weave and bob with some of these pet causes which makes me some sort of ConservalibRepubacratepend
So, does this mean I won't vote and I no longer have opinions? Of course not! It simply means I am not stubborn or foolish enough to think one man (or woman) in office is going to be able to affect enough change in the 4-8 years that it will do anything better (or worse) for me than I could do for myself and my family. President's don't create nor cut jobs, they simply act as a figurehead for a much larger system that we as consumers essentially attempt to control, and sometimes we do, when other elected officials in suits aren't busy behind closed doors trying to screw it up. I say that if you feel like Obama will make America what you think it needs to be, go for it man, pull that lever! If you think McCain is the right choice for your vision of America then hit the button, make it happen. My point is that at the end of the day, 4, 8, 16, 32 years from now there will still be liberals, there will still be conservatives, and just like every election cycle previous, there will still be arguments about who's right and who's wrong. I think we all are...
The Power of Music
As all of us wait anxiously for news about Wall St./Banking bailouts and we wonder how and when it may affect our day to day lives, sometimes it's hard to take out minds out of "worry mode" and focus on things less stressful. In the years since I was a pre-adolescent I can recall many times of heightened stress in our family, whether monetary or otherwise, and it didn't take me long to realize I needed a diversion from that tension, like many of us probably do now. For me it started with humor and using that as a defense mechanism from real or imagined bullies as a soothing tonic to what ailed me at the time. Although trying to be an upbeat and funny guy has been something I have strived to continue being all my life, I think what really kept me afloat in daunting or depressed times was music.
I was never surrounded by musicians or any intense musical environment growing up, though my mother and father both had bands they liked and played often in the house. There was no push to have me play any particular instrument, though I tried a few and failed miserably at many. I did enjoy my brief months as a trumpeter/drummer/recorder-ist, but I knew a prodigy of any of these instruments I was not. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was far better at enjoying other people's music rather than creating my own, and when I had this epiphany it hit me like a tidal wave.
From as early as my 9th year I can recall listening to bands like "Kiss" and "Pink Floyd" and not only becoming mystified by the "cool" lyrics (I was made for loving you baby...you were made for lovin me!) or haunting melodies, but I became obsessed with knowing who exactly these bands were and where they were from and what made they write what the wrote and why. During these early years my tastes were not confined to classic/hard rock either, as I was a huge fan of Barry Manilow and could probably sing all of "Looks Like We Made" it today, albeit horribly. I also loved Shawn Cassidy. I was digging Boz Scaggs. I was a huuuge fan of Lynyrd Skynyd, though possibly just because the name was odd. This love of rock bands then spilled over into what I am sure my mother would call, "Metal Hell".
My journey into the depths of metal began, oddly, with a very un-metal artist, Neil Diamond! My mom had his album The Jazz Singer and there was a tune on there called "Coming To America" I think it was, and something about it just really jazzed me up (no pun intended). It wasn't heavy metal but it was sort of mildly hard edged and for some reason this oddball choice of tunes to like led me to begin worshipping bands like Foreigner, AC/DC and soon after, Van Halen, which became a longtime favorite. How good 'ol Neil led me down the path to "Hells Bells" and other great hard rock/metal songs and artists is still a mystery but I know after hearing that tune of his I just craved something edgier.
As time passed, and right up through High School, I became very "metal-obsessed", idolizing and following bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Slayer, Scorpions, Megadeth, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Although bands like Zep were not "metal" per se, they were hard edged and respected enough where liking them didn't get you called a "poser" by other metal fans. I think the danger and toughness of metal bands also provided some pseudo shelter from the fears of growing up in a new town, which I did when I moved to Suffield, CT and entered high school. As the years passed though, I still listened to and enjoyed hard rock/metal but slowly began to diversify into all kinds of other sub genres and classes of music, including New Wave, Ambient/New Age, Jazz, Blues, Pop Rock and even classical. It just seemed to me that it was so limiting to restrict oneself to one specific type of music when there was so much intensity and beauty and solace to be found in so many other varieties.
