These Are the Days

It is no secret I am a huge movie nut. Over the past few months I have seen quite a variety of movies (Some old, some new) & figured I would share my quick thoughts on quite a few to get you ready for your Thanksgiving post-football movie needs since we can’t get the late NFL game. Going back I think my scale was a 6 pack of Budweiser (I think I wrote my 1^st movie review drinking or drunk.), so without further a due.

Anchorman: I have heard good & bad opinions of Anchorman, for my money this is pretty much the funniest movie of all time. Will Ferrel & pretty much every other comedic genius of the last 5 years make this piss your pants funny…6 Bottles of Bud.

American History X: One of those movies that at the very least will make you think long & hard about life. Follows the life changing experiences of a young neo-Nazi headed down the wrong road…6 Bottles of Bud.

Apollo 13: True story of an amazing Moon mission. One of Tom Hanks’ greatest movies & I actually cry my eyes out every time at the end…6 Bottles of Bud.

Back to the Future: Michael J. Fox classic... Hasn’t everyone seen this? Watch this, don’t bother with the 2^nd…enjoy the 3^rd…6 Bottles of Bud.

Big Lebowski: Kind of a cult classic comedy. I like it but it has to fit your taste…4.5 Bottles of Bud.

Borat: You have heard a lot about it…Easily in the Top 5 funniest movies I have ever seen. I was crying laughing the whole time. A must see…6 Bottles of Bud.

Boss' Daughter: A comedy featuring Ashton Kutcher & Tara Reid…Decent movie that gets real weird…3.5 Bottles of Bud.

The Break Up: A romantic comedy featuring Vince Vaughn & Jennifer Aniston. Awesome, awesome movie that actually came to the DP Budget Cinema where I saw it. If you have ever been through a break up (All of us.) you go through every emotion with the movie. A lot more uplifting than I make it sound & it tells a great story. Maybe the best movie I saw all year…6 Bottles of Bud.

Cars: Actually saw it in the theater & was disappointed. Bets part are the characters. I was at an Amanda family function & got to play with Lightning & Tow Mater for an hour with her 4 year old cousin…get the toys…2.5 Bottles of Bud.

Dawn of the Dead: Hilarious Zombie movie. The demon baby creeps me out every time & the soundtrack is awesome (Johnny Cash & Richard Cheese.). You have to see this…5 Bottles of Bud.

Dirty Dancing: Greatest chick flick of all-time. I’ll admit, I love it. Also the greatest line in the great Patrick Swayze’s (P. Sway) career with, “Nobody puts baby in a corner!” …6 Bottles of Bud.

Euro Trip: I laugh my ass of every time I see Eurotrip. Not a movie for everyone though…5 Bottles of Bud.

Friday Night Lights: Features Billy Bob Thornton & Tim McGraw. I liked it a lot better the 2^nd time around & it is a solid choice…4 Bottles of Bud.

Grandma’s Boy: Terrible Adam Sandler produced flick. Features guys making video games & a smoking hot chick that digs video game testers. Oh yea, bad guy is code writer big wig that stalks & acts like a robot…absolutely creepy…-10 Bottles of Bud.

Happy Feet: I went to this last Friday in a theater. It is about a tap dancing penguin. Seriously, awesome movie, I liked it a lot. Comes complete with a great message & everything…6 Bottles of Bud.

The Producers: Mathew Broderick musical…As much as I love classical musicals, I didn’t like this. Average at best…½ Bottle of Bud.

Rent: Another musical, however I liked it a lot. Don’t watch unless you want a couple songs rattling around in your melon for a few months…4 Bottles of Bud.

Revenge of the Nerds: 80’s classic…DYK there are 4 of these?...Neither did I…6 Bottles of Bud.

School of Life: Ryan Reynold’s movie I had never even heard of until I saw. Really good movie about a kick ass social studies teacher (Maybe the story of my life.) …6 Bottles of Bud.

Seven: Classic murder/mystery/horror thriller. If you haven’t seen Seven (& there are people who haven’t.), you must…6 Bottles of Bud.

Spiderman: I hate comic book movies. I loved Spiderman. Who didn’t try the upside down kiss in the rain after seeing this, then slip off the monkey bars & almost break there neck? Me either…4.5 Bottles of Bud.

The Man: Eugene Levy is great…Sam L. Jackson plays that same crappy role he did in Pulp Fiction: Average movie with no plot…1 Bottle of Bud.

The Omen: Horror/thriller about the son of Stan…Cool plot…3.5 Bottles of Bud.

V for Vendetta: Mandy’s favorite movie, I didn’t like. It was Ok but I think the hype was way too big for such a simple plot & overt message. I heard quite a few say this was clever, I couldn’t disagree more. Watch C-Span @ 3am if you want a crappy political message…1 Bottle of Bud.

Van Wilder: Classic Ryan Reynold’s comedy, I absolutely love this. BTW, I heard a 2^nd was coming out without Reynold’s. I’ll check it out…6 Bottles of Bud.

You, Me, & Dupree: Good movie, worth it just to watch Kate Hudson…4 Bottles of Bud.

Hope you enjoy, I’d be interested to hear comments. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone & the very best to you & your family.

Currently Playing…
Love, Pain, & The Whole Crazy Thing
By Keith Urban
“Shine”

Posted by D. Schwa at 1:50 AM | Permalink | Comments

Long Trip Alone, Dierks Bentley's latest release was a rare CD purchase for me (Actually a gift.). This summer Mandy & I rolled out to the new amphitheatre in Oshkosh to check out my man Dierks. Surprisingly it was my 1^st time, although I previously have been huge fans of songs such as What Was I Thinkin’ & Settle for a Slowdown. It was a kick ass show just as Every Mile A Memory was hitting the airwaves (Mandy & I were the only 2 people in the crowd screaming it at the top of our lungs.). Bentley’s strongest attributes seem to be his ability to write, slow, up-tempo, & just plain bars songs that simply rock. Although there are some deficiencies, Long Trip Alone is a fairly strong disc. Here is the song break down…

1. Every Mile A Memory

Every Mile was the 1^st single & shot to #1 on the country charts pretty quickly. It was one of my 2 or 3 favorite songs to come out this summer because it looks at life a lot like I do. “Every mile, a memory; every song, another scene, / From some old movie going back in time you and me. / Every day, a page turned down; every night, a lonesome sound, / Like a freight train rollin' through my dreams: / Every mile, a memory.” Sometimes I find myself laying in bed thinking of my past almost as though it where a movie.

2. Can’t Live It Down

I am a huge fan of this song & it has the quality ti ride the music charts. I almost look at it as a theme song for me. It is all about taking chances, seeing where they go, & riding the results. “Hey I might be makin' me a reputation / Of goin' my own way & / I can't live it down / Got the throttle wide open gonna live it up knowin'

In this life you only / Get one go around / &I can't live it down”

3. Long Trip Home

Obviously a the title track & a good one at that.. A little ballad that I interpret to be a guy asking for a lost love back, “So maybe you could walk with me a while / & maybe I could rest beneath your smile / Everybody stumbles sometimes & needs a hand to hold / 'Cause it's a long trip alone.”

4. That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me

He played this in concert, however I am not a huge fan of the song. It is about Direks hooking up with random friendly women at shows, “I forgot what I was singin' when she met me with her meet-me-later gaze / When she threw it on my mic stand I figured they were probably double-D's / That might make for a good story man / But that don't make it easy lovin' me.”

5. Soon As You Can

A good little tune about all the crazy things you’ll do to be with the woman you love.

6. Trying To Stop Your Leaving

Decent song about watching someone leaving your life & trying to stop the inevitable.

7. Hope For Me Yet

Ok song about a woman turning around a guy’s life.

8. The Heaven I'm Headed To

I am a huge fan of this song. It looks at going to Heaven a lot the way I do. “Heaven I'm headed to / There's a place for preachers, thieves & prostitutes / Saints & soldiers, beggars, kings & renegades / For any soul that ever found amazing grace / Ain't no tellin' who on earth He might include / In the heaven I'm headed to.”

9. Free & Easy (Down The Road I Go)

This is a really good song that will definitely be released as a single. I find myself singing it to myself all the time. It is just a carefree song about taking life as it goes that has made it to the few, the proud, the Dustin Away Message. “Ain't no tellin' where the wind might blow / Free & easy down the road I go / Livin' life like a Sunday stroll / Free & easy down the road I go / Free & easy down the road I go”

10. Band Of Brothers

Brutally honest…terrible song.

11. Prodigal Son’s Prayer

I am a big fan of Bluegrass music. Dierks did a 3 or 4 song Bluegrass set in concert & it featured this song, a collaboration with the Grascals. Probably the bets song on the whole disc.

