"If you wanted to go to a restaurant for a special occasion and someone said, 'Why not go to McDonald's? More people go there than any other place,' would that really be enough to convince you?"
--Kenneth Turan, veteran L.A. Times film critic in response to the question of whether or not film critics were still relevant in the age of bloggers, hype and weekend box office scores.
Check out this interesting column from Los Angeles Times' excellent Patrick Goldstein about the "anti-critic" movement that's afoot in the film industry and the society at large.
While no one likes being told what to think and younger people in particular have a much hipper, more ironic sensibility than most parents and film critics, I think that one can't help but wonder if the anti-critic sensibility is just one more symptom of the dumbing down of America. What do you think? I may post some of your answers in a later blog.
Christina Aguilera: Good enough, smart enough and doggone it, people like her--A Sort-of Album Review
Picked up the new Christina Aguilera album yesterday (yeah, yeah, I know...). I've only managed to listen to Disc 1 so far, but here's a few early impressions:
--The DJ Premier-helmed Disc 1 has a sleek, fresh, hip-hop sound that's the
perfect synthesis of modern sampling and old-fashioned jazz and R&B influenced stylings. It's genuinely fresh for Aguilera and she doesn't oversing on top of the production, making for a good, solid, briskly paced pop record.
--Lyrically, Aguilera and her writers (as much as they'd clearly like to be considered with the soul classiscists) don't have a whole lot to say beyond, "Christina is one of the great singers, like the singers of old", "my husband [Jordan Bratman] is really nice and gives me the big one" and "Christina, you're cool and your fans love you!", but at least these sort of shallow, one note messages go down nicely when you listen to them. In other words, she doesn't come across as overbearing and the production is really nice to listen to. Still, I want to just go up to "Xtina" and say to her, "You don't have to constantly remind us what a great voice you have, or how big your husband's dick is, or that you aspire to be one of the R&B greats--you just have to let your performance take care of itself, don't showboat and trust that your fans and your husband love you. You're okay Christina, we're okay..."
Of course anyone who knows anything at all from the barrage of Christina Aguilera coverage over the years and from the content of her last somewhat-impressive, somewhat-embarassing album, knows why Christina is so insecure, growing up as she did with abuse, poverty an absent father and a host of issues about her looks and abilities. Maybe when she's 35, Aguilera can put a lot of it past her, showcase her maturity and just concentrate on singing and performing a wide variety of songs that come from the heart.
Bottom line: if you're remotely curious about this new album, or are already a Christina Aguilera fan, you probably won't be disappointed.
Jon Benet's Murderer Finally Found?
You've gotta be kidding me! I've theorized for years that it was the older brother that did it and the family just covered for him. Now it's supposed to be some guy in Thailand who was arrested for something completely unrelated? I can't wait for the details of this to come out. For now, color me skeptical...but if HE did do it, I hope they bury him under the jail. And that the Ramsey family finally finds some peace of mind.
Quote of the Week
"...would that be something that might interest you?"
--Martin Landau as washed-up producer Bob Ryan in this week's episode of ENTOURAGE.
I imagine hipsters and fans of the show have already started working this catchphrase into their conversations. Or maybe it's just me.
Friday or Saturday: as promised, all sports on this blog, including a preview of the AFC contenders this season. Until then...
Peace.
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