The Secret Life of Sofia- Seven Summits

The Secret Life of Sofia- 'Seven Summits'
Released: April 30, 2008
Label: self-released
Home: Brooklyn, NY
Rating: 8.3 out of 10


I was talking to a good friend of mine and we were discussing the blessings and the curses of MySpace and the new digital age of music. One of the biggest double-edged swords of things like MySpace is that anyone with a computer can make an album these days. This is such a great accomplishment in the sense that it opens up the medium to an endless amount of different artistic perspectives, but it can be crippling trying to wade through the white noise to find a truly creative and talented band. This prompted my friend to say that finding a great, new band is like finding that great item at Goodwill for $0.50. It takes some digging, but its definitely there if you're willing to put in some time to work for it. Make no mistake about, Brooklyn's The Secret Life of Sofia is one of those truly creative bands for which I like to dig. The band members gently wrap their sonic textures around, Kyle Wilson, the principle songwriter's melodies and stories like a welcome and warm blanket on the couch of friends. To say that TSLOS is a talented band is a gross understatement. Any band can have a 15-passenger van full of talent, but not many can helm subtle sonic structures like TSLOS can. Even live, the band rarely misses a note and somehow makes their incredible songs even more beautiful and injects their orchestrations with even more of the beautiful melancholy which makes their songs so engaging.

The meticulous orchestration of each song is impressive on many accounts; from their Anathallo-esque multi-percussion approach to songs like "Outside" or the layered guitar work of "Moose Collision" and the hard-hitting but perfectly straightforward drumming on the stellar opening track "Fifty Fourteeners". This is a band that knows what to put in, and often even more importantly know what to keep out.

This album, puts them in the ranks of other phenomenal New York bands like Grizzly Bear and Interpol and makes me think that this just might be the best unsigned band in America.

RIYL: Anathallo, Midlake, Interpol

The Netflix Nebulous: Part 1

I watched a trio of movies this weekend that offered up a few surprises and a whole lot of time well-spent.

The first movie I watched is called 'Wristcutters: A Love Story' and it was written/directed by Goran Dukic based off of a short story by Etgar Keret. The film stars the usually great Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), the oft-overlooked Shannon Sossamon (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), and the incredible Shea Whigham (Tigerland, All the Real Girls). It also has some wonderful, small roles played perfectly by Tom Waits and Will Arnett.

The movie centers around Zia (Fugit), a twenty-something who has just had his heart broken by the woman he loves. Before you tune out, there is actually a creative development here! Zia decides to end his life and is immediately finds himself in the Land of Those Who Off-ed. Apparently, in the movie's world, when you kill yourself you are sent to a parallel world that is very similar, but just a lot crappier where in the words of Mikal (Sossamon) it is "a place where you can't even smile? It's hot as balls, everybody's an asshole." This leads to some dark and unexpected comedy throughout the whole movie. The fact that no one in this alterna-verse is happy means that everyone connects with everyone else on a level that is completely devoid of fun or joy or happiness. This melancholic connection of its characters is sometimes heartbreaking sometimes hilarious, and often both at the same time. I can't remember the last movie that left me feeling so content.

The second movie I watched was called 'Eagle vs. Shark' and it was written/directed by Taika Cohen. It features relative newcomer Loren Horsley and, to my surprise, Jemaine Clement who we all know to be Jemaine in Flight of the Conchords. Anyway, this is an off-beat comedy which finds Lily (Horsley) being rejected by her co-workers and friends and looking for love in the almost unloveable Jarrod (Clement). Jarrod is driven by the need for revenge against his high school bully and he drags Lily along for the ride. Horsley's performance absolutely makes the movie. She is somehow naive yet aware, awkward yet incredibly cute, and a loner with a big heart. This is definitely an independant off-beat comedy that'll make you wish that more movies were made like this.

The third and final film I watched this weekend was the third and final film in the 3 Colors trilogy by Krzysztof Kieslowski, entitled 'Red'. The previous films in the series were both great (Blue being the best) and I had pretty high expectations for this one as well. Kieslowski is best known for these 3 films and a set of films he did for Polish television entitled 'The Decalogue' which are films based on the 10 commandments. Kieslowski always paints this swatch of humanity so beautiful that it could not possibly be real, but also so tangible that it could hardly be fiction. His use of music and color has been noted a million times over, but equally impressive is the vast amounts of tragedy and complexity that he imbues into each characters. This last film in the series showcases the fraternity of France which is represented by the red of the French flag, but this fraternity is found in degradation and Kieslowski seems to be saying that we are connected not through our triumphs and joy, but through our failures, loneliness, and lies. It is a haunting movie that sticks with you long after you are done watching Valentine (Irene Jacob) model fashionable coats. A truly remarkable film.


