Thursday, March 8, 2012

Music Crush

I am having a serious music crush on Jack White at the moment.  I've been listening to his cover of Love is Blindness.  Check it out 'cause you can't go wrong with a little Rock in your life. 


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The conversation continues...

An anonymous reader sent up the following suggestion: Winter Trees by The Staves. http://youtu.be/Ey2UdOqiTw8 Okay, I get it.
Good singers and sweet song. Hmmm….me, I’m looking for something far grittier these days. With the exception of Gotye’s song…I’ve been listening to music that has a bit of growl to it.
My current playing list looks something like this:

Any rock songs by P!nk, Bif Naked and PJ Harvey

Kelly Clarkson, Whyyawannabringmedown

Blue October, Hate Me

Drowning Pool, Bodies

Alkaline Trio, We’ve Had Enough
Gnarls Barkley, Crazy

Jack White, Love Interruption

Live, I Alone

Green Day, American Idiot Album

Three Days Grace, I Hate Everything About You

Anything with a bit of primal rage running as an undercurrent in the music…yeah! A shredding bass guitar helps too. Sitting in a very beige cubicle in a hushed space without a window nearby…well let’s just say that I need music that can scream for me. Still dealing with some angst from some of my hodge-podge of personal sh*t…and this music helps.

So if anyone has any killer songs…pass them my way. Just don’t send me Nickleback, Kings of Leon or Rammstein. I may start going backwards and listen to rock songs from the 70’s and 80’s, ‘cause you gotta go back to your roots sometimes. Who doesn’t love a bit of Queen or Guns N’ Roses?
With all that said, I'm leaving you with Alkaline Trio's, We've Had  Enough...I know the video is crap but the music is what matters...right? 


Rock on people…rock on!!
L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel

Last Friday, I went to see the play, How I Learned to Drive written by Paula Vogel. The piece is about an affair between its protagonist Li'l Bit, and her uncle Peck. It takes place over the course of years, with the character of Li'l Bit maturing from age eleven to eighteen before she puts an end to it. Before I went to see this piece, I knew the playwright approached the pedophilia subject matter in an ambiguous way. In fact, I was interested in the ambiguity.

However, this play just went too far into the other direction. I don’t know if it was the stage direction or the material itself but at one point, the young girl was held responsible for the uncle’s “indiscretion”. I began reading some of the behind -the-scene material about how the actors broached the subject matter and Norbert Butz talks about the play being a love story. I really wrestle with this description because sexual abuse of minors and it’s long lasting impact cannot be justified with this idea of love. After all, pedophiles love their young victims.

I understand this play was controversial when it first came out. I read somewhere that Vogel took Nabikov’s Lolita and tried to tell the story from Lolita’s point of view. My problem with it is that at the very end of the relationship Li’l Bit is 18 years old and she rejects her uncle Peck but only after she is a walking wreck herself. By this time, she has dropped out of college with a raging drinking problem and working in a small town factory. I buy the wreckage afterwards but how does a young woman struggling with this past abuse muster the courage to say no to her abuser? The point (I think) is that she has had all the power but this does not speak to the kind of damage that is perpetrated upon the body, mind and spirit of a young person. I just don’t think the “power” was ever earned for Li’l Bit, that is the element that was missing for me. And for this production to try to relay this power dynamic of abuse as a love affair just makes me shudder.

The one breakout moment was when Jennifer Regan, playing the part of Uncle Peