Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The New Beatles Remasters
The original Beatles CD's were languishing on the shelves since 1987 without a spiffy new remaster or repackaging. The Rolling Stones and Dylan seem to remaster their CD's every four or five years, so the absence of new Beatles product has been a glaring omission. According to a few sources, great care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the 1960's original sessions and recording techniques. The only sound flaws that have been eliminated are tape hiss and clumsy edits. No attempt has been made to put a modern gloss on what many would consider sacred recordings.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Movies
Best movie lists invariably end up as personal favorite movie lists and as such are by necessity very subjective. It would be futile and damn near impossible to limit any such list to only 10 movies. Such a list would be more categorized by what was left out than what was included. Therefore, I have decided to list movies that are my personal favorites regardless of their supposed merit by the box office or by critics. Of course, many of these have appeared on critics best of lists and been box office successes, but my list will not be defined by those two criteria.
My list is heavy with old movies. The common criticism of older or classic movies is that they do not hold up over time. Nothing could be further from the truth. As with other forms of art, a great movie is a great movie is a great movie. Is Picasso diminished by the eighty years of space between his work and now? Are the Beatles declasse? Of course not. A common refrain about the movie Citizen Kane is the following: "well it was great for its time, etc . . . " Ridiculous! It is great for all times. Anyway, here is the list which will be a ongoing process.
Citizen Kane-The masterpiece by which every movie since is measured. The hype, the pretense and its legacy are not fully appreciated on a first viewing, but trust me, its greatness is revealed on a second and a third showing. First things first, notice the cinematography. Much of it had never been done before, from the continuous takes to the deep focus which allows the entire scene to be clearly visible. Notice the under the floor vantage point with Joseph Cotton and Welles shot after Kane had lost the election. They actually cut into the floor to lower the camera below grade to attain this angle. Under appreciated by American audiences upon its release, Orson Welles would never have this much control over a movie again.
This is a very real debate over whether Welles or his screenwriter Joseph Mankiewicz wrote the bulk of the material. Either way the dialogue has a vitality that lifts the movie above its technical achievements. Why is Kane the masterpiece and the place holder at the top of most any critics top films? Simply it does more in in two hours than most directors accomplish in ten movies. It is a pastiche of available technique. It combines "march of time" photography with newsreel footage with flashbacks and allegorical story telling non pareil. This film is a very thinly veiled reference to William Randolph Hearst and his America.
The Godfather I and II
La Dolce Vita
Vertigo
The Conversation
Double Indemnity
The Manchurian Candidate
Modern Times
Chinatown
The Maltese Falcon
My list is heavy with old movies. The common criticism of older or classic movies is that they do not hold up over time. Nothing could be further from the truth. As with other forms of art, a great movie is a great movie is a great movie. Is Picasso diminished by the eighty years of space between his work and now? Are the Beatles declasse? Of course not. A common refrain about the movie Citizen Kane is the following: "well it was great for its time, etc . . . " Ridiculous! It is great for all times. Anyway, here is the list which will be a ongoing process.
Citizen Kane-The masterpiece by which every movie since is measured. The hype, the pretense and its legacy are not fully appreciated on a first viewing, but trust me, its greatness is revealed on a second and a third showing. First things first, notice the cinematography. Much of it had never been done before, from the continuous takes to the deep focus which allows the entire scene to be clearly visible. Notice the under the floor vantage point with Joseph Cotton and Welles shot after Kane had lost the election. They actually cut into the floor to lower the camera below grade to attain this angle. Under appreciated by American audiences upon its release, Orson Welles would never have this much control over a movie again.
This is a very real debate over whether Welles or his screenwriter Joseph Mankiewicz wrote the bulk of the material. Either way the dialogue has a vitality that lifts the movie above its technical achievements. Why is Kane the masterpiece and the place holder at the top of most any critics top films? Simply it does more in in two hours than most directors accomplish in ten movies. It is a pastiche of available technique. It combines "march of time" photography with newsreel footage with flashbacks and allegorical story telling non pareil. This film is a very thinly veiled reference to William Randolph Hearst and his America.
