Dean for America!
Former presidential candidate Howard Dean was installed today to head up the Democratic Party. Dean was my second choice among the slate of candidates last year and, while much was made of his campaign's meltdown in the primaries (and his scream), he is an amazing campaigner and for some reason seems to really connect with people at the grassroots level. I hope he will re-energize the Democratic Party, bring in new blood and vitality, sweep out some cobwebs and, if not bring the Democrats back into power, at least bring the two parties back into balance (which would actually be preferable in many ways.) Too tired to espouse too much on politics this evening. Do good things, Howard. We're counting on you.
Great movie
Go see Phantom of the Opera. Even if you don't like musicals. This is my favorite of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals and I was apprehensive about seeing after reading about some of the changes made to it, but it was amazingly well done. Even my Mom, who has seen the stage version twice (once on broadway) thought it was a great adaptation. My only complaint was I wasn't 100 percent happy with the guy who played the Phantom, didn't really like his voice, but I've listened to the Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman version so long, I may be a little biased. Visually, it's stunning. The casting is great and Minie Driver as Carlotta steals the show. Don't wait for the DVD. See it on the big screen.
Creepy old guy report
I've found myself listening to a lot of new music here lately, stuff these kids today are listening to on their hi-fi transistor radios and such. And, even though I have made the statement that no good music has been made since The Police broke up, I have heard some really good stuff here lately.
Most recently is the Brittish group Keane and their first U.S. album release Hopes and Fears. Immediately, you will hear comparisons to another contemporary Brittish group, Coldplay, and while there are some similarities in the sound, the two couldn't be more different. The trio that makes up Keane has produced a collection of really great pop songs. The songs are well written, the vocals are great and the fact that the trio relies on the piano for their musical mainstay gives it a fresh and full feeling, much in the way Five For Fighting has done for pop music on this side of the pond. The 11 track release Hopes and Fears doesn't have a weak track on it. Definately worth checking out.
Another band that has been burning up the college radion airwaves recently, The Darkness, on first listen, didn't appeal to me. I had heard them on U-92 for the first time after hearing a lot of hype and I wasn't impressed. However, I picked up their album Permission to Land, and gave it a try. While I do have some reservations about the group, mainly the lead singer's vocals can get annoying and don't really fit (Imagine Robert Smith of the Cure being asked to step in at the last minute and perform the vocals for AC/DC songs), most of the songs on the album rock. The song everyone has heard, and I'm too lazy to look up the name of it, is probably the worst song on the album. There are several other really, really great tracks on the album that would probably go further in winning them fans outside the college radio ranks. Of course, maybe they already have them. I try to stay out of touch as possible with these kinds of things.
The other album is Jet's Get Born. First, I have to admit I got the album after hearing it on the iPod commercial, but, on my recent vacation trip to the coast, we listened to the album two or three times. Nothin but good old rock 'n' roll. A couple of the songs get a little repetitive, but, top to bottom, it is a good album.
One group i wan't too impressed with that I really thought I'd like was Modest Mouse. I've listened to Good News for People who like Bad News a couple of times now and just really am not that impressed. Go figger.
