oberhofer

 Oberhofer is the project of Brad Oberhofer. All the way from Tacoma Washington to New York, this fellow has studied music composition at NYU.

His debut was in 2010 when he released the single o0o0o0o0o. His lyrics are playful. He has a sense of  lo-fi in his sound.

Time Capsules II came out March 21st, 2012
I personally really enjoy this album. I think the lyrics are simple, yet meaningful. I think Brad Oberhofer (who is only 21) has a great, unique voice, and writes very appealing rock/pop with a twist songs. His constant high voiced wailing on assorted vowels, usually the “oo” sound. In fact, there is a song on the album whose title is “ooOOo0oOOoo”.-eels & kittens

WHOLE GRAIN GIGS

He's toured with Sleigh Bells, Neon Indian, Twin Sister, and Bear in Heaven. Finally, with a little help from producer Steve Lillywhite... he recorded his full-length debut Time Capsules II.

 Another great, fairly unknown indie band to come out of America (where do they all come from?), I’ve got to give a big ups to a man going by the name of Jonathan Frick for ‘finding’ them. The ‘band’ is really just a changing cast of good musicians revolving around the young genius Brad Oberhofer, who, as the name suggests, is the cornerstone of the whole shindig. The title isn’t lazy typing, bee tee dubs, Oberhofer’s just really into SMS lingo. Don’t let that put you off, though, cos its different, pretty fun, and definitely good.-Slow the Car Down

If you like The Shins or The Nothings, you might find a spot of this guy on your playlist.

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Cinema Verite

This is a film that HBO films produced. Its about the first reality show back in 1973 on PBS. As if we didn't know it was a bad idea that might ruin a family.

Of course, back in the 70's families were larger. The norm was a family of 7. Mom, Dad and five kids. The Loud family looked like the perfect family. The kids were popular. The Mom stayed at home. One might think the show was after the underbelly of those smiles.

Diane Lane played the almost modern mom. She was stay at home. She wanted her kids' dreams to come true. A chain smoker, tanned. Her life looked so easy. In the beginning we sort of think..well, isn't she a bit selfish? Letting her husband do all the hard work. Tim Robbins played the Dad, and sure, he looks like a hard working husband who doesn't get enough attention. Perhaps he's a little jealous of all the thrills the kids get to play out.

Naturally, we get a real eye opener with Thomas Dekker's performance as Lance. The oldest son. He's gay and rather flamboyant. Although, very close to his mom even if he's moved to New York City to find his dreams. His performance his quite memorable in the film.

Yet, I have to admitted one performance that was just as earnest and sincere would have to be Nick Eversom's performance as Grant. Eversom gets to sing in the movie and is perhaps the son who takes the brunt of everything. There are times, you wonder if he's just a bit too spoiled. Yet as the family falls a part, he's there to help.

If you want to a bit of nostalgia or into retro, this is the film to watch. It will certainly make you want to look up the LOUD FAMILY on You Tube and see the real deal.

The costuming and settings were certainly genuine. Also Patrick Fugit as the camera guy was perfect for the role too.

An American Family, 1973
Filmed using the documentary style called Cinema Verite, it was one of the first reality shows, forever changing the history of television. Cinema Vertie is a style of documentary filmmaking that is controversial partly because of how it would provoke its subjects in order to set up a driving plot to for audiences to find intriguing. The documentary was controversial because critics and audiences argued that the it was because of the show that Bill and Pat Loud separated after 21 years of marriage.-anire

Now on DVD.

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Fiction Tuesday-Back in the Game

Don't judge a book by its cover.

When a new job takes Stanley Mercer to the small town of Legion, he expects a peaceful country life. Not shotgun pellets in his kitchen wallpaper, methamphetamine addicts knocking on his door, and the stench of hog lot lagoons. Falling in love with a married woman doesn't simplify matters either.


Sex in secret leads to more than he'd bargained for. Stanley is a schoolteacher, and his lover, Amy Rawlings, is the mother of one of his pupils. Amy is strong-minded and defends what she wants, not just for herself and for her methamphetamine-addicted husband, but also for her child, Ginny. It is a delicate and volatile situation.


While trying to keep up appearances, Stanley also becomes involved in the struggles of Jim and Christine Snow, two children in the special education program at his school, and he befriends Nelson, an angry divorced father. These people need him, and he needs them, in ways that will surprise and challenge Stanley.


Ultimately, Stanley Mercer must decide how much he will accommodate the everyday lies, the awkward truths, and the risks involved when respectable adults behave badly - including himself. Because the most vulnerable people in Legion are its children.


Humorous, poignant, and uncompromising, Back in the Game is the story of rural America in the era of globalization, a place where the old cliches of country life no longer apply, but the yearnings for connection, for community and for love still run strong.-book description

Breezy . . . satisfying . . . funny. --Publishers Weekly  

This book feels like a Paul Rudd kind of movie.

Charles Holdefer grew up on a farm in south-central Iowa. His previous novel, The Contractor, was an American Bookseller's Association Book Sense Pick. Other novels include, Nice and Apology for Big Rod. A graduate of the Iowa Writer's Workshop and the Sorbonne, he teaches at the University of Poitiers, France.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book. And I'm glad I did. I love the quirkiness of its characters. Even the kids at school that Stanley gets to know. Its a slice of Americana that you don't see very often. 

I liked that it was such a character driven story. The story shed light from living in a small town to what everyday schools have to put up with, and how many have to wear many hats when it comes to teaching in a small town.

I felt the story didn't make rural life look drastically awful. Meth is rampant in rural areas. I've heard lots of stories on the news from where I live about the subject. As well as listening to my grandmother's stories about neighbors who have fallen into hard times, due to this epidemic.