That's the thing about music, there really is something for everyone. You can be having the worst day ever and just need a pick me up (and choose to avoid something of the chemical variety!) and put on "Scarlet Begonias" by the Dead and I defy you to stay depressed(you can also try "Manhattan" by Kings of Leon..you can't NOT dance around like an asswipe listening to that tune!). If you feel like enhancing your anger because a co-worker pissed you off and you want to pummel the heavy bag at the gym with their imagined face adorning the front of it, "Walk" by Pantera is a fine choice, or of course anything by Slayer. If you're feeling particularly amorous and you want to enhance an already heated environment for you and your partner, I would say almost anything from "Violator" by Depeche Mode would work, as well as numerous tracks by Roxy Music. If you just want a simple romantic, melodramatic ballad that will make you feel like you are sharing in the writers longing for his woman, "Drive All Night" is hard to beat by Springsteen. There really is a song for every occasion.
The truth is though, it's not just about certain songs or certain bands, it's about music as an entity. It has the intangible power to shape, guide, enhance and alter almost any mood one could be in at any given time. It's brilliance lies in the fact that it's created by people that are seeking the same thing we as listeners are; a place to change their consciousness, for better of for worse. I don't think there's been a day that I can remember since I was five years old that music wasn't a part of, and I hope that day never comes as I grow older. The times may toughen and the world may become more callous and cold but as long as there's a tune to temporarily take me to place I'd rather be then, as Bob Marley said, "Everything's Gonna Be All Right..."
I was never surrounded by musicians or any intense musical environment growing up, though my mother and father both had bands they liked and played often in the house. There was no push to have me play any particular instrument, though I tried a few and failed miserably at many. I did enjoy my brief months as a trumpeter/drummer/recorder-ist, but I knew a prodigy of any of these instruments I was not. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was far better at enjoying other people's music rather than creating my own, and when I had this epiphany it hit me like a tidal wave.
From as early as my 9th year I can recall listening to bands like "Kiss" and "Pink Floyd" and not only becoming mystified by the "cool" lyrics (I was made for loving you baby...you were made for lovin me!) or haunting melodies, but I became obsessed with knowing who exactly these bands were and where they were from and what made they write what the wrote and why. During these early years my tastes were not confined to classic/hard rock either, as I was a huge fan of Barry Manilow and could probably sing all of "Looks Like We Made" it today, albeit horribly. I also loved Shawn Cassidy. I was digging Boz Scaggs. I was a huuuge fan of Lynyrd Skynyd, though possibly just because the name was odd. This love of rock bands then spilled over into what I am sure my mother would call, "Metal Hell".
My journey into the depths of metal began, oddly, with a very un-metal artist, Neil Diamond! My mom had his album The Jazz Singer and there was a tune on there called "Coming To America" I think it was, and something about it just really jazzed me up (no pun intended). It wasn't heavy metal but it was sort of mildly hard edged and for some reason this oddball choice of tunes to like led me to begin worshipping bands like Foreigner, AC/DC and soon after, Van Halen, which became a longtime favorite. How good 'ol Neil led me down the path to "Hells Bells" and other great hard rock/metal songs and artists is still a mystery but I know after hearing that tune of his I just craved something edgier.
As time passed, and right up through High School, I became very "metal-obsessed", idolizing and following bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Slayer, Scorpions, Megadeth, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Although bands like Zep were not "metal" per se, they were hard edged and respected enough where liking them didn't get you called a "poser" by other metal fans. I think the danger and toughness of metal bands also provided some pseudo shelter from the fears of growing up in a new town, which I did when I moved to Suffield, CT and entered high school. As the years passed though, I still listened to and enjoyed hard rock/metal but slowly began to diversify into all kinds of other sub genres and classes of music, including New Wave, Ambient/New Age, Jazz, Blues, Pop Rock and even classical. It just seemed to me that it was so limiting to restrict oneself to one specific type of music when there was so much intensity and beauty and solace to be found in so many other varieties.
