All Consuming : alykat

Well-Written, But... (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 06:13:22 GMT

by Haruki Murakami

I’m a bit wishy-washy on the Oedipal aspects of the story, though I was quite fond of the parallel storyline about the old man and the trucker who joined him on his unusual quest. Murakami is still a masterful writer, however, and despite my qualms with some of the story, “Kafka on the Shore” is an absorbing read.

A review of "Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 02:14:28 GMT

Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

by Nick Park

I just watched this again on DVD. It’s so sweet and charming, it’s hard not to watch it all the way through with a silly grin on my face.

A review of "EXPO - Magic of the White City DVD" (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 03:33:59 GMT

EXPO - Magic of the White City DVD

by Mark Bussler

There’s a ton of interesting photos and information about the Chicago World’s Fair in this documentary, but it’s poorly organized, the occasional present-day color imagery is distracting, and the too-long references to later world events are largely irrelevant.

A review of "Picaresque" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 03:23:20 GMT

Picaresque

by The Decemberists

Although I’ve grown a little weary of the whole sea mariner motif, I’ve really enjoyed this album — particularly the chorus of “Engine Driver” (“I am a writer/Writer of fictions/I am the heart that you call home…”).

Meh. (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:44:12 GMT

The Producers

by Susan Stroman

It had its moments, and I really wanted to like it … but it just didn’t do anything for me. I can see, though, how it must have played a lot better on a Broadway stage.

A question I have about "Caffeine Free Diet Coke"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:41:15 GMT

Caffeine Free Diet Coke

by Coca-Cola

I’m with Faith … What is the point of a cola that doesn’t have sugar or caffeine?

A story about "Diet Dr. Pepper"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:37:42 GMT

Diet Dr. Pepper

by Dr. Pepper Bottling Company

Diet Dr. Pepper is my favorite of all diet sodas, followed closely by Diet Cherry Coke. It doesn’t have that funky diet soda taste. Mmmm.

I still need to cut back, though.

A story about "Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:35:18 GMT

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

At my office, they have free PBJ every Friday. Yum!

Innocent (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 23:12:43 GMT

A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana

by Haven Kimmel

Kimmel has a wonderful voice for expressing a young girl’s “me”-centric view of the world around her. A fun, often funny read

A story about "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 12:43:45 GMT

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition)

by Alfonso Cuarón

This is probably my favorite of the four Harry Potter films so far.

A story about "The Weather Man"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 06:54:28 GMT

The Weather Man

by Gore Verbinski

Not bad, but I don’t think it works as a whole. (But then, I tend to be a bit suspicious of those “lifetime screw-up has to redeem himself for the good of his family” kind of stories, as they often veer way too far into “overly sentimental, predictable pablum” territory.) I very much enjoyed Michael Caine’s performance. And there are some great shots of Lake Michigan in winter.

A story about "The Joshua Tree"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:54:11 GMT

The Joshua Tree

by U2

Very likely U2’s best album ever. (The only possible competition is Achtung Baby.) I used to only listen to the first three songs — the three big hits from this album — because I’d hit “Bullet the Blue Sky,” get annoyed by it, and shut the album off. It wasn’t until later that I gave the whole album a chance and discovered just how fantastic the rest of it was.

A story about "The Richest Man in Babylon"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:50:52 GMT

The Richest Man in Babylon

by Thievery Corporation

Best tracks from this DC-based duo: “Richest Man in Babylon” and “State of the Union”

A story about "Up the Bracket"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:46:52 GMT

Up the Bracket

by Libertines

Good stuff, in the vein of Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes. My favorite track: “Vertigo.”

A story about "Fear of Pop: Vol. 1"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:45:23 GMT

Fear of Pop: Vol. 1

by Fear Of Pop

This album wasn’t really my cup of tea, but if you get a chance, check out the deeply weird “In Love,” featuring a spoken-word performance by William Shatner.

A story about "Ben Folds Live"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:42:06 GMT

Ben Folds Live

The live versions of “Army” and “Not the Same” are reasons alone to buy this CD. If you haven’t been to any of Folds’s shows, he gets the audience to sing multi-part harmonies in place of instrumental sections in parts of these songs, and it works out surprisingly well. Also good: a performance of “Fred Jones Part 2,” featuring back-up vocals from John McCrea, lead singer of Cake.

A story about "Awake Is the New Sleep (Dig)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:34:50 GMT

Awake Is the New Sleep (Dig)

by Ben Lee

I saw Ben Lee open for Aimee Mann several months ago. I’d never heard him play before, but I liked him and his music almost immediately. (Best song of the set and best song on this CD: the unfortunately named “Catch My Disease.”) After the set, I met him in the shop, and he signed my newly-purchased copy of this CD. Really nice guy.

A story about "The Cure - Greatest Hits"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:28:01 GMT

The Cure - Greatest Hits

If you can, check out the version of the greatest hits that includes a bonus “Acoustic Hits” CD … some interesting takes on their classic songs.

A story about "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:26:00 GMT

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

by Michel Gondry

One of my favorite movies. So haunting and bittersweet; it makes me cry every time I see it.

A story about "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:22:24 GMT

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine is one of my favorite movies, and the instrumental tracks on this soundtrack match up with it brilliantly. “Peer Pressure,” “Row” and “Elephant Parade” are especially haunting, the tunes fading out just before the last note, as if they, too, were memories just erased.

A story about "The Hour of Bewilderbeast"

nobody@allconsuming.net (alykat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 05:18:13 GMT

The Hour of Bewilderbeast

by Badly Drawn Boy

I’ve enjoyed this album, whose flow follows the course of a new relationship through to its dissolution. The album works as a whole, but there are a few good standalone songs as well.