The Godfather I and II
La Dolce Vita
Vertigo
The Conversation
Double Indemnity
The Manchurian Candidate
Modern Times
Chinatown
The Maltese Falcon
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Best Bookstores. Used and New
In a fading republic with actual books fast becoming a quaint item, a few intrepid hold-outs are attempting to keep a literate culture alive. These stores are not for the Barnes and Noble set but for the true book connoisseur or fetishist. A good used bookstore has a few criteria. A big selection of books you cannot find anywhere (first editions, esoteric titles), knowledgeable owner, and basic dust free cleanliness. Hopefully, many of your finds will have well-preserved dust jackets. Here are a few proprietors still in the book business.
San Diego
Adams Ave Bookstore
3502 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA
The best used book store in San Diego. It is located in the Normal Heights neighborhood of central San Diego. Clean, well lit, and even bathrooms provided. They specialize in theological books but not the proselytizing type. Serious, academic studies of religion take up a large section of the upstairs. Also, a very large philosophy section highlights the second floor. Many editions of Marx, Hegel, Russell and books explaining what Marx, Hegel and Russell were up to. Every philosophical genre is well represented here. Political, radical, economic and classical philosophy fill the shelves. A whole room devoted to science rounds out the top level at this store.
Downstairs contains the fiction, reference and history sections. The history books are never ending, encompassing, American, Americana, WWI and II, Ancient, histories of various countries, etc. . . The staff is friendly but never obsequious. The prices are not cheap as they seem to know the exact value of their tomes. The books are well taken care of. Never dusty, dirty or in ill repair. Two, mostly friendly book cats round out the experience.
WM Burgett Books
3287 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA
Large selection of history books in a dusty environment. Cabinet of interesting political memorabilia as you walk in. The first time I was here it appeared to be quite disorganized with books strewn about. I visited recently and it seemed to have been better organized.
Maxwell's House of Books
8285 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa CA
Located in the heart of old downtown La Mesa, this quaint used bookstore was a very pleasant surprise. Huge history and philosophy sections contained in a very well organized and clean store. Many first editions of political and sociology books from the 1950's and 60's nicely preserved with excellent quality dust jackets and plastic covers.
D.G. Wills Bookstore
7461 Girard Ave
La Jolla, CA
Fine bookstore located in downtown La Jolla across from Pannikin Coffee and Tea. Owner is usually seated in a big chair in the center of the store as you walk in. Shelves are loaded with books, mostly used but some new books are mixed in. Make sure you look behind the first books that you see on the shelves. Others are directly behind them. Once again, not a deal to be had as the owner knows what he has and what these books are worth. But you will find what you are looking forward in any subject matter. Most impressive is his philosophy section. However, he seems to be a little light in the American history department. Wills has the largest selection of the Loeb Classical Library in San Diego or perhaps most anywhere. Store is clean, and well lit also. If you need help, just ask. The owner will go out of his way to look for a item for you.
Wahrenbrocks
726 Broadway
San Diego, CA
The biggest used bookstore in San Diego, it occupies three floors on the East side of Broadway. Parking is more difficult here as you must feed the meter. The neighborhood is a little sketchy as homeless folks and the under utilized roam just outside the store. The store itself has a large selection of most everything, but to me they seemed to be lacking in philosophy and American history books. They have a huge section upstairs of non-fiction and art books. Books line the stairwells and floors in this relatively clean, but dusty store. Staff is very helpful and the books seem to be quite a bit cheaper than Adams Ave and DG Wills. However, the books are not as sought after and not in as good of shape as the other two stores. The only thing I really had a problem with was when I wanted to purchase a complete NY Review of Books compendium from 1967. However, it was part of a set and they would not allow me to purchase just the one book. Fair enough, but approximately six months later the whole set is still there on the floor unpurchased. Nice section of vintage Modern Library books on the second floor complete with metal, promotional ML bookcase. A little organization would go a long way in improving the experience.
