Saturday, May 29th, 2004
I’d never really had any interest in the Harry Potter phenomenon, not least of all because it seemed to me to be a not-too-subtle ripoff of Neil Gaiman’s Books Of Magic, which predated the Potter books by nearly a decade. For those unfamiliar with The Books Of Magic, it was a miniseries published in 1990 by DC Comics that introduced the character of Tim Hunter – a bespectacled English boy with an owl companion who was destined to become Earth’s greatest wizard. Sound familiar? Granted, that was about where the similarities ended – Hunter wasn’t orphaned, he still had a father (for a while at least) and instead of being enrolled in a school for magic, he was given a crash course in magic by almost all the occult characters in the DC universe and was nearly murdered on several occasions by evil-doers. So yeah, it was considerably darker than the Harry Potter books, and while it was sufficiently different from Potter in tone and content, the superficial similarities were enough to put me off of Harry Potter-mania.
After the initial mini-series, Hunter returned in an ongoing Vertigo (DC’s ‘mature readers’ imprint) series of the same name which started out strongly but tailed off towards the end of its fairly long run. After a cancellation, Tim Hunter got a fresh start in The Names Of Magic miniseries which set up a new ongoing series, Hunter: The Age Of Magic. The new title never quite found its feet and was again given the axe after a couple years. Still, the powers-that-be weren’t ready to give up on Hunter and after bringing Gaiman back as a co-plotter, a third ongoing series – The Books Of Magick: Life During Wartime – will kick off in July and apparently be even darker in tone than its predecessors.
So what’s this got to do with Harry Potter? Not a helluva lot. As I mentioned before, I hadn’t read any of the Potter books nor seen any of the movies and all I knew about it was what I read in newspapers or magazines reporting on the books or films. So after seeing trailers for the third film and being stymied yesterday afternoon in my attempts to rent Run Lola Run and Seven, I decided to give Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone a whirl. Verdict? An overwhelming ‘meh’. I realize that the movie is not the book but I’ve also heard that the film was quite faithful and thorough as adaptations go, so I think I can reasonably assume that perceived shortcomings on the part of the film would also apply to the book. My main complaint was that it was boring. It was charming, visually impressive and obviously a lot of work went into getting the look and feel of Hogwarts right but looking past the window dressing, the story itself was awfully simplistic, cliched and unoriginal. The story functions fine as a morality play, but not much beyond that.
The young actors are nothing to write home about, seemingly cast more for their ability to look the parts than act them – Daniel Radcliffe is mighty wooden in the title role and only Emma Watson shows she might have better things ahead for her. Of course, that might not be their fault – they’re not given terribly complex characters to begin with. Yeah, yeah, I know – they’re children’s books and I probably shouldn’t expect enormous depth, but from the number of adults I know who are devoted fans I’d hoped to be pleasantly surprised. I gather that there’s an overarching story to all the books (Potter vs Voldemort) that might be more interesting and I know that things get darker as the series goes on, so they might get more compelling as the films progress. I will likely eventually see them all but won’t be harrassing the video store clerk to any extent for a copy of the next one. And I really doubt I’ll be bothering with the books. Those things are huge.
Stolen Wine Social tonight at the IV Lounge, on Dundas in front of the AGO. Scruffy cardigans and taped-up glasses optional.
It’s absurd how much stuff is available on Sharing The Groove. Right now, I’m downloading Wilco’s second show at Otto’s from May 20 as well as a Tanya Donelly show from 2002, and that’s just barely the tip of the iceberg. I need to buy a new CD-R spindle.
Usually I accomplish, um, nothing before I get a post up in the morning. Not today! Gary persuaded me to go for a good long bike ride early (for me) this morning, ostensibly to train for the Ride For Heart next weekend (sponsor me! If you’re not against heart disease, you’re for heart diesease!). It took about two hours to cover 30 km (just over 18.5 miles) through downtown Toronto – first along Davenport to just past Lansdowne, into High Park, down onto the lakefront trail, west a ways past the Humber, then back into the core through Ontario Place and the Exhibition Grounds, finally back up through Queen W and the university. I’m feeling surprisingly good, which bodes well for not dying during next weekend’s 50km ride. Sure could use a shower, though.
np – Spiritualized / Amazing Grace
Friday, May 28th, 2004
It seems like stating the obvious now, but Jeff Buckley had barely scratched the surface of his monsterous talent when he died far too young in May of 1997, seven years ago tomorrow. I remember when I heard he’d gone missing – I was sitting in the cafeteria of a summer co-op job in Ajax, Ontario (way out in the boonies of Toronto) where they made aircraft landing gear. The newspaper was the Toronto Sun, our local mostly-crap tabloid rag, and the Jeff Buckley piece was just a short blurb in a sidebar. At this point, he was just ‘missing’ after going for a swim in the Mississippi, and while deep down I knew better, I held out hope that he’d be alright. I didn’t have internet access of any sort at the time, so I checked the newspaper every day for the next week hoping that there’d be some good news. Obviously there wasn’t, and when I read they recovered his body, I was immensely saddened by the news. Even more so since I was the only person I knew who cared at all.
The many posthumous releases didn’t have the same magic as his debut album Grace, and I didn’t care for the stench of opportunism by his estate. While I do own the originally-discarded second album Sketches: For My Sweetheart The Drunk and the live Mystery White Boy, I’ve done my best to avoid supporting the cash-in on his legacy. That said, I will admit that the Legacy Edition of Grace out August 24 has my interest. Consisting of the original album digitally remastered (is that really necessary for something barely ten years old?), a second disc of bonus material (which has some stuff I’ve wanted to hear and it’ll save me from having to shell out for a silly box set of EPs) and a DVD (the specific contents of which are still being hashed out, but will surely have some stuff worth seeing). I don’t listen to it all that much anymore, but every once in a while, I still put on Grace and just marvel at it – so much potential lost. Who knows what amazing music he might have gone on to make? Grace was just the tip of the iceberg. Too late, too soon. News of the Legacy release from Burned By The Sun.
Rilo Kiley’s More Adventurous will be out July 27. Write it down.
The Onion A.V. Club interviews Stephin Merritt. I’ve linked so damn many of these Magnetic Fields interviews, I’m done trying to come up with clever ways to present them. So there. From the Global Pop Conspiracy.
Stylus loves Nellie McKay, having compiled the Top Ten lines on Get Away From Me. Much of the peanut gallery commenters disagree. Nellie is in town June 30 at Lee’s Palace and could have a new album out as early as October.
Almost as good as a Lonely Planet guide to Springfield USA.
np – Jeff Buckley / Mystery White Boy
Thursday, May 27th, 2004
Long given up for dead, there’s suddenly buzz a-plenty about the next Superman movie. Comic Book Resources has the following predictions: Rose Byrne (Troy) as Lois Lane, Adam Brody (The O.C.) as Jimmy Olsen, Henry Cavill (The Count Of Monte Cristo) as the big blue banana, and Johnny Depp (21 Jump Street) as Lex Luthor Jor-El (Superdad), filming schedule permitting. McG (Charlie’s Angels) will direct and J.J. Abrams (Alias) is writing the script, Summer 2006 being the target release date. Go here for all the up-to-date info on the new Supes movie. And if that’s not enough Supes news for ya, the second Seinfeld/Superman AmEx mini-film is now up here.
Solo New Pornographer A.C. Newman, AKA Carl Newman, will be pimping his solo album The Slow Wonder at Lee’s Palace August 8, admission is $12. The album is out June 8.
Aussie popsters Sekiden will be playing a couple shows in the Big Smoke in June – June 8 at the Horseshoe and then a NXNE show at the B-Side on the 10th. I caught them earlier this year at a post-CMW show and they were loads of fun. Catch em if you can – the Horseshoe show is free, even.
Break out the medallions! The Urge Overkill reunion tour brings Chicago’s suavest to Lee’s Palace June 19th. $18.50 will get you past the velvet rope.
Retrobuzz had a good long interview with Sea Ray about their current tour and the general upwards turn in their fortunes. Head for the May 27 post – the ‘Buzz has no permalinks to individual blog entries. And yes, I’ll admit I’m a little flattered to have been name-dropped in the interview. In case you missed it, June 27 – Sea Ray at the Rivoli! Don’t miss it. I’m serious. No kidding around.
All the Toronto newspapers – well, NOW, eye and The Toronto Star at least – want to find out what’s been going on in the Royal City of late, besides playing the Three Gut 4th anniversary show at the ‘Shoe on Friday and releasing their third album Little Heart’s Ease on June 8.
Billboard has a preview of Guided By Voices’ swan song, Half Smiles Of The Decomposed, out August 24.
Elvis Costello’s new (rock) record with the Imposters will be out on Lost Highway on September 21. Still no title, however.
np – Feist / Let It Die
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004
I was really only lukewarm on the first Shrek – it was pleasant but a little bit milquetoast for my liking. It felt overly restrained, maybe because of the poor track record to that point of any animated feature that wasn’t Disney. Well I think that the success of the first one gave them the confidence to go all out on the sequel, and it’s fantastic. Shrek 2 is far and away the most fun I’ve had at a movie in recent memory. It starts a little slowly with the same safe tone as the first film, but completely takes off when Shrek and Fiona travel to the land of Far Far Away. The sight gags and jokes keep coming fast and furious for the duration of the film and don’t let up for a minute – Everything from the prison break through the grand finale is non-stop laugh-out-loud funny. Antonio Banderas’ Puss-In-Boots steals the show, no mean feat considering the level of voice talent involved. Hell, even the soundtrack is impressive. Not surprisingly, two more sequels have been given the go-ahead and the studio is in talks to secure the voice talent. As much as I’m looking forward to The Incredibles this Fall, I can’t imagine it topping Shrek 2 as best animated film of the year. Hell, restricting it to the animated category is doing it a disservice – this is easily the best movie I’ve seen this year. Go see it.
Harvey Pekar originally did this strip singing the praises of Billy Bragg for publication in Entertainment Weekly, but they backed out after a previous strip with Sean Penn got a little too controversial for their tastes.
One show I’m looking forward to at NXNE this year is the Rainbow Quartz Records showcase at Healey’s on Friday June 11, which will feature Volebeats, Myracle Brah and Denise James. Not familiar with the artists? The label (the self-proclaimed “source for perfect guitar pop”) has set up a special NXNE minisite to get you acquainted..
The final 24 commentary for the year. Sniff. So yeah, I dunno. As I expected, season 3 sputtered out at the end. As promised, they did manage to write out most of the current cast which at least offers the opportunity of a blank slate for season 4, and hopefully with the late season start date they’ll have the time to put together a better storyline and not fly by the seat of their pants so much. I got excited at the start of the finale when the warning came up promising graphic violence, but I guess their standards for ‘graphic’ are different from mine. I guess cutting a guys hand off with a fire axe is graphic. My question is who on earth keeps an axe in a classroom in this day and age? I thought kids weren’t even allowed to bring butter knives to school. Geez. I’m a little surprised Chase survived – telling Jack that he was quitting the field before the mission was over was just dumb. Hasn’t he ever seen any cop revenge movies? He may as well have pulled out a picture of the boat he just finished paying off and talked about his plans to sail around the world when this was all over. It’s a shame Palmer is leaving but after this season, there’s really no way he could have stayed on without it being contrary to how the character was written from day one. Finally, Jack’s breakdown at the very end? It was affecting – it was good to show the other side to his ultra-intense super-agent persona. Poor Jack needs a vacation. But honestly, in every scene from the hospital on, I was waiting for his nose to start bleeding. So there you have it. Let’s get on with our lives, shall we?
Update: The Toronto Sun has its own snarky review of the 24 finale.
np – The New Pornographers / Electric Version
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004
Finally. Brooklyn’s finest (to my ears, anyway) Sea Ray will make their Toronto debut at the Rivoli Sunday June 27, tickets $10 in advance. Their record Stars At Noon is chock full of wonderfully lush and dreamy pop, but not wimpy in the least, and is getting some serious mileage in my playlist. All reports are that they put on a fantastic show. This will be so good. That last week of June is shaping up to be one crazy week of shows – Sea Ray Sunday, Iron & Wine Tuesday, Nellie McKay Wednesday, The Magnetic Fields Friday. Thank goodness that that Thursday is a holiday and Friday just a half day.
Also cool – Heart Murmur brings word of a Beulah DVD due out late Summer or early Fall. A Good Band Is Easy To Kill follows the band on tour through North America last Fall in support of Yoko. Their October show at Lee’s Palace was one of the best concerts I went to last year, so I’m obviously looking forward to seeing this.
Despite their roster being down one keyboardist and up one guitarist, New Order says their new record sounds “more Techniquey in its feel than Get Ready is and we’re all feeling uppy and it sounds uppy”. This sounds completely contrary to earlier reports that their sound was “much more like Joy Division again”. Oh well. The album probably won’t be out till next year.
Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning talks to Billboard about goings-on in the BSS camp, including the follow-up to You Forgot It In People (which had been given a working title of Windsurfing Nation at some point in the distant past) being pushed back to next Spring to accommodate their Lollapalooza touring plans.
The most interesting Stanley Cup final in recent memory kicks off tonight – two young, fast, exciting and low-payroll teams duke it out while the old, trapping big-spender teams (my beloved Leafs included) sit on the sidelines and watch. I truly hope this is the start of a trend and that more teams will buy into the systems that have turned Calgary and Tampa Bay from laughing stocks just a few seasons ago into legitimate champions. Are you paying attention, Leafs management? No, of course you’re not. Idiots. For the record – I’m pulling for Calgary, naturally, but wouldn’t be sad if Tampa and Dave Andreychuk took the Cup.
The passing of the May 2-4 long weekend means two things – one, apparently it’s no longer a fashion faux pas to wear white pants? And two, I’m on Summer hours at work. What this means is that I get up an hour earlier Monday through Thursday to get into work for 8AM, and then I finish at noon on Fridays so I can go home and nap to make up for the four hours of lost sleep from earlier in the week.
np – Neil Young & Crazy Horse / Zuma
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