That's the thing about music, there really is something for everyone. You can be having the worst day ever and just need a pick me up (and choose to avoid something of the chemical variety!) and put on "Scarlet Begonias" by the Dead and I defy you to stay depressed(you can also try "Manhattan" by Kings of Leon..you can't NOT dance around like an asswipe listening to that tune!). If you feel like enhancing your anger because a co-worker pissed you off and you want to pummel the heavy bag at the gym with their imagined face adorning the front of it, "Walk" by Pantera is a fine choice, or of course anything by Slayer. If you're feeling particularly amorous and you want to enhance an already heated environment for you and your partner, I would say almost anything from "Violator" by Depeche Mode would work, as well as numerous tracks by Roxy Music. If you just want a simple romantic, melodramatic ballad that will make you feel like you are sharing in the writers longing for his woman, "Drive All Night" is hard to beat by Springsteen. There really is a song for every occasion.
The truth is though, it's not just about certain songs or certain bands, it's about music as an entity. It has the intangible power to shape, guide, enhance and alter almost any mood one could be in at any given time. It's brilliance lies in the fact that it's created by people that are seeking the same thing we as listeners are; a place to change their consciousness, for better of for worse. I don't think there's been a day that I can remember since I was five years old that music wasn't a part of, and I hope that day never comes as I grow older. The times may toughen and the world may become more callous and cold but as long as there's a tune to temporarily take me to place I'd rather be then, as Bob Marley said, "Everything's Gonna Be All Right..."
The Death of a Friend
Like a lot of kids growing up, I was raised in a one parent household. My parents divorced before I was even three years old after my father's struggles with addiction became too much for my mother and young brother to bear. To my old man's credit, he did a fantastic job of pulling himself from the temptuous grip of alcohol and getting his life on track and was later involved in many parts of our adolescent life. However, during my High School years there is no doubt that I was always seeking "father figures", be it in the form of teachers or friends parents, etc. One such Individual was Bill Roberts, the father of probably my closest friends in High School, Chris Roberts. Chris also grew up with just one parent as his mother had passed away years earlier, and his father was a hard working, fun-loving and intriguing guy that many of us grew to love.
During High School, while we're all so desperate to fit in and make sense of the chemical and physical changes our bodies are going through, it's no shock that we'd likely gravitate to a "cool", strong willed guy who was not only accepting of his son's friends but would often sit down with them, have a beer and tell some incredible stories. Bill Roberts was just that guy. While not real tall, and seemingly not overwhelming physically, all of us still knew he could beat our ass if we pushed him, though none of us ever did. He would come home from a night out with friends or a girlfriend and often sit down with us troublemakers and let us know who was really the boss of the house he so thoughtfully opened up to just about anyone (I basically lived there for a good part of my high school years). At the same time, he'd have you laughing so hard at a story he'd tell you, and many times have told before, that you never felt anything but adoration for the big-hearted guy. I know Chris loved him as strong as any child would his father, and I am sure it made him happy that so many of his friends worshiped his old man as well, and who wouldn't? I know there was at least ten times I ate far too much of the Chicken Cordon Bleu and Filets he stocked in his fridge, but he never yelled, never screamed, he just came up with some wise ass comment making you feel like a schmo for not asking first or not replacing it later. Then a couple days later he'd be offering up that same gourmet chow to you at his pleasure. Bill Roberts was all heart, man.
As years went on and I moved a little father away and some of us grew apart, I lost touch with Bill and sometimes with Chris. One way or another Chris and I would reconnect but I rarely got to see his father, and that's really too bad. The times I did, usually on the Golf Course, it was like 1987 all over again, with him as sharp as ever, cracking a joke or assessing your swing or just busting your ass for finding you on his floor with a certain Sophomore and a bottle of his Whiskey twenty years earlier. It was always great to see him, and I really wished I had a chance to do that more often before his recent passing.
In the years since High School, even with us not being able to hang out and talk as much as we used to, I have always been more fond of Chris than probably anyone I had ever known. Like me, he has had his struggles with various demons but always manages to keep his head above water and come out on top. In all my years I have never known anyone that not only had one of the biggest hearts I have ever encountered, but who also busted their ass working labor-intensive jobs six days a week. I have to think this partially comes from his father, but Chris has certainly added his own flavor to what I have always felt was one of the best personalities of any guy I have ever been friends with. Bill raised a hell of a kid and one who I will always love and respect.
