The Filtered Excellence: October 18, 2012

Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Here are this weeks picks of what to WATCH, what to DO what to TRY what to READ what to LISTEN TO and more:

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WATCH THIS:

Night of Too Many Stars:  America Comes Together for Autism Programs.   Jon Stewart hosts this now annual telethon to benefit Autism programs across the country.  Expect a long list of a-list appearances by too many stars including Fred Armisen, Bill Burr, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey,  Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler, Seth Rogen, Bob Saget, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Kimmel, and more.  Airs Sunday night at 8pm in the east.

Bobs Burgers.  This week, husband and wife Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly guest.  If that doesn’t tell you that this is one of the best animated shows on television, just tune in and see for yourself.  Airs Sunday night at 8:30pm in the East

Shut Up and Play the Hits: The Very Loud Ending Of LCD Soundsystem. In the spring of 2011, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem stunned the music world when he announced that he was disbanding the group, even as the band was at the peak of their popularity.   Directors Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern followed Murphy 2 days before the show and the morning after to capture all of his thoughts and emotions as LCD Soundsystem said goodbye to the dance-punk scene they helped cultivate.  The movie has features clips of a conversation that Murphy has noted pop culture writer Chuck Klosterman.  The BlueRay/DVD Deluxe Edition also contains extra scenes and the full MSG farewell show.   Shut Up And Play The Hits is available now on Amazon and all digital outlets.

Moonrise Kingdom on DVD.  Finally! The far corners of the country can see Moonrise Kingdom. This movie is every bit as amazing as we predicted it would be and definitely one you will want to own.  Brilliant performances all around including newcomers  Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, but also, of course, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand and Ed Norton.  And we can’t give enough praise for the outstanding standout score and soundtrack.

Dog Day Afternoon on BluRay.  Dog Day Afternoon is now out on Blu Ray: An excellent reason to revisit an outstanding film, or to discover it for the first time. An Oscar winner for original screenplay, Dog Day Afternoon was also nominated for best picture, best actor, and best supporting actor.  Directed by the great Sidney Lumet, the film is a classic with shining examples of the brilliant acting chops of young Al Pacino, John Cazale, Chris Sarandon and all. What’s more, the captivating drama based on the bizarre-but-true story of a horribly ill-planned bank robbery turned media spectacle, absolutely oozes mid-70’s New York City atmosphere.  Grimy, gritty street scenes full of oppressive heat and desperation, while inside the bank, the unpredictable vibe of the scenes are engrossing in their dramatic intensity. A must see. “Attica! Attica!”

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LISTEN TO THIS:

Sunken Condos by Donald Fagen.   If you expected to hear big beats or guest appearances by this month’s hit rapper on the new Donald Fagen album (his first in 6 years and only his fourth in 30), you’re going to be disappointed.  Instead, you’re going to get sophisticated pop with flourishes of jazz and R&B on top of pointed, mature, and at times, sardonic, lyrics riding on top.  In other words, classic Donald Fagan.  Sunken Condos is like a stroll through the park on crisp autumn afternoon while wearing a much used, but very comfortable sweater.  This is as good as pop music gets.  Sunken Condos is on sale now.

Local Business by Titus Andronicus.  With some albums, it takes multiple listens and months, if not years, to develop an appreciation. For Titus Andronicus’ new release, Local Business, the 11 seconds it took frontman Patrick Stickles to spit out the line “I think by now we’ve established that everything is inherently worthless and there is nothing in the universe with any kind of objective purpose” to begin the record, and we were sold. Equal parts humor and pain, it feels like the album you want drunkenly shout along to with your friends.

 

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READ THIS:

The John Lennon Letters by John Lennon & edited by Hunter Davies.  We all know John Lennon, the songwriter, musician and activist.  But he was also a father, a husband and a friend.  Hunter Davies skillfully edited over 300 letters that Lennon wrote to family, wives, lovers, friends, colleagues, business associates and even strangers during every aspect of his life.  It reveals a side of the former Beatle that is unguarded, unfiltered and wonderfully human.  An incredibly new way to tell a story that we thought we knew.  The John Lennon Letters is available now.

 

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DO THIS:

Nationwide:  Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastic Champions.   See the stars of the London Olympics and more internationally acclaimed gymnasts including Gabby Douglas perform.  This weekend they’re in Kansas City Friday night, and Chicago on Sunday.

Seattle:  Laurie Anderson at Meany Hall.  Multi-dimensional artist Laurie Anderson will be performing at Meany Hall this weekend.  In Dirtday! the third of a series of solo acts, Anderson looks at politics, theories of evolution, families, history, and animals in this riotous and soulful collection of songs and stories.

New York:  Stephen Colbert in Conversation with Ken Burns at the 92nd Street Y.  Two greats share this amazing stage.  It’s probably sold out but you can always work the sidewalk.  Got two?  Got two?

New York:  CMJ Music Marathon: It’s back! Through Sunday, see some of the most exciting new bands in venues all over NYC. Many events are free and some even include free drinks. You never know — years from now you may be able to shame your hipster friends by noting that you saw the next big band “before they were cool.”

Philadelphia: New OrleansDavid Sedaris at the Keswick Theater  David performs a reading, Q&A and a book signing on his current tour which lands this Monday October 22, 2012 at the Keswick Theater, and at Tulane University on October 24th.

Paramus, NJ:  Weird Al Yankovic Book Signing at Barnes and Noble. Monday October 22, 7pm.  His first children’s book.

Suffern,  NY:  Horror Movie Classic Thon at The Lafayette Theater in Suffern NY.  The theater founded in 1924, one of the ten greatest theaters in the country according to USA Today Magazine.  This weekend you can catch Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining on Friday, and other film horror greats throughout the weekend.