The Filtered Excellence: May 12, 2016
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this weeks picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more.
WATCH THIS:
High-Rise. Class structure – along with class warfare – are the heart of this new thriller/dark comedy by Ben Wheatley. Based on the J.G. Ballard novel, the film stars Tom Middleton as a new tenant of a high-rise building outside of London. Its tenants are separated by class: The posh upper class live on the top floors and have access to everything from a swimming pool and gym to a supermarket and a primary school. Professionals occupy the middle floors and the poor, debt-ridden tenants live on the lower floors. A series of power outages starts a chain of events in which the tenants are isolated from the outside world and the slow building tensions between the various classes comes to a jarring head. Middleton is well cast as the doctor who becomes increasingly unhinged as he tries to work his way around the warring factions. With a solid supporting cast that includes Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller and Elisabeth Moss, and a stirring script by Amy Jump, Wheatley has put together a tension-filled allegory that mirrors what is happening today, yet also serves a strong warning. High-Rise opens on Friday. You can also go to http://www.magnetreleasing.com/ for more information.
LISTEN TO THIS
A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead. For the band’s 9th album, no one would’ve been mad at Radiohead if they had repeated themselves or at the very least phoned it in. After all, they have been making mind blowing after mind blowing albums for nearly 25 years (!). Instead, they have beautifully crafted a collection of songs that serve as both a summation and a continuation. Even more incredible is that half of the material is stuff the band has been road testing as far back as 1995, but never got around to recording. The unsung hero of the project is guitarist/ composer/ arranger Jonny Greenwood, who wrote the exceptional score and string arrangements on several tracks. Whether it was the menacing strings on ‘Burn The Witch’ or the grandiose orchestration on ‘The Numbers’, Greenwood leaves no doubt that he is this band’s X factor in their success. Thom Yorke continues to find new ways to break your heart vocally: ‘True Love Waits’ will just wreck you. With hints of jazz, avant-garde, Brazilian music and electronic experimentation, Radiohead has added another classic to an already Hall Of Fame worthy canon. One of, if not, the best album of the year, A Moon Shaped Pool is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.radiohead.com/ for tour dates and more information.
Heartbreaker (Deluxe Edition) by Ryan Adams. In 2000, Ryan Adams was at a low ebb. His band Whiskeytown had broken up, he split up with his girlfriend and would eventually lose his New York City apartment. Adams went back to his native home in North Carolina to regroup and ended up writing a series of songs that primarily dealt with the end of his relationship. Released in 2001, Heartbreaker was a critically smash and launched Adams’ career as a solo artist. To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of its release, a deluxe edition of the album is now available which includes a remastered version of the original work, outtakes, demos and a DVD of Adams’ first solo acoustic show at New York’s Mercury Lounge. It’s a must have for the curious and/or the long time fan. The deluxe edition of Heartbreaker is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.ryanadams.com/ for tour dates and more information.
The Heart Speaks In Whispers by Corinne Bailey Rae. The acclaimed singer-songwriter shifts gears for her third album. She and long time producer and collaborator Steve Brown temporarily re-located to Los Angeles and found an immediate music connection with Paris and Amber Strother – 2/3 of the band King. They are featured on 6 of the 12 tracks (along with Pino Palladino, Marcus Miller and James Gadson), which finds Rae mining deeper into the R&B, soul, jazz and gospel mines and coming up with pure gold. Legendary R&B singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson co-wrote the achingly beautiful, old school soul leaning ‘Do You Ever Think Of Me?’ which, if there’s any justice, should bring grits and gravy rhythm and blues kicking and screaming back to the future. Loaded with heartfelt ballads, fully realized funk, pop and soul, Corinne Bailey Rae continues to show why she is a formidable and dynamic talent. The Heart Speaks In Whispers will be released tomorrow via Amazon, Itunes and all major music retailers. You can also go to http://www.corinnebaileyrae.com/ for more info.
READ THIS
Porcelain by Moby. Before finding mainstream success with his album Play, Moby was another struggling artist living hand to mouth in a pre-gentrified New York City. In this entertaining and fast moving memoir, Moby recalls how a skinny, white Christian kid from the suburbs navigated his way through a club and dance scene that was dominated by Black and Latino artists. He also paints a very vivid picture of New York that was still ravaged by drugs, crime and homelessness. The latter was something he experienced firsthand living among squatters in the Lower East Side. Moby also recounts how the spoils of success almost derailed his career as a DJ and EDM artist almost before it reached full bloom. Finally, Moby relives experiencing the clash of cultures and how it gave birth to what many consider his best work, the multi-platinum selling album Play. This is a great read for Moby fans new and old and also for those wanting to find out about life in New York City in the 90s. Porcelain by Moby will be available on May 17th through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and all major book retailers.
DO THIS
New York City: The Censored 11. In 1968, United Artists withheld distribution rights for 11 Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons that they felt promoted racist stereotypes. Over the years, this ban extended to TV and movie theaters and it’s believed that, outside of those few cartoon collectors, the actual prints no longer exist. ImageNation will screen these highly controversial works at Raw Space in Harlem, followed by a post screening discussion on art, race, culture, history with Reelblack TV ‘s Michael Dennis and Charles Woods. It promises to be a powerful discussion on racial politics, media messaging and the thin line between free and hate speech. The Censored 11 will take place Tuesday, May 17th at Raw Space in Harlem. Go towww.imagenation.us to RSVP and for more information.
New York City: Homage: Malkovich And The Masters. Photographer Sandro Miller has teamed up with actor John Malkovich to put a new twist on some of the most arresting images of our time. They carefully recreate famous photos featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Andy Warhol, and even a depiction of Christ on the cross that both salutes the photographers behind the original shots and a playful stab at pop culture. Go out to be amused, startled or both. Homage: Malkovich And The Masters will be at Yancey Richardson through July 1st. You can go to www.yanceyrichardson.com for hours and more information.
New York City: The Flux Art Fair. Now in its 2nd year, The Flux Art Fair features art installations throughout various locations in Harlem. Marcus Garvey Park will be featuring several outdoor installations – just in time as spring comes to full bloom throughout the city. There will also be artists onsite to discuss their work, along with a brunch tour that will combine contemporary art, food and community. A great time for art lovers of all ages. The Flux Art Fair will run from May 15th through the 31st. You can go to www.fluxfair.nyc for a complete rundown of events and more information.
Los Angeles: The Rooftop Film Club. The 2nd season of this acclaimed series returns to The Ricardo Montalban Theatre. In addition to seeing a great film in swanky lawn chairs, attendees will also be treated to great food, drinks, blankets on request and wireless headphones so you won’t miss any dialogue. The May screenings are sold out, but tickets are still available for the June offerings, which include Trainspotting, Clueless, Dirty Dancing, Harold & Maude and much more.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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