I've had her latest album, Scary Fragile, on repeat the last couple of days. Performed live @ Chessvolt Studios in L.A.

Guess who's back? I've still been around on LJ, mostly commenting on other people's stuff. I hadn't done a "Song Of The Day" in awhile. So to get the ball rolling, here's something that's been stuck in my head lately. Bitte Orca is kind of a weird album to me, but it's refreshingly original.



Solange did a nice cover. What appealed to me about the original is that it's basically an R & B song. Solange did her thing and added a little soul to it.

A brief wrap up on some of the movies I saw last month...
( Extract, Gamer, White Out, Jennifer's Body & The Informant )

A nice sized crowd walking to raise money for Lupus research. My family and I participate every year for the one at Union County College in Cranford, NJ. We're also involved in a support group for people with Lupus in Essex County. My mother was diagnosed 20 years and is still doing well. That's her in the black hoodie, with my sister in the green hoodie. My aunt and three of my cousins are walking ahead of them. For more info about Lupus, check out the Lupus Foundation Of America's website

This was taken about a couple months ago on Houston St. in NYC. I spotted this mural. Someone was nice enough to take my picture for me in exchange for taking a picture of her and her friend. Other people were doing the same.

( more of the mural and other art on the streets of NY )

A few more movies I caught last month...
( The Goods, Summer Hours, Days Of Darkness, Dead Snow, Mothers & Daughters )

Live @ The Roxy

I saw a ton of movies this past month. Here's a quick look at what I've seen...
( It Might Get Loud, Beeswax, District 9, Cold Souls, Inglorious Basterds & The Headless Woman )

DJ AM, who battled drug habit, found dead in NYC - Yahoo! News

What makes his story really tragic was that he battled drug addiction in the past and won. Also, he (along with Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker) survived a plane crash that took 4 other lives about a year ago. Rest in peace...

YOUTH IN REVOLT:
Michael Cera's next movie looks hilarious...


INCEPTION:
The next film by Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio...

AP Source: Coroner rules Jackson's death homicide - Yahoo! News

Interesting, yet not a totally surprising development in this case...

PAPER HEART
It's hard to categorize this movie. It looks like a documentary, yet the director is played by an actor. That alone will have you scratching your head. I guess you can call this performance art if anything because of the genuine moments, such as the interviews Charleen and her crew conducts, are mixed in with staged scenes. Knowing this before going to see the film will have you wondering what is real and what isn't, such as the relationship that develops between Charleen and Michael Cera. It's been rumored that they actually are a couple, or at one point they were a couple and now are just friends. Who knows. You just have to put all that aside and enjoy it for what it is. The film has a quirky sense of humor that may put people off. In fact, at the screening I went to, a few people walked out from an already small audience. I can see people dismissing this as a "hipster movie". But, the general theme, contemplating what love is and what really means, is universal. Go in with an open mind and you will laugh your ass off.



G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA
I was a big fan of the cartoon and had a huge collection of G.I. Joe action figures and vehicles when I was a kid. But after seeing how Michael Bay fucked up Transformers, I didn't have high hopes for this. In some ways, I was right. There are plot holes you can drive a Mac truck through. And some of the acting and CG are just plain terrible. The Duke/Baroness storyline was even worse. But, I wasn't bored. The action will have you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed director Stephen Sommers' first two Mummy movies, so you pretty much know what to expect. Speaking of which, Brendan Fraser pops up for a couple of scenes. I loved Rachel Nichols as Scarlett and Ray Park as Snake Eyes. But Snake Eye's mask having lips molded into was just as dumb as having a Batman suit with molded nipples. Marlon Wayans was hilarious as Ripcord. It was implied that there was a Scarlett/Ripcord/Snake Eyes love triangle. But other than seeing Scarlett draped over Snake early on in the movie, you didn't really get a sense of what their relationship was like. Trying make sense out of everything will give you a migraine. So, just sit back and enjoy for what it is.

It's barely audible, but you can catch glimpses of Samuel Jackson (Nick Fury), Mickey Rourke (Whiplash), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer), Don Cheadle (Rhodey/War Machine), and some dude named Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Maybe you've heard of him? I think he's supposed to be good...

Teen Flick Director John Hughes Dead At 59 - wcbstv.com

Out of all his movies, I'd have say that The Breakfast Club is my favorite. Rest in peace...