Tomorrow will be the day we all pay respects to Bill, and I am sure there will be stories told and laughs had and beers drank and tears shed. Bill Roberts was an infectious personality who knew how to work a room and make friends quick and he will be sorely missed. It brings into light the fears/anxiety of my own parents mortality and the need to enjoy and appreciate those relationships as much as possible. I know Chris spent a great deal of time with Bill before he passed away and I am sure is glad that he did. I hope that going forward he understands how much his father meant not only to him, but to so many of his friends.
Heaven is a better place than it was now that he's made the trip.
During High School, while we're all so desperate to fit in and make sense of the chemical and physical changes our bodies are going through, it's no shock that we'd likely gravitate to a "cool", strong willed guy who was not only accepting of his son's friends but would often sit down with them, have a beer and tell some incredible stories. Bill Roberts was just that guy. While not real tall, and seemingly not overwhelming physically, all of us still knew he could beat our ass if we pushed him, though none of us ever did. He would come home from a night out with friends or a girlfriend and often sit down with us troublemakers and let us know who was really the boss of the house he so thoughtfully opened up to just about anyone (I basically lived there for a good part of my high school years). At the same time, he'd have you laughing so hard at a story he'd tell you, and many times have told before, that you never felt anything but adoration for the big-hearted guy. I know Chris loved him as strong as any child would his father, and I am sure it made him happy that so many of his friends worshiped his old man as well, and who wouldn't? I know there was at least ten times I ate far too much of the Chicken Cordon Bleu and Filets he stocked in his fridge, but he never yelled, never screamed, he just came up with some wise ass comment making you feel like a schmo for not asking first or not replacing it later. Then a couple days later he'd be offering up that same gourmet chow to you at his pleasure. Bill Roberts was all heart, man.
As years went on and I moved a little father away and some of us grew apart, I lost touch with Bill and sometimes with Chris. One way or another Chris and I would reconnect but I rarely got to see his father, and that's really too bad. The times I did, usually on the Golf Course, it was like 1987 all over again, with him as sharp as ever, cracking a joke or assessing your swing or just busting your ass for finding you on his floor with a certain Sophomore and a bottle of his Whiskey twenty years earlier. It was always great to see him, and I really wished I had a chance to do that more often before his recent passing.
In the years since High School, even with us not being able to hang out and talk as much as we used to, I have always been more fond of Chris than probably anyone I had ever known. Like me, he has had his struggles with various demons but always manages to keep his head above water and come out on top. In all my years I have never known anyone that not only had one of the biggest hearts I have ever encountered, but who also busted their ass working labor-intensive jobs six days a week. I have to think this partially comes from his father, but Chris has certainly added his own flavor to what I have always felt was one of the best personalities of any guy I have ever been friends with. Bill raised a hell of a kid and one who I will always love and respect.
Tomorrow will be the day we all pay respects to Bill, and I am sure there will be stories told and laughs had and beers drank and tears shed. Bill Roberts was an infectious personality who knew how to work a room and make friends quick and he will be sorely missed. It brings into light the fears/anxiety of my own parents mortality and the need to enjoy and appreciate those relationships as much as possible. I know Chris spent a great deal of time with Bill before he passed away and I am sure is glad that he did. I hope that going forward he understands how much his father meant not only to him, but to so many of his friends.
Heaven is a better place than it was now that he's made the trip.
Why do we "Facebook"?
The crew from Howard Stern returned from one of their (many) summer breaks and a topic of discussion was one of the staff's addiction to Facebook, mainly posting blogs and chatting with old friends, etc. I listed for about 10 minutes while Howard, Robin,Artie and Fred (the main "characters" if you're not a regular listener) bashed the poor guy, trying to make him feel like an idiot for getting involved in what they felt like was an utter waste of time and nothing short of pathetic. They went around the room bashing him for being so arrogant as to think anyone cared about his posts or friends and essentially that it was all just a huge waste of time, although one of them at least commented that it was a "cool website". I am a big fan of the Stern show, and I respect many of Howard's opinions, but on this topic I think he's just dead wrong.
I have barely been on Facebook for a week and I have already connected (or re-connected) with a number of High School friends that I haven't seen, or in many cases heard from, in 20 years. Some of the connections I have made are with people I wasn't necessarily that close with while in school and possibly with some that weren't even that big a fan of mine all those years ago! I think many of us knew somewhere in the backs of our alcohol/pot/college-obsessed/sports-soaked/sex-addicted minds in High School that there would come a day when we would meet up with some of these kids we walked by every day in the halls and either ignored or mistreated, but we chose to suppress any notion of that to continue to focus on the kids/groups we were most comfortable with. It seemed very important at the time to align yourself with those best suited to enable your desires and addictions or make you feel best about youself or place in the world. Of course, as years pass, even though we remain friends with some of those same people, we learn that High School was really just a big vat of insecure kids who had no idea what the f**k was going on and how to best navigate through those challenging waters. This included the brainiacs and uber-students, as they were often some bogged down in obsessive studying and/or college prep that they often couldn't see outside of their narrow channel and understand what the real world was really going to be all about. Myself, being very far from a great student and intrigued more by the combination of Pink Floyd and various smokeable plants than any book driven or real world education, well, I just kinda went with the flow, and along the way made a few very close friends and possibly turned some others against me. So how does this relate to Facebook?
For years after High School I would think, as many people did, "If I could only go back I would probably..." and this could be finished by a number of things including being more studious, friendlier to others, outgoing, less distracted, a better athlete, etc etc. Well, one of the things I often finish that sentence with is that ...I would probably try to be a friend to everyone. That being said, I do feel like during at least a part of my High School years I was a pretty genuine and outwardly friendly guy. However, I know that if the sum total of my experience during those years was added up and analyized I could have done a far better job being more inclusive and less obsessed with maintaining certain alliances and perceptions. Don't get wrong, I LOVED High School and those years were precious to me in many ways, but I think I left there not being the best almost-man I could have been. I suppose this (finally!) is where Facebook comes in...
It todays' universe there is no doubt we are far less connected people. When is the last time any of us ever wrote an actual letter and mailed it? Everything is quick emails and text and the occaisonal cell phone conversation or voice mail message, and these are generally with those we already know. How often does anyone get the chance to, or bother to make an attempt to, reach out to someone they never knew that well? That usually ends up far down the list of "priorities" and we've become a slightly more isolated and somewhat lost species because of that. The landscape of Facebook not only fascilitates conversation between existing friends and family but it encourages conversation with those who may be, or had been, outside your circle. For me, it's become a place to reach out to old friends that I was close with day to day as well as some I was not but wished I was. It's a vehicle for making personal connections that maybe should have been made before but probably weren't because we were all just scared kids trying to fit in amongst our previously chosen little "gangs", and even sometimes that was a struggle. Although the world of Facebook is still a digital one, it's one that not only aids in communication but it actually encourages it beyond anything simple email could ever do. Does someone from 20 years ago that I may have only spoken with in the halls 10 or 15 times care that "Dave is lsitening to Interpol right now" or that my mood is "Content"? At the end of the day probably not but I know for me it's not whether they care about me and my moods and everyday goings on, but that many of us have found a place where we're in some ways just those same young kids looking for a place to fit in and have some fun. The difference now is that twenty years of life experience has removed the inhibitions and fears, for the most part, and we're free to befriend anyone that we might not have make an effort to in the past, and that in itself can not be a bad thing.
Who knows if Facebook will be here in 20 years, and I am not foolish enough to think that I will have long and personal relationships with everyone I went to High School with or worked with or played football with so many years ago. However, if through this social networking site I can re-connect with those I have missed, and make new friends with those I never took the time to get to know enough, well then this place is not only a "cool website", but a magnificent instrument of human relationships.
