The Annuals debut CD – BE HE ME, is a joyous musical celebration
that also uses, in unpretentious ways, ‘found sounds’, i.e. the sound of crickets.
This band has been compared to that seminal 90’s goup, OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL,
for their use of quirky twists in the music. For all their technical bravado, they do not lose
sight of the emotional states at the core of the music. When it all comes together, as in
‘Brother’, ‘Fair’, and ‘Sway’, the results are awe-inspiring.
The sound is full, confident and straight ahead exuberant. Not to be missed, if you
like a ‘white man’s’ reggae !
Artwork by Jaime Jones
ANNUALS, BE HE ME copyright Ace Fu 2006
~Annuals |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | November 28th, 2006, 3:32pm
Let me begin by saying that JOANNA NEWSOM’S 2003 debut CD, Milk-eyed Mender,
was probably one of the best CDs of that year, so the expectations for her second release,
were very high. I’ve been anxiously waiting for this CD for a year and a half.
In fact, 2 years ago, I heard an early bottlegged version of “Cosima” – what became,
in a more refined version, the 5th and last song on her new CD, titled Ys.
And just like the GRIZZLY BEAR CD, YELLOW HOUSE , this is a serious
musical document that reveals its gems, only through serious listening. The songs
run long, averaging between 10 and 15 minutes each, therefore I would recommend
that the listener play one song at a time, and really get a feel for it, before moving
forward.
The involvement of Van Dyke Parks, Steve Albini, and Jim O’Rourke, makes
for a state-of-the-art Indie production.
This is a great CD, even though, or maybe because, it makes demands on the listener.
Painting by: Benjamin A. Vierling
Design by: Richard Good
JOANNA NEWSOM, Ys, 2006 Drag City, Chicago
~Joanna Newsom |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | November 16th, 2006, 2:04pm
The new GRIZZLY BEAR CD, YELLOW HOUSE, is a fine example of the
experimental direction some Indie groups are taking. This Brooklyn based group,
which has been compared to ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, because of their use of the human
voice as an instrument, has made a serious musical document. Having said that, the
listeners’ approach to the music must be serious. Casual entertainment seekers
might not be fulfilled by this music. The tracks should be approached one at a time,
it takes a few listens to get into the nuances of each song.
One of the best songs is “Knife” – a roller coaster ride of musical highs and lows,
with great lyrics to boot.
If you are willing to put in the time – the rewards will be huge.
Photography by: Patryce Bak
Design by: Ben Tousley
GRIZZLY BEAR, YELLOW HOUSE, 2006 WARP RECORDS, LONDON
~Grizzly Bear |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | November 16th, 2006, 1:53pm
ANDREAS GURSKY, b. 1955
99 Cent II Diptychon, 2001
Diptych: two chromogenic color prints mounted with Plexiglas in the artist’s wooden
frames. 81 x 134-1/4 in.
This work is from an edition of six.
Estimate: $2,500,000-3,500,000
sold for: $2,480,000 (includes buyer’s premium)
image scanned from the card for:
CONTEMPORARY ART – AUCTIONS – VIEWING: 9-16 NOVEMBER 2006
PHILLIPS de PURY & COMPANY
the piece itself is part of:
PART I – CONTEMPORARY ART AUCTION
NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – PHILLIPS de PURY & COMPANY
~AUCTION news/ANDREAS GURSKY |
Posted in The Bomb | By Simon Cerigo | November 7th, 2006, 3:58pm
KAREN KILIMNIK, b. 1955
Planning the Attack of Malta, the Mastermind, 2001
Waterbased oil paint on canvas in artist’s wooden frame with audio cassette, 20 x 16 ins.
Estimate: $350,000-450,000
sold for: $408,000 (includes buyer’s premium)
image scanned from:
PART I – CONTEMPORARY ART – AUCTION CATALOGUE
NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – NEW YORK
PHILLIPS de PURY & COMPANY
this is the Karen Kilimnik self-portrait that was referred to in the earlier
artlovers posting on .. ‘The Early Auction buzz is …”
This is the piece that was reported to have had a guaranteed seller’s tag of
half a million dollars. PHILLIPS de PURY confirmed the guarantee to the
seller, but declined to give the actual numbers.