Los Angeles
Brand Bookshop
231 N. Brand Blvd
Glendale CA
Berkelouw Books
830 N Highland Ave
Hollywood, CA
Apparently he is going out of business or looking to sell his entire collection. But, he is still in business and has a large selection of interesting, vintage books. I found some great old Lewis Mumford hard covers along with some pre-War American history books. The only caveat is that you will not find a deal here. The books are considerably overpriced compared to what you can find on abebooks.com if you have the time and the inclination. Last time I was there the owner gave me a long, verbal dissertation on why used book stores like his are going out of business. It's my fault. Or book lovers like myself. We tend to search out the best deal on amazon.com or abebooks.com and can find virtually anything online for much cheaper than he can sell it. The internet is both the best and the worst invention for book lovers.
The Iliad Bookshop
5400 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood CA
Good collection of used books in the NOHO section the Valley. Owner usually has a large table of great, low priced deals. Very good selection of film and Hollywood history books which perhaps is no surprise considering the location.
Hennessey and Ingalls
314 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA
This bookstore specializes in new art books. It is nirvana for the art book lover. They usually have a browsing copy with the other books still in their protective, plastic wrap. These books range from architecture, photography, classical and modern art and just about any art related book you could imagine. It is located just on the outside of Third Street Promenade about one block from the beach.
San Francisco/Oakland
City Lights Books
261 Columbus Ave at Broadway
San Francisco, CA
Yes, the one and only. City Lights sells only new books and has its own publishing wing. The City Lights published books are on the the right side of the stairs leading down to the basement. City Lights has three floors of books in its clean, well lit store. Just walking in here and feeling the wood floor creak beneath your feet is enough to make a book lover giddy. The radical leaning store has its sections marked, "Stolen Continents", "Imperialism" and other provocative labels. Some may have a problem with the overtly political nature of the operation, however it never seems overbearing or preachy. It just seems right for the store and the location.
Moe's Books
2476 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA
A Berkeley institution. Three floors of clean, well lit, book browsing delight.
Chicago
Printer's Row Fine Books
715 S Dearborn
Chicago, IL
As the name indicates it is located in the old printers row section of downtown Chicago. Not cheap, but they have old leatherbound editions and other interesting items. What really piqued my interested was the vintage rack of classic Modern Library editions. These books were in great condition, complete with pristine dust jackets. Once you purchase the books the owner first wraps them in plastic wrap, and for the coup de grace wraps them tight in a brown paper complete with a Printer's Row gold emblem sticker. Sometimes it is the little things that will bring customers back.
Abraham Lincoln Bookshop
357 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL
Fascinating, clean store replete with Lincoln and Civil War era books. However, as my friend said, "don't even buy a pencil there." Books are exorbitant and most anything they have you may be able to find on the internet cheaper. However, this is a treasure trove of Americana and Lincoln books and memorabilia that you can't find in any other one place.
New York
The Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway
New York, NY
Ah, used book nirvana. The mother lode. Whatever you call it, this store does not disappoint. Three floors of mostly used but many new, well maintained books. The have stacks and stacks of "reviewed" new books for half price. Plan your day accordingly before you enter here. You may be awhile.
San Diego
Adams Ave Bookstore
3502 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA
The best used book store in San Diego. It is located in the Normal Heights neighborhood of central San Diego. Clean, well lit, and even bathrooms provided. They specialize in theological books but not the proselytizing type. Serious, academic studies of religion take up a large section of the upstairs. Also, a very large philosophy section highlights the second floor. Many editions of Marx, Hegel, Russell and books explaining what Marx, Hegel and Russell were up to. Every philosophical genre is well represented here. Political, radical, economic and classical philosophy fill the shelves. A whole room devoted to science rounds out the top level at this store.
Downstairs contains the fiction, reference and history sections. The history books are never ending, encompassing, American, Americana, WWI and II, Ancient, histories of various countries, etc. . . The staff is friendly but never obsequious. The prices are not cheap as they seem to know the exact value of their tomes. The books are well taken care of. Never dusty, dirty or in ill repair. Two, mostly friendly book cats round out the experience.
WM Burgett Books
3287 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA
Large selection of history books in a dusty environment. Cabinet of interesting political memorabilia as you walk in. The first time I was here it appeared to be quite disorganized with books strewn about. I visited recently and it seemed to have been better organized.
