Monthly Archives: April 2011

by

Song of the Day #997: ‘The Model’ – Belle & Sebastian

This week I’ll feature my 1,000th Song of the Day. That’s 1,000 consecutive days of blogging… haven’t missed a single one. Even if the content was crap, I’d be proud of the consistency.

A few people have asked me if my 1,000th song will be my last. I’ll be honest, I’ve considered it. At times writing this blog has been like entering the numbers must have been for Desmond in Lost. It’s something I have to do, even when I don’t want to.

But most of the time I do want to. Most of the time I get a lot out of it: a good debate, a chance to share something that means a lot to me, the opportunity to flex the writing muscles that might have atrophied long ago without this outlet.

So no, my 1,000th song won’t be my last. It will just be my 1,000th. The next day will be my 1,001st.

Continue reading →

by

Movie review roundup

My attention to the Song of the Day series, as well as general laziness, has kept me from honoring my promise to review every movie I see. I find that if a movie is destined for my top ten list I usually review it pretty soon after I see it, but if not, I let it sit. And if it sits long enough, it’s in danger of never being reviewed at all.

So I skimmed the list of 2010 movies I’ve seen in recent months and realized a full ten of them have gone undocumented on Meet Me In Montauk.

To remedy that situation in one fell swoop, I’m going to write capsule reviews of each of them in this post.

So here goes nothing (titles are presented alphabetically):

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #996: ‘Down Among the Wines and Spirits’ – Elvis Costello

It’s funny that I’ve described Elvis Costello’s Secret, Profane and Sugarcane as “modest” and “minor” by his standards.

The opening track, ‘Down Among the Wine and Spirits,’ is introduced like this in the album’s elegant liner notes: “A Former-Champion Prize fighter Discovers His Name Printed Just Above The Liquor Licensee.”

Other songs on the album have similar introductory explainers: “A Dissatisfied Woman Fears Talking In Her Sleep,” “P.T. Barnum Reads An Abolitionist Pamphlet While Manufacturing Souvenirs Of The  All-American Tour,” “Profane Adaptation Of Pious Song Performed By Acclaimed Nightingale,” you get the picture.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #995: ‘I Felt the Chill Before the Winter Came’ – Elvis Costello

Just a year after Momofuku, Elvis Costello returned with a modest acoustic collection. 2009’s Secret, Profane & Sugarcane was recorded in Nashville with T Bone Burnett, and was Costello’s first totally acoustic album since King of America.

Call this one King of Americana. Costello tours the old American songbook, trying his hand at country blues and bluegrass, and his affection for these styles shines through every note. This album is a grower… it’s the opposite of hook-heavy, and some of its songs meander a little too much for repeated listening. But I admire what he’s doing here and at the very least, it’s a beautiful sounding album.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #994: ‘Friday’ – Rebecca Black

Rebecca Black has taken a lot of heat for releasing what many people have called the worst song ever recorded. She has been excoriated across the Web, victimized by the sort of cyber bullying that proves what a dehumanizing environment the Internet can be.

There are plenty of fronts on which I can come to Black’s defense. The most obvious is that she’s a 13-year-old girl and, as such, should be shielded from the sort of mocking vitriol directed her way. Even an adult would have a hard time dealing with this sort of treatment… a kid her age doesn’t stand a chance.

Continue reading →