Wristcutters: B+
Bear vs Shark: B
Red: A-

Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos- The Dust of Retreat

Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos- The Dust of Retreat
Released: sometime this year
Label: Artemis Records
Home: Indianapolis, IN
Rating: 7.4 out of 10


Like almost everyone else it seems that's in their early 20s, I happen to enjoy what is commonly referred to as "indie rock". "What exactly is indie rock" you might ask? Well, indie rock has always been the fringe group of alternative rock that hangs on melody, solid writing, and interesting orchestration. Some recent examples might be The Shins, The Thrills, The Decemberists, and tons of other "The Something or others...". In 2004, Richard Edwards played some of his songs to a new friend named Andy Fry. Andy liked the songs so they moved in together, recruited a whole slew a folks and recorded what just might be one of the best indie rock offerings of 2006.

Lyrically, Edwards' matter-of-fact melancholy is, at its best, refreshing and depressing all in one shot, and at its worst it is just plain ole unessential. The best tracks on here are where Edwards takes his off-beat observance of the twenty-something life and weaves in narratives on love and betrayal and masking the pain. The opening track is a gem with Edwards breathy vocals backed by the layers of their 8+ person band. "Barfight Revolution, Power Violence" is another great song peeking through wonderful fuzz-pop. And the song "Dress Me Like A Clown" brings those melancholy musings on love and how it changes us.

Edwards is, of course, far from perfect, especially when he gets caught up in far-stretched metaphors and ridiculous choruses that contain the single word "meow" like in "Paper Kitten Nightmare".

All in all, MNSSs have crafted a really great indie rock album that is great in its mood execution and musicality. Great melodies and understated harmonies steer this album and new band into validity.

The Hold Steady- Boys and Girls In America

The Hold Steady- Boys and Girls in America
Released: 10/3/06
Label: Vagrant Records
Home: Brooklyn
Rating: 8.1 out of 10

The "blue car theory" will get you every time...You know, the theory that once you own a blue car, you start to see blue cars everywhere. It is manifested often with learning new words and then hearing them all the time suddenly, etc. Anyway, I have recently been rifling through Kerouac's classic about Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty shotgunning across the US in search of some experiences. That's when I popped in The Hold Steady's new album "Boys and Girls in America." The title and opening line for the album is lifted straight from the pages of "On the Road." "There are nights when I think that Sal Paradise was right/Boys and Girls in America/They have such a sad time together."

In order for me to get really into an album then I have to be in sync with the writer. Nothing gets me going more than someone who can put the right words in a pot and create something magical. The most recent person who has done this is Craig Finn (formerly of Lifter Puller) the lead-singer/guitar player/primary songwriter for Vagrant Records band The Hold Steady. The first song "Stuck Between Stations" is the perfect example and one of my favorite opening tracks in a long time. The chorus holds the brilliant lines "She was a pretty cool kisser/And she wasn't all that strict of a Christian/She was damn, good dancer/But she wasn't all that great of a girlfriend." To be honest, the first song is the highlight of the album. "Stuck Between Stations" is just about the perfect indie-rock song. It opens up with a palm-muted 80's riff, then it is joined with a very Boss-like piano line for a few seconds until they turn it up and start playing straight-ahead rock n roll reminiscent of early AC/DC and of course, The Boss. There is a piano breakdown near the end of the song that will throw you for a loop because most bands are too scared of their influences to do anything stark and "classic rock"ish. Thank the Good Lord that THS are willing to lay it out there- tasteful guitar licks and bravado and all.

The first single is "Chips Ahoy" and it is certainly a great track about a girlfriend who makes her living betting on horses at the track. I don't know if I would have put it as the first single, but the songs on here complement the album format and it always feels wrong picking a single out of an album this cohesive. Some of the highlights include the hard-hitting Kerouac-jazz-beat of "Same Kooks" and the indie-show lighter-in-the-air-with-your-

tongue-in-your-cheek song "First Night." There are a lot of great moments on this album. The only problem with that is that they don't always last for entire songs. Save "Stuck Between Stations" a lot of these songs burn fast and before you get to the end, they've run out of gas.

All in all, Craig Finn steers this band into a great album that even surpasses their previous great album "Seperation Sunday".

RIYL: Silver Jews, Bruce Springsteen, Lifter Puller, music

About Me

Welcome to all things Scott Kirkpatrick. Here I will be posting my opinions on music, films, books, etc. I will also just be putting up random things that I enjoy or find interesting. I'm including a couple of old posts of albums I reviewed last year to get things started, and then this will be updated regularly. I have said that before and I mean it again.