24th
9 cosmic works worth checking out
It goes without saying that we’re tormented by the universe and why it exists. What with water being found elsewhere in our solar system, celestial bodies like Pluto being demoted, Fallout 3, and our ongoing lust for the unknown, our obsession with the cosmos is now at its highest. The following recent albums and movies are exemplary of our quest for discovering what’s really out there.
Depeche Mode, Sounds of the Universe. They’re back, and after being blue-balled by them last night because of their “free” Hollywood/Vine show that was “sold out” and required acquiring tickets from KROQ, I have even more reason to drool over them. Focus track: “Wrong.”
Empire of the Sun, Walking On a Dream. Listen: Disregard the facts that their name is a Speilberg movie and this album’s name may or may not be a direct rip-off of The Boss’s latest ear candy. They’ve got some smooth album art and a sweet electronic feel that I thoroughly dig. Focus track: “We Are the People.”
Easy Star All-Stars, Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band. Also known for Dub Side of the Moon and Radiodread (covers of a classic album and selections from my favorite band), Easy Star does it again with The Beatles. Focus track: “With A Little Help From My Friends.”
Mellow Down Easy, Cosmisutra. Who needs a reincarnation of the Jet/Hives/Vines era mixed with a little more modernity and clever songwriting? I know I do. Focus track: “I Am the Universe.”
Earth. We’ve all seen the “Planet Earth” series, and if you haven’t you ought to be stabbed. Earth is essentially recycled footage from the TV show transformed into three separate animal narratives, all to the sweet sweet sound of narrator James Earl Jones.
Moon. An astronaut is on a three-year Moon mission mining Helium-3 to be used as an alternate energy source on Earth. Here’s the kicker: Kevin Spacey plays the voice of the space station robot overwhelmingly similar to Kubrick’s HAL 9000.
Astro Boy. An animated throwback to the 1960s Japanese cartoon series, featuring a spectacular cast of voices. ”…and Nicolas Cage, as Dr. Tenma” sold me on this one.
Star Trek. Enough said.
Kobe Doin’ Work. One thing I know for sure is this: my list of cosmic works would not be complete without God himself, Kobe Bryant. Why leave out the one man who is responsible for bringing the entire universe into existence? A Spike Lee joint, I think I’m actually going to see this.