Of course, perhaps this is a light read to some. And some might not feel Stanley's pain, who isn't exactly the perfect role model. Still, its a story that perhaps he can learn from within too as the story unfolds and the people who become a part of his life.

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Andra Fuller

Andra Fuller's Kaldrick King brings a whole new complex character to L.A. Complex on the CW. This is definitely his best character yet. His Kaldrick is a heavy duty rapper who's spent time in prison. However, he just so happens to be in love with the intern Tariq (Benjamin Charles Watson).

Such a range of emotions Andra can convey in his anger, angst and love. He's one of the reasons why I have to tune in to this show. He can be so sweet then turn into a monster. You just never know when. Sometimes, I'm glad Tariq has found Kaldrick because one wonders where this relationship will go. Just as much love scenes there are harsh scenes too. One can see why Tariq would want to hide. Yet, even if Fuller's Kaldrick's the bigger guy, still Tariq is the stronger and the better man. Hopefully, Kaldrick will learn something from him.

Its amazing to see a storyline like this unfold in the tough 'music' environment. Andra Fuller is definitely giving Kaldrick King soul. And its definitely worth watching L.A. Complex to see Fuller's acting abilities.

Fuller has been in PRISON BREAK and the TV series SEX ED.

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The Hippie Hippie Shake

"In July 2009, writer Lee Hall and director Beeban Kidron both left the project, HIPPIE HIPPIE SHAKE during the editing process, because of "creative differences"-imdb 

Sienna Miller plays Louise Ferrier

Its still up in the air just when this movie will make it to even DVD, but it has such a great cast. The film is about an account of counterculturalist Richard Neville's misadventures in London at the end of the 1960s.

Max Minghella plays Martin Sharp

Cillian Murphy plays Richard Neville. 

Chris O'Dawd is in the movie too.

Matthew Beard from Chatroom also stars in this film.

Keep this one in mind. You might find it on NETFLICKS one day. Unfortunately, this film hasn't gotten anywhere. There has been some rumor in Japan, but that's just a hunch.

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Revenge

Gabriel Mann , Nick Wechsler and Connor Paolo-Vi

Who knew Mike Kelly would have a hit on Wednesday nights, especially on ABC. But this is the guilty pleasure that has all the right characters. Or ..maybe a really sweet cast of season actors. Combining noble and nasty storylines with some amazing performances and you've got a show you'd watch a marathon of..even on a Saturday afternoon. Its a show definitely worth the repeats.

The finale was so different. We find out that Amanda's little sister Charlotte (Christa B. Allen) has set her own revenge against Declan (Connor Paolo..who I'm so glad got this role so we could see his range of acting), her once beau that she feels has betrayed her over the storyline this season. She gets back at a new school friend at their private school. But soon feels bad about it, even if she is trying to pose as her mother on the phone telling the school that Declan is bullying her daughter. How revengeful is that?

Soon enough, Emily/Amanda(Emily VanCamp) tells Daniel(Joshua Bowman) the truth about her and Jack(Nick Wechsler). Then she goes in to battle to save Nolan (Gabriel Mann) from the scary guy who is helping the Greyson family, maybe. We find out later this old white haired man..is just EVIL.

In the course of the finale you find out how mean the Greysons can be to each other. And its such fun to watch. But then you begin to wonder..is this what happens when being rich gets the best of you?

Daniel of course, pours a drink for Ashley(Ashley Madekwe). Lord knows where that might go.

The Most Shocking Twist!

Oh, and Emily thinks she might come clean about who she really is with Jack..just to find a pregnant Fake Amanda waiting at the bar with Jack. Oh, such just a sweet and sour punch to hand over to Emily in the end, who had traded her life in. So sad.

But, Mrs. Greyson (Madeleine Stowe)has left the building. Boarded a plane..and now a fiery death?  Poor Charlotte sees the disaster unfold on the TV and downs a bottle of pills. Could this be the end? Or does everyone have their REVENGE to get into next season?

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Hysteria

Victorian times were many things. It was spiritual and of course a time for science.

Dr. Granville’s electromechanical vibrator was portable but had a wet cell battery that weighed about 40 pounds.

Naturally, when it came to women, if a doctor couldn't solve their problem it was written off as Hysteria.

Hysteria:The term "hysteria" has been in use for over 2,000 years and its definition has become broader and more diffuse over time. In modern psychology and psychiatry, hysteria is a feature of hysterical disorders in which a patient experiences physical symptoms that have a psychological, rather than an organic, cause; and histrionic personality disorder characterized by excessive emotions, dramatics, and attention-seeking behavior.

This movie is a comedy, yet the costumes are beautiful. It also takes a historical perspective of this new study of its time.

The movie came out in 2011 in the UK. It is in limited theaters here in the US this month. Many will tell you, its a movie they want to own on DVD.

Hugh Dancy stars as Dr. Granville. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rupert Everett, and Felicity Jones also star.

Storyline: In Victorian London, Dr. Mortimer Granville, a young doctor struggles to establish himself. He is hired by a doctor to investigate treatments for women diagnosed with female hysteria using 'pelvic massage'. The doctor's two daughters develop an interest in the young Dr. Granville, each tempting to woo him.

The Death Set

The Death Set, from Brooklyn, originally hails from The Gold Coast, Australia. It was here where Johnny Siera met co-founding member Beau Velasco in 2005. Drawn to one another’s reckless care of music, the duo united to write fleeting songs with lifelong hooks and overdriven melody. Hell-bent on recording and touring, The Death Set moved the U.S. originally to the gnarly streets of Baltimore then to Philadelphia then finally to Brooklyn.

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