Maxwell's House of Books
8285 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa CA
Located in the heart of old downtown La Mesa, this quaint used bookstore was a very pleasant surprise. Huge history and philosophy sections contained in a very well organized and clean store. Many first editions of political and sociology books from the 1950's and 60's nicely preserved with excellent quality dust jackets and plastic covers.
D.G. Wills Bookstore
7461 Girard Ave
La Jolla, CA
Fine bookstore located in downtown La Jolla across from Pannikin Coffee and Tea. Owner is usually seated in a big chair in the center of the store as you walk in. Shelves are loaded with books, mostly used but some new books are mixed in. Make sure you look behind the first books that you see on the shelves. Others are directly behind them. Once again, not a deal to be had as the owner knows what he has and what these books are worth. But you will find what you are looking forward in any subject matter. Most impressive is his philosophy section. However, he seems to be a little light in the American history department. Wills has the largest selection of the Loeb Classical Library in San Diego or perhaps most anywhere. Store is clean, and well lit also. If you need help, just ask. The owner will go out of his way to look for a item for you.
Wahrenbrocks
726 Broadway
San Diego, CA
The biggest used bookstore in San Diego, it occupies three floors on the East side of Broadway. Parking is more difficult here as you must feed the meter. The neighborhood is a little sketchy as homeless folks and the under utilized roam just outside the store. The store itself has a large selection of most everything, but to me they seemed to be lacking in philosophy and American history books. They have a huge section upstairs of non-fiction and art books. Books line the stairwells and floors in this relatively clean, but dusty store. Staff is very helpful and the books seem to be quite a bit cheaper than Adams Ave and DG Wills. However, the books are not as sought after and not in as good of shape as the other two stores. The only thing I really had a problem with was when I wanted to purchase a complete NY Review of Books compendium from 1967. However, it was part of a set and they would not allow me to purchase just the one book. Fair enough, but approximately six months later the whole set is still there on the floor unpurchased. Nice section of vintage Modern Library books on the second floor complete with metal, promotional ML bookcase. A little organization would go a long way in improving the experience.
Los Angeles
Brand Bookshop
231 N. Brand Blvd
Glendale CA
Berkelouw Books
830 N Highland Ave
Hollywood, CA
Apparently he is going out of business or looking to sell his entire collection. But, he is still in business and has a large selection of interesting, vintage books. I found some great old Lewis Mumford hard covers along with some pre-War American history books. The only caveat is that you will not find a deal here. The books are considerably overpriced compared to what you can find on abebooks.com if you have the time and the inclination. Last time I was there the owner gave me a long, verbal dissertation on why used book stores like his are going out of business. It's my fault. Or book lovers like myself. We tend to search out the best deal on amazon.com or abebooks.com and can find virtually anything online for much cheaper than he can sell it. The internet is both the best and the worst invention for book lovers.
The Iliad Bookshop
5400 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood CA
Good collection of used books in the NOHO section the Valley. Owner usually has a large table of great, low priced deals. Very good selection of film and Hollywood history books which perhaps is no surprise considering the location.
Hennessey and Ingalls
314 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA
This bookstore specializes in new art books. It is nirvana for the art book lover. They usually have a browsing copy with the other books still in their protective, plastic wrap. These books range from architecture, photography, classical and modern art and just about any art related book you could imagine. It is located just on the outside of Third Street Promenade about one block from the beach.
San Francisco/Oakland
City Lights Books
261 Columbus Ave at Broadway
San Francisco, CA
Yes, the one and only. City Lights sells only new books and has its own publishing wing. The City Lights published books are on the the right side of the stairs leading down to the basement. City Lights has three floors of books in its clean, well lit store. Just walking in here and feeling the wood floor creak beneath your feet is enough to make a book lover giddy. The radical leaning store has its sections marked, "Stolen Continents", "Imperialism" and other provocative labels. Some may have a problem with the overtly political nature of the operation, however it never seems overbearing or preachy. It just seems right for the store and the location.
Moe's Books
2476 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA
A Berkeley institution. Three floors of clean, well lit, book browsing delight.
Chicago
Printer's Row Fine Books
715 S Dearborn
Chicago, IL
As the name indicates it is located in the old printers row section of downtown Chicago. Not cheap, but they have old leatherbound editions and other interesting items. What really piqued my interested was the vintage rack of classic Modern Library editions. These books were in great condition, complete with pristine dust jackets. Once you purchase the books the owner first wraps them in plastic wrap, and for the coup de grace wraps them tight in a brown paper complete with a Printer's Row gold emblem sticker. Sometimes it is the little things that will bring customers back.
Abraham Lincoln Bookshop
357 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL
Fascinating, clean store replete with Lincoln and Civil War era books. However, as my friend said, "don't even buy a pencil there." Books are exorbitant and most anything they have you may be able to find on the internet cheaper. However, this is a treasure trove of Americana and Lincoln books and memorabilia that you can't find in any other one place.
New York
The Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway
New York, NY
Ah, used book nirvana. The mother lode. Whatever you call it, this store does not disappoint. Three floors of mostly used but many new, well maintained books. The have stacks and stacks of "reviewed" new books for half price. Plan your day accordingly before you enter here. You may be awhile.
Monday, June 11, 2007
The Soprano's Finale
It was the denouement that never came. The curtain closing on our voyeuristic pleasure of watching an ethically challenged family exist in modern America. David Chase knows how to write and to create drama and subtext that both challenge and frustrate his viewers. If you watched the series from its beginning you had to realize that it could end no other way. The perfect ending is no ending. You draw your own conclusions because the show is too smart to fall into a pattern of cliched endings. No one changes on the Sopranos. If they change at all it is to obtain some transitory goal. They are condemned by their fate, their unchanging essence to become who they are. Chase must have read his Nietzsche, because the series strikes on many of the themes written of by the famous philosopher. The dubiousness of Christian ethics and moral truths, truth from different perspectives and most importantly, amour fati, or loving or accepting ones own fate. In the end, the audience could see no more. Our glimpse into this sordid world had to end and it did, abruptly and with confusion. In the end, the Soprano's is about nostalgia. In the series pilot, Tony talks about his coming in at the end of the glory days. In the final episode, he laments of the houses that have sprung up in the back of Johnny Sack's old house. His final meeting with Uncle Junior has great relevance to our feelings of loss. Junior once ran North Jersey; now, he is a mental shell of his former self. Memories are all we have in the end, and he has suffered the ultimate punishment.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
JFK and the massive new tome
The release of the new JFK assassination book by legendary and logically thorough prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, will no doubt bring the CN's (conspiracy nuts) out of their woodwork again. 1600 plus pages in length, it aims to be the somewhat last word on the case. How many people will actually read this massive project is probably minimal, but a cursory glance already reveals a completely readable text wth a lawyer's precision for the process. Already the CN's have begun their verbal and tired denunciations. What they ask of all of us who do not subscribe to some aspect of their multi layered theories, is that we willfully suspend any rational thought in thinking about the case. What they fail to do is provide any solid proof to their reams and reams of conjecture. This book will not be the last word, as conspiracy theorists are never satisfied. It is in their DNA. No one in a seemingly complicated world wants to believe in the randomness of society. Conspiracies are complex, much like we want to believe our existence really is. A single gunman, or a simple plot only underscores the arbitrary nature of life. I symphathize. I used to be a less disingenous conspiracy sympathizer. I wanted to believe in a conspiracy. I love the speculation of the "who done it" and I understand for arguing against the lone nut theory. It provides at least a explanation in a world full of uncontrollable forces. In a world of chaotic disorder, order is desired by most of us. Conspiracy thinking solves a larger issue. The Cubans, the Mafia, the CIA? Fascinating stuff but ultimately unconvincing. Reason took a hold of me years ago and would not let me go. I want to believe, I just can't be persuaded by the same, tired old theories. I am also one who loved Oliver Stone's JFK. A masterpiece of speculation and film editing. But I also realize that it is fiction, useful and entertaining fiction, but fiction nonetheless.
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