We got the impression that the guaranteed tag was slightly less than the
buzz claimed, but NO !! – the rebounded buzz is that is was MORE !!
$650,000, to be exact. IF the piece was bought in 2001, this represents
a good profit, by the seller, if indeed, they were the original buyer,
because at that time, her prices did not exceed $30,000 – for the
top-of-the-line portraits.
the card for: RENE MAGRITTE – PAINTINGS
NOVEMBER 2 – NOVEMBER 22, 2006
VAN DE WEGHE FINE ART
521 WEST 23RD STREET, NEW YORK, NY
image: Rene Magritte, Le Pelerin, 1966, Oil on canvas,
31-7/8 x 25-5/8 inches
.. it occurs to this ‘art maven’ , having happened upon this excellent & currently running
exhibit of RENE MAGRITTE, that KAREN KILIMNIK’S work, investigates the same sublime
emotional
depths, as this classic 20th Century Belgian painter. Especially his late
work. To my mind this is what differentiates Karen’s work from ELIZABETH PEYTON’S,
with whom she is always compared to and grouped with.
~AUCTION news/KAREN KILIMNIK |
Posted in The Bomb | By Simon Cerigo | November 7th, 2006, 2:44pm
HERNAN BAS, b. 1978
Dionysus Bestowing Midas His Touch, 2005
Oil and glitter on panel, 48 x 35-3/4 ins.
Estimate: $150,000-200,000
sold for: $168,000 (includes buyer’s premium)
image scanned from:
PART I – CONTEMPORARY ART – AUCTION CATALOGUE
NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – NEW YORK
PHILLIPS de PURY & COMPANY
~AUCTION news/HERNAN BAS |
Posted in The Bomb | By Simon Cerigo | November 7th, 2006, 2:42pm
JIM DRAIN b. 1975
i.w.2.b.yrdog, 2004
Stuffed faux fur and checkered print fabric, yellow and green pom poms, street light
globe, cardboard and milk crate. 77 x 34 x 33 ins.
Estimate: $6,000-8,000
sold for: $4,800 (includes buyer’s premium)
image scanned from:
PART II – CONTEMPORARY ART – AUCTION CATALOGUE
NOVEMBER 17, 2006 – NEW YORK
PHILLIPS de PURY & COMPANY
interesting to note that a very big room size installation by MIKE KELLEY, also with
stuffed animals, fabric and “pom poms”, is being offered in the night sale at
PHILLIPS, on the 16th of NOVEMBER, with an estimate of: $3,000,000-4,000,000.
(detail)
MIKE KELLEY b. 1954
Deodorized Central Mass with Satellites, 1991-1999
Mixed Media Installation.
Estimate: $3,000,000-4,000,000
sold for: $2,700,000
image scanned from:
PART I – CONTEMPORARY ART – AUCTION CATALOGUE
NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – NEW YORK
PHILLIPS de PURY & COMPANY
~more: AUCTION news/JIM DRAIN/MIKE KELLEY |
Posted in The Bomb | By Simon Cerigo | November 7th, 2006, 2:03pm
JOSEPH CROSS and ANNETTE BENNING in RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
Film Review
November 7, 2006 by JAN ALBERT
IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD:
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS is a cinematic ode to childhood that falls somewhere
between I Remember Mama and Mommie Dearest.
This is the perfect film for anyone who thinks they come from the most dysfunctional family
in the world. It will make you laugh a lot and realize that you don’t even come close.
Augusten Burroughs, whose crazy mother gave him away to her even crazier psychotherapist
to raise, holds that title. He survived his completely wacked out childhood to write a
best selling memoir that has now been turned into a movie.
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS is a first film for director Ryan Murphy, who
created the TV series, Nip/Tuck, which certainly sees the blend of humor and
pathos in the frenzied way we edit our lives and bodies and present them to the world.
Murphy and his set and costume designers (Richard Sherman and Lou Eyrich) have a blast
recreating the 1970’s fashions, rooms and scenes that surround young Augusten. It is pure
eye candy, beautifully rendered, from the platform shoes to the consciousness raising
sessions Augusten’s mother leads in their living room. Annette Benning really rises to
the occasion as a woman whose delusions of grandeur are at first hysterically funny,
then gradually become seriously disturbing and scary. If only the movie had followed
her extremely brave performance, it would have been a classic. As it is, it skims
the surface for the humor in the situation.
