Look & Listen

movies

Barabbas
Another biblical epic from the early ’60s, starring Anthony Quinn instead of Charlton Heston. Produced by Dino De Laurentis and filmed in Italy, Barabbas is based on the novel of Nobel Prize winner Pär Lagerkvist and is worthwhile for either fans of the film genre or those curious about the flip-side of the crucifixion fable.
Shrek
This blockbuster animated feature stars a princess, a fire-breathing dragon, an ogre, a talking donkey, magic and mythical creatures, and more than its fair share of self-referential industry jokes. But the real stars are the voice characterizations by Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow.
Apocalypse Now/Heart of Darkness
What happened while filming Apocalypse Now nearly killed Francis Ford Coppola, and his career has not been the same since. The hell that he went through on the set of his landmark Vietnam war opus has been immortalized in the incomparable documentary, included in this two-film box set.
Caddyshack
A classic comedy from ther ’80s with all the pre-PC accoutrements: drinking, drugs, class wars, teenage sex, and mass destruction. Dangerfield is beyond uncouth, Chevy Chase is too weird for words, Knight is more uptight than the Pope, and Murray is just plain crazy. It’s still a riot for those who aren’t easily offended.

music

Tram
England’s indie drone-rock band Tram creates a stark and simple expression of woe, spiritually descended from ’60s folk artists like Nick Drake, Scott Walker, and Leonard Cohen. Their music is dark, fragile and mournful, yet maintains a light touch, keeping the melancholy to a minimum, and letting the music do the talking.
Ladybug Transistor: The Albermarle Sound
Armed with baroque arrangements and throwback LP artwork, this Brooklyn quintet wholeheartedly embraces post-hippie, pre-punk marshmallow pop, complete with slightly sour strings, horns, waltzes and one spectacular faux-Spanish instrumental. Recommended to Pet Sounds fans who aren’t above embracing Bread or Simon & Garfunkel.
Johnny Otis: Creepin’ With the Cats: The Legendary Dig Masters, Vol. 1.
Jump rhythm and blues from the man that made the crossover from big band to rockabilly in the ’60s. With his strong instrumentals (especially the slinky, scatty drum work) and occasional vocals, Otis revolutionized a sound that is sadly missing from today’s blues scene.
Fauré – Piano Quartets 1 and 2
The Schubert Ensemble of London’s playing is an utter joy, especially in the expansive “Allegro molto moderato” movement of the 1st Quartet. Simon Blendis’ violin is charming, and the piano mastery of William Howard adds a genuine spice to the proceedings. The maturity and passion of Fauré’s music is distilled with almost whimsical beauty.

 

CDs and DVDs available at www.albumcity.cz.


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