I have barely been on Facebook for a week and I have already connected (or re-connected) with a number of High School friends that I haven't seen, or in many cases heard from, in 20 years. Some of the connections I have made are with people I wasn't necessarily that close with while in school and possibly with some that weren't even that big a fan of mine all those years ago! I think many of us knew somewhere in the backs of our alcohol/pot/college-obsess
For years after High School I would think, as many people did, "If I could only go back I would probably..." and this could be finished by a number of things including being more studious, friendlier to others, outgoing, less distracted, a better athlete, etc etc. Well, one of the things I often finish that sentence with is that ...I would probably try to be a friend to everyone. That being said, I do feel like during at least a part of my High School years I was a pretty genuine and outwardly friendly guy. However, I know that if the sum total of my experience during those years was added up and analyized I could have done a far better job being more inclusive and less obsessed with maintaining certain alliances and perceptions. Don't get wrong, I LOVED High School and those years were precious to me in many ways, but I think I left there not being the best almost-man I could have been. I suppose this (finally!) is where Facebook comes in...
It todays' universe there is no doubt we are far less connected people. When is the last time any of us ever wrote an actual letter and mailed it? Everything is quick emails and text and the occaisonal cell phone conversation or voice mail message, and these are generally with those we already know. How often does anyone get the chance to, or bother to make an attempt to, reach out to someone they never knew that well? That usually ends up far down the list of "priorities" and we've become a slightly more isolated and somewhat lost species because of that. The landscape of Facebook not only fascilitates conversation between existing friends and family but it encourages conversation with those who may be, or had been, outside your circle. For me, it's become a place to reach out to old friends that I was close with day to day as well as some I was not but wished I was. It's a vehicle for making personal connections that maybe should have been made before but probably weren't because we were all just scared kids trying to fit in amongst our previously chosen little "gangs", and even sometimes that was a struggle. Although the world of Facebook is still a digital one, it's one that not only aids in communication but it actually encourages it beyond anything simple email could ever do. Does someone from 20 years ago that I may have only spoken with in the halls 10 or 15 times care that "Dave is lsitening to Interpol right now" or that my mood is "Content"? At the end of the day probably not but I know for me it's not whether they care about me and my moods and everyday goings on, but that many of us have found a place where we're in some ways just those same young kids looking for a place to fit in and have some fun. The difference now is that twenty years of life experience has removed the inhibitions and fears, for the most part, and we're free to befriend anyone that we might not have make an effort to in the past, and that in itself can not be a bad thing.
Who knows if Facebook will be here in 20 years, and I am not foolish enough to think that I will have long and personal relationships with everyone I went to High School with or worked with or played football with so many years ago. However, if through this social networking site I can re-connect with those I have missed, and make new friends with those I never took the time to get to know enough, well then this place is not only a "cool website", but a magnificent instrument of human relationships.
The Wire
By now I am sure anyone with cable TV or a subscription to an Entertainment publication has heard of "The Wire", the spectacular HBO cop drama created by David Simon. It chronicles Baltimore from a number of different angles including the inner city drug trade and all its players, the cops, their families, the educational system, the political insiders and even the media. Being a huge fan of the Sopranos and other HBO series like Big Love and Curb Your Enthusiasm, I knew I would eventually make my way to The Wire, especially after the immense praise being lavished on it by so many viewers and critics. Well, having just finished the 5th and final season I can say that the unquestionably lived up to the hype.
In most great Television dramas, including my previous favorite The Sopranos, you have a few stellar characters that stand out week to week and keep you watching. When a show also has exceptional writers scripting these characters and it's not just the actors charm or looks or mannerisms that get you hooked, the show can move beyond a mere passion and evolve into an obsession, and that's certainly been the case for me and The Wire.
Over the years I have dabbled into a number of illicit substances, though I made sure to stay away from the injectibles, thankfully. However, I can't imagine it would be harder to quit Heroin than walking away from this show. By the middle of Season 1's second episode I knew that I was going to love the show, but at the halfway point I knew it was going to be a mild addiction. As that first season closed I was certain that a 12 Step program might be in order, otherwise I was in jeopardy of giving up work, bathing and even most frighteningly, sex, in order to keep watching this show. As the seasons progressed the addiction became worse, sneaking hour-long episodes in between client calls, banging out 2 episodes in a row first thing in the morning as the Pugs stared at me angrily wondering why their leashes were attached but they were yet unable to go outside and take a leak. The worst is the lying to the wife: "Yeah honey, I will look at that leak in the laundry room before you get back, definitely" only to find yourself elbow deep in a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, covered in orange pseudo-cheese and right in front of the TV when she returns.
The Wire is exceptional on so many levels that it would take 10,000 words and a thesaurus in hand to do it true justice. The brutal reality of it interlaced with eloquent moments of poetry. The subtle bits of clever humor blended with such over the top childish gags. The mix of strong, violent and even perverse characters with some of the most quiet and unassuming characters even seen on TV. The story lines are simple and engaging though at times cryptically complex, and the message(s) are often completely ovious and in your face yet sometimes subliminal and time-released. I could probably write an entire thesis on just "Bubbles", "Omar" or "McNulty" alone, a few of the shows standout and more popular characters. It wouldn't shock me if the Universities were already drafting course layouts for an in-depth study of this masterpiece of "fiction" already, and if so I am sure the classes will be full. In all my years I have never seen a show that not only captured the harsh reality of inner city life and painted it with such beautiful and intriguing characters, but one where the actual city portrayed became the true star of the show.
Do yourself a favor and either rent/buy Season 1 of The Wire and just let the stories unfold and feel yourself becoming captivated by its majesty. You've never seen anything quite like it, though it may even seem somewhat familiar and at times so real you feel you need to look away. It will definitely make you examine, or re-examine, your opinion and understanding of the inner city ghetto and it's impact and relationship to the rest of the country. It's truly mesmerizing and painful at the same time but it's also the most beautiful piece of filmed "art" I have ever seen. Let me know what you think...
In most great Television dramas, including my previous favorite The Sopranos, you have a few stellar characters that stand out week to week and keep you watching. When a show also has exceptional writers scripting these characters and it's not just the actors charm or looks or mannerisms that get you hooked, the show can move beyond a mere passion and evolve into an obsession, and that's certainly been the case for me and The Wire.
Over the years I have dabbled into a number of illicit substances, though I made sure to stay away from the injectibles, thankfully. However, I can't imagine it would be harder to quit Heroin than walking away from this show. By the middle of Season 1's second episode I knew that I was going to love the show, but at the halfway point I knew it was going to be a mild addiction. As that first season closed I was certain that a 12 Step program might be in order, otherwise I was in jeopardy of giving up work, bathing and even most frighteningly, sex, in order to keep watching this show. As the seasons progressed the addiction became worse, sneaking hour-long episodes in between client calls, banging out 2 episodes in a row first thing in the morning as the Pugs stared at me angrily wondering why their leashes were attached but they were yet unable to go outside and take a leak. The worst is the lying to the wife: "Yeah honey, I will look at that leak in the laundry room before you get back, definitely" only to find yourself elbow deep in a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, covered in orange pseudo-cheese and right in front of the TV when she returns.
The Wire is exceptional on so many levels that it would take 10,000 words and a thesaurus in hand to do it true justice. The brutal reality of it interlaced with eloquent moments of poetry. The subtle bits of clever humor blended with such over the top childish gags. The mix of strong, violent and even perverse characters with some of the most quiet and unassuming characters even seen on TV. The story lines are simple and engaging though at times cryptically complex, and the message(s) are often completely ovious and in your face yet sometimes subliminal and time-released. I could probably write an entire thesis on just "Bubbles", "Omar" or "McNulty" alone, a few of the shows standout and more popular characters. It wouldn't shock me if the Universities were already drafting course layouts for an in-depth study of this masterpiece of "fiction" already, and if so I am sure the classes will be full. In all my years I have never seen a show that not only captured the harsh reality of inner city life and painted it with such beautiful and intriguing characters, but one where the actual city portrayed became the true star of the show.
Do yourself a favor and either rent/buy Season 1 of The Wire and just let the stories unfold and feel yourself becoming captivated by its majesty. You've never seen anything quite like it, though it may even seem somewhat familiar and at times so real you feel you need to look away. It will definitely make you examine, or re-examine, your opinion and understanding of the inner city ghetto and it's impact and relationship to the rest of the country. It's truly mesmerizing and painful at the same time but it's also the most beautiful piece of filmed "art" I have ever seen. Let me know what you think...
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