Donnie Darko and other noise bursts

School is back in session! Feels so good to get my blog on again. Now, on to things that I have strong opinions about from the last four days:

1. Death Cab For Cutie's "Transatlanticism" - Holy shit! Why did it have to take a three hour long car trip for me to realize what a magnificent album this is??? It's a shame. So great for twilight driving. I love boys that sing about broken hearts and the innocence of love. Dreamy *sigh*...

2. Brendan Benson's "Lapalco" - Big Matt said it best; if this album came out in 1996, it would be an instant success. Sweet guitar pop! I can't wait to see him live now that I actually know the songs. I can't stop listening to tracks 5 and 9. Can't go wrong with the skinny, blonde rockers.

3. Cookie Crisp cereal - we used to eat this shit when we were young? Really? REALLY? It's candy disguised as vitamins and minerals. No way is that a part of this complete breakfast. But I did eat three bowls of it this weekend. That's why it rules being an adult! We eat sugar for breakfast because we can.

4. SSX 3 - I realize that video game culture has now taken adult entertainment by the hand, but nothing beats a good ol' fashion snowboarding game with hot Asian porn stars (yeah, Keori) and cute 12-year old boarder boys (Griff has a crush on every girl!). P-H-A-T tricks and unbelievable courses and characters with names like Psymon! Not to mention the game soundtrack includes Kinky, Fisherspooner, Basement Jaxx...you get the picture.

5. Tenacious D - thanks to my pirate friend Cyn (R to you, gra), I am completely hooked up with the Chicago House of Blues show and other rare performances. Nothing makes me smile more than Rage Kage and Jables. Meet me at Los Burritos for some rude chowder, dude! More pirate booty: TMBG "Then" anthology, David Cross, Rufus Wainwright, David Grey, Avenue Q Soundtrack and so much more!!!

6. Donnie Darko - not so much making me happy, but makes me think because of all the evil buzz, I should like this movie. Really friggin' confusing but very tongue-in-cheek funny. I have two major theories: a) that Donnie predicted he would kill Man In Rabbit Costume, causing him so much guilt that he went back in time to essentially commit suicide so that none of this would come to pass; or b) that the Man In Rabbit Costume has some supernatural abilities and knew Donnie was going to shoot him and drove Donnie mad so that he would go back in time and end his life so that Rabbit Man would be safe. Am I way off base here? It did keep me guessing the entire time and was very intriguing, but again, very weird. Jury is still out on this one...

I will be getting my Death Cab For Cutie/Ben Kweller tickets soon (yeah); also looking forward to Von Bondies CD release show, Damien Rice, THE MUTHAFUCKIN' DARKNESS, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Calla, Sarah Harmer, Air...

Okay, I'll be the mooch: does anyone have a copy of the new Air? I just want a taste to see if I want to make the purchase.

Over and out...