Wednesday, April 25, 2007

in the past, i mocked bjork relentlessly

i would share my hate filled thoughts with friends at the time. "bjork is the perfect example of a musician who no one truly likes. no one truly enjoys her music, they are simply pressured into putting her on their cool music list."

i'll never know what made me an expert on the subject. i know very little about music, composition, or talent. i think this time in my life spent mocking bjork's art stemmed from a hatred of people who liked things that were supposedly "cool" or "alternative". assholes.

needless to say i'm very glad that being 19 years old is years past, six to be exact. at 25 i'm no more wise, informed, or capable of judging musical giftedness. i am however more familiar with the concepts of failure, humility, risk, and artistic bravery.

bjork is artistically brave.

her new single "earth intruders" which she performed on SNL last week included a choir of icelandic girls equipped with french horns. brave.

besides. i like her music, and have ceased challenging her validity.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Capote: to kill a Philip Seymour Hoffman

We finally watched Capote tonight, after putting off the viewing for weeks. I was convinced that the film would be depressing and violent. There were only a few short seconds of violence as it turns out, but it was awfully depressing. I'm not complaining. Death is happening in every instant. This week seems to be slapping me in the face with that reality.

I'd like to compliment Philip Seymour Hoffman on his performance, and leave it at that. There was very little about the movie that I'll remember aside from his incredible acting. Although the music was lovely.

This isn't to say that I consider the movie horrible or crappy, it's fine. But it won't stay with me. It doesn't reach my core or change the way I experience life. I want a movie to do that for me.

Oddly enough I saw a documentary today that did. It was called Rivers and Tides: a portrait of Andy Goldsworthy. He's an artist whose specialty is ephemeral sculptures made from elements of nature. Check it out!