The supporting characters, brought to life by a perfect cast, all have their moments,
including Brian Cox as the quack doctor who offers to take Augusten off his mom’s hands
(so she can devote her complete energy to her analysis), Jill Clayburgh as his distracted
wife, and Evan Rachel Wood as Augusten’s closest friend, despite the fact that she tries
to use him as an electro-shock therapy experiment. Still, Joseph Fiennes is my personal
favorite. He’s come along way from Shakespeare in Love (in which he played
the besotted bard) to play the leather-wearing, 35-year-old “adopted” son of this strange
family who steals Augusten’s virginity at the age of 14. Fiennes somehow manages to
make the viewer care about this crazy cad and he delivers a poetry reading that I assure
you is worth the price of admission alone.
Joseph Cross portrays Augusten as a wry observer to the sideshow that
is his life rather than a participant, and maybe in fact that’s how he survived, by distancing
himself and pretending this was all happening to a character who merely shared his name.
Many kids in crazy families grow up fast because they must become parent to their own
parents, if you know what I mean. But as a movie viewer, after giggling with disbelief
at the series of unbelievable disasters Augusten endures, I wanted to dig in and pull
with him to escape and thrive, rather than experiencing it second hand. The film doesn’t
ultimately provide that kind of catharsis, but there’s a happy ending and it does send
you home smiling at the stangeness and resilience of human beings.
~Running With Scissors |
Posted in Movie Reviews | By Jan Albert | November 7th, 2006, 9:26am
GENE HACKMAN and AL PACINO (!!) in the 1973 film classic: SCARECROW
Film Review
November 1, 2006 by JAN ALBERT
Movie Night with JONATHAN LETHEM
Part of IFC Center’s Speical Guest-Curator Series,
with Director Jerry Schatzberg,
Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 pm
Award-winning author Jonathan Lethem will appear in person at the IFC Center Thursday,
November 9 at 7:30 to present a rare screening of SCARECROW, joined by
his special guest, the film’s editor, Jerry Schatzberg.
A 70s road-movie classic shot by the legendary Vilmos Zsigmond, SCARECROW
(1973) stars Gene Hackman and Al Pacino as two drifters, Max and Lion, who warily form a
friendship as they hitchhike across the country. The film won the Palme d’Or for Best Film
at the Cannes Film Festival.
Jonathan Lethem published his first novel, Gun with Occasional Music, in 1994.
He first garnered major critical and audience attention with Motherless Brooklyn (1999),
a tale of a private detective with Tourette syndrome, which won the National Book
Critics Circle Award. Among his recent works are The Fortress of Solitude
(2003), a semi-autobiographical novel set in late-970’s Brooklyn, and a collection of
essays, The Disappointment Artist (2005). In 2005, Lethem was named
recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship grant. He lives in Brooklyn.
Jerry Schatzberg was an established professional photographer, with work published in
Vogue and McCalls, before he turned to filmmaking. Among
his credits as a director are The Panic in Needle Park
(1971), The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) and Street Smart
(1987).
In the Movie Nights Program, the IFC Center turns over a theater to special guests
and lets them call the shots. Audiences can discover what some of their
favorite authors, musicians, artists and filmmakers would pick if it were Movie Night
at their house. Participants appear in person to share why they made their selections:
to acknowledge the brilliance of a timeless classic, spotlight an unsung gem, or defend
a guilty pleasure. Past guests include the filmmaker David Gordon Green, Slovenian theorist
and philosopher Slavoj Zizek, singer-songwriter-actor Will Oldham, director and
Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam, and French auteur Gaspar Noz.
Tickets for the evening are $12 general admission/$10 seniors.
Proceeds from the Movie Night benefit 826NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
supporting students’ writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students
to write.
www.826nyc.org
IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas at West 3rd Street, box office: 212-924-7771.
For showtimes, advance tickets, and more information, visit ifcenter.com
~Movie Night with Jonathan Lethem/Nov 9 – Scarecrow |
Posted in Movie Reviews | By Jan Albert | November 1st, 2006, 5:07pm