Eventyrland (2013) – 8,5/10 - beautiful cinematography

Troll 2 (1990) – 5/10 – a funny bad movie.

Zero Charisma (2013) – 7/10

Best Worst Movie (2009) (doc about Troll 2) – 5/10

A Thousand Times Good Night (2013) – 7/10

Broken (2012) – 8,5/10

Highway (2002) – 7/10

Gave up:

Ain't Them Body Saints (2013)

Upstream Color (2013)

Prisoners (2013)

Prisoners (2013)

This is one of the best thrillers I have seen in a long time. The story takes some time do develop, but when it finally does it is dead exiting. Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman make a great performance.

I enjoyed the movie because it was a unpredictable interesting story, it had good acting, good cinematography and was edited well.

My rating: 9/10

The Battery (2012) – 8,5/10

Disconnect (2012) – 7,5/10

Timecrimes (2007) – 8/10

The World's End (2013) – 6/10

Hotel Transylvania (2012) 6/10

Odd Thomas (2013) – 5/10

A Company Man (2012) – 8/10

The Kings of Summer (2013) – 8,5/10

Elysium (2013) – 8/10

Frances Ha (2012) – 7,5/10

The Dirties (2013) – 8/10

Une Nuit (2012) – 8/10

Graceland (2012) – 8/10

Confession of Murder (2012) – 5/10

Gave up:

The East (2013)

The Way Way Back (2013)

Recent movie ratings

Djupio / The Deep (2012) – 7,5/10

Ichi The Killer (2001) – 6/10

The Fly (1986) – 8/10

Top of the Lake (2013 mini-series) – 8/10

The Iceman (2012) – 8/10

Pain & Gain (2013) – 6,5/10

Northwest (2013) – 8/10

Gave up:

Visitor Q (2001)

In The Fog (2012)

Simon Killer (2012)

Pictures from my last days in Molde

Band of the week: Ravens & Chimes

I bought the two albums “Reichenbach Falls” (2007) and “Holiday Life” (2012) for some months ago, but as I check out a lot of new music this band became lost for me. I had listened through the songs and felt that it didn't attach me.

But then suddenly when I was driving from Molde to Oslo (an eight hours drive) listening to my mp3 player set on shuffle, Ravens & Chimes popped up and I was wondering “nice, what is this playing?”. Yes, it took me some time to appreciate this music. It sounds happy and melancholic in the same time, it is playful indie rock with piano and a remarkable voice. Ravens & Chimes can maybe be compared to Andrew Bird and Arcade Fire. 

From "Reichebach Falls" I think the track "For m." is the most beautiful:

From "Holiday Life" my favourite track is "Past Lives":

 

Soviet Soviet

Today's band is an Italian band I stumbered upon when looking for new music this saturday. Their music got me attached right away. It sounds like Interpol, The KWB and Madensuyu. Check it out:

Friday's music recommendation

Cyesm – Empire Street

This is one chill song. Reminds me a bit of Yppah, and makes me happy :) I've listened through “Weird Stories” (2012) where it is from, but I can't yet decide if the album is good or not.

 

Joy Zipper - S/t (2007)

Joy Zipper is relaxing rock music. It's playful, cheering, slow and nice. It reminds me a bit of Yo La Tengo. 

My Bee's Garden 

“Hunt the Sleepers” (2010) is dark and beautiful.

Hookworms

After listening through the four-track single album “Hookworms” (2011) on Spotify, I bought their recent album “Pearl Mystic” (2013). It is great psychedelic rock, a bit similar to Psychic Ills. I've listened through the album some times now, but I am not sure how much I like it yet. 

Feeding People

I discovered this band by listening to my favorite radio disk jockey, Harald Are Lund. Their album “Island Universe” (2013) is great piece. It shows a lot of variation. 

I don't think this is the best track, but I didn't find my favorite tracks of the albums on youtube. 

Wampire

Speaking of Harald Are Lund, Wampire was also discovered listening to this guy. “Curiosity” (2013) is a cool album. Check it out!

Hookworms - Away/Towards

Friday's music recommendation

I received an email from Spotfy recommending me some band. I was of course a bit skeptical, but when the mail said “Because you've listened to Secret Colours, The Limiñanas and Yeti Lane.” I decided to give Hooded Fang a try.

I do not regret it. This is happy Canadian indie rock. I have listened to “Gravez” (2013) and “ Tosta Mista” (2011), and I would say I like the newest album the most. It contains high variation between the tracks. “Bye Bye Land” reminds me of early Beck music, “Genes” reminds me of Gorillaz, and some others remind me a bit of Kasabian. 

 

 

Birp Playlist June

Birp's play lists are one great opportunity to discover new bands. The list contains over hundred songs each month, and usually only about 5 – 10 % of them are good. From this month's list the following releases got my attention:

- Portugal. The Man – Evil Friends

- Laura Marling – Once I Was an Eagle

- The National – Trouble Will Find Me

- Boards of Canada – Reach for the Dead (single)

- Wild Nothing – Empty Estate

Ester Drang – Golden West (2001)

Even this album is twelve years old, I think it is fair to write about it today. The music is relaxing and dreamy. It sounds a bit like Do Make Say Think with vocals. Really nice music to chill out to.