With Tim McGraw’s 1^st greatest hits CD being an A+, I’d give Long Trip Alone a B/B+. Initially I would have graded lower due to a few not so hot songs, however the hit song pull the disc up. It dropped a few weeks ago, pick it up!

Currently Playing…
“Long Trip Alone”
By Dierks Bentley

“Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)”

Posted by D. Schwa at 1:18 AM | Permalink | Comments

This summer I was sitting around, reading the Billboard Charts when I saw a new song called Tim McGraw by a new artist, Taylor Swift. If you know me, you know I have a gay-esk love for Tim McGraw & immediately hunted down the song & recorded off the internet. Not only was it a great song, it was a song that immediately hit a chord or 2 in me. After burning the song to disc, it hasn’t left my play rotation. A few weeks after discovering her music, I spotted a bulletin advertising autographed versions of Taylor’s new CD for $10. I ordered & it arrived a few weeks ago, actually autographed, & has been listened to heavily.

What impresses me about Taylor is not only that she has a great voice, but she writes the songs herself, & is only 16. She has already established herself as one of the most talented, young performers on the country charts today. Her first single entitled Tim McGraw is really starting to rip up the chart & currently sits @ 15. Overall her music is a strong mix of the current pop country feel & more traditional country sound. Here are the songs….

1. Tim McGraw

Awesome 1^st, single, I love it for 15 different reasons. I am betting this will go #1 soon enough.

2. Picture to Burn

This all about f-you after a break up in a pretty funny way, much like Carrie Underwood’s Before He Cheats. “I realized you love yourself / More that you could ever love me / So go and tell your friends / That I’m obsessive and crazy, / That’s fine / I’ll tell mine/ You’re gay”

3. Teardrops on my Guitar

A change of pace song about wanting someone you can’t have. “Drew looks at me. / I fake a smile so he won't see. / What I want and need / & everything that we should be”

4. A Place in this World

Traditional country song with a rock flair about making it on your own & trying to find A Place In This World.

5. Cold As You

Cold As You is coming to terms with the fact that there are just some people who will never love you & the realization that someone isn't the person you thought they were. I am a huge fan of the song. “Oh, what a shame. / What a rainy ending given to a perfect day. / So just walk away, no use defending words that you will never say. / & now that I'm sittin' here thinkin' it through, I've never been anywhere cold as you.”

6. The Outside

Fast paced song with a self explanatory title.

7. Tied Together With a Smile

Slow little ballad about seeing the pain held inside a loved one. “Hold on, baby you're loosing it / that waters high, your jumping into it / & letting go...and nobody knows / you cry, but you don't tell anyone / that you might not be the golden one / & your tied together with a smile / but your coming undone”

8. Stay Beautiful

A simple love song.

9. Should've Said No

Killer good song I really like about cheating. “You should've said no, you should've gone home / you should've thought twice before you let it all go / you shouldn've known that word, bout what you did with her would get back to me... / & I should've been there, in the back of your mind”

10. "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)

Probably the 2^nd bets song on the disc. It is about falling in love with the love of your life. “Take me back to the house in the backyard trees. You said you would beat me up, you were bigger then me. You never did, You never did. / Take me back when our world was one big lie. & I dared you to kiss me and ran when you tried. Just two kids. You & I.”

11. Our Song

Upbeat, fun song with a great rhythm. “Our song is the slamming screen door, / sneakin' out late, tapping on your window / when you're on the phone & you talk real slow / cause it's late & your mama don't know / our song is the way you laugh

the first date "man, I didn't kiss her, but I should have" / & when I got home...before I said amen / asking god if he could play it again”

12. Come In With Rain

Not actually on the disc but on her site. Awesome song, check it out on MySpace.

Taylor’s self-titled debut rates strong under any circumstances, especially so for a 1^st time out. I consider Tim McGraw’s 1^st greatest hits album to be the best album out there with a solid A+ rating (The teacher in me.). I’ll give Taylor’s an A-/B+, it is really that good, check it out.

I haven’t written in a while, sorry to those who check the site regularly. I have a couple more CD reviews I may put up (Keith Urban & Dierks Bentley), if not I have a huge Dustin introspective blog I have started that will be up later this week. Catch you later, peace.

Currently Playing…
Taylor Swift
By: Taylor Swift

“Come In With the Rain”

Posted by D. Schwa at 1:17 AM | Permalink | Comments