My favorite track is “How Good is Good Enough”. 

The KVB – Immaterial Visions (2013)

I thought KVB's previous album “Always Then” (2012) was really cool and had to try their new one. The sound is noisy and dark, it reminds me of a mixture of A Place To Bury Strangers, Joy Division and My Bloody Valentine. 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito (2013)

I have not been a big fan of YYY, but Mosquito is a nice album with a lot of variation. It has a great mixture of fast and energetic songs, and then the softer and beautiful ones.

Arrested Development (4^th season) – 7/10

Robot & Frank (2012) – 7,5/10

Underground: The Julian Assange Story (2012) – 7/10

Lesson of the Evil (2012)

This is probably one of the most horrible movie I've been through. Horrible in that way it is extremely violent and difficult to watch. It is nice shot and not so boring, but the story about the cold hearted killer is a bit too much. I think Takashi Mike will shock a lot of people with this movie.

“Rampage” and “Funny Games” are similar movies.

My rating: 6,5/10

Gave up:

Side Effects (2013) – I don't like Jude Law, and the story didn't get me attached.

Celeste & Jesse forever (2012)

The Sessions (2012)

Die Wand (2012)

UUVVWWZ – The Trusted Language (2013)

Nice band name... This is the second album from these guys. The first one (self-titled) (2009) did not contain so many good songs in my opinion, but the few good ones made me lurk about and wait for the next one. The female vocal is wild and disturbing, but in a good way. The music is playful, energetic rock. The Trusted Language contains a bunch of cool powerful songs, and I'm sure I will listen through it many hours.

Grandfather - In Human Form (2013) (Free Digital Sampler)

The free digital sampler which you can get from http://grandfathermusic.bandcamp.com/ contains 4 songs from the upcoming second album In Human Form. The debut album “Why I'd Try” (2010) was engineered by Steve Albini and was very good. I did never get tired of it. I'm not sure which bands I should compare Grandfather with, but Deftones and System Of a Down are not far away.

This sampler makes me guess that In Human Form will be one of my favorite albums of 2013.

Resolution (2012) – 7,5/10

Mer eller mindre mann / The Almost Man (2012) – 6/10

Gnade / Mercy (2012) – 8,5/10 – Very beautiful cinematography.

Starlet (2012) – 9,5/10

Ruby Sparks (2012) – 7,5/10

Killing Them Softly (2012) – 8/10

It's a Disaster (2012) – 8,5/10 – very funny comedy.

Polisse (2011) – 8,5/10

War Witch (2012) – 7/10

"Starlet" (2012)

“An unlikely friendship forms between 21 year-old Jane and the elderly Sadie after Jane discovers a hidden stash of money inside an object at Sadie's yard sale”(imdb)

The short summary didn't get me too curios, but when viewed I got sucked into this American independent movie right away. It is very beautiful shot, it was funny, with great acting, script, soundtrack and a beautiful, enjoyable main character.

You would probably think this is a typical girl-movie by the poster and summary, but it really is not.

Until now “Starlet” has only about 500 votes on imdb and with an average rating of 6,4. I can't see why it does not have a better score. This will be one of my favorite films of 2013. 

My rating: 9,5/10

Io e te / Me and You (2012) – 8/10

The Grey (2011) – 6/10

Kompani Orheim (2012) – 8/10

Sightseers (2012) – 9/10

Hanna (2011) – 7,5/10

Frankenweenie (2012) – 7,5/10

The Constant Gardener (2005) – 8/10

Jagten (2012) – 8,5/10

Zero Dark Thirty (2012) – 8,5/10

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) – 8,5/10

House of Cards (2013, TV series) – 9,5/10

Lincoln (2012) – 5/10

In the House (2012) – 5/10

The Angel's Share (2012) – 7,5/10

The Comedy (2012) – 7,5/10

Django Unchained (2012) – 8/10

Flight (2012) – 7/10

The Master (2012) 6/10

Argo (2012) – 8,5/10

Kapringen/ A Hijacking (2012) – 8/10

Atlanterhavsveien

The Impossible (2012) – 7/10

Lawless (2012) – 6,5/10

John Dies at the End ((2012) – 7,5/10

Seven Psychopaths (2012) – 9/10

In Bruges (2008) – 8,5/10

Paranorman (2012) – 7/10

Tigerland (2000) – 7,5/10

Harold and Maude (1976) – 7,5/10

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) – 7/10

Recent movies watched

Sinister (2012) – 6,5/10

Ill Manors (2012) – 8,5/10

Rust and Bone (2012) - 8/10

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) – 8/10

Compliance (2012) – 6,5/10

Berberian Sound Studio (2012) – 6,5/10

Gave up:

Cloud Atlas (2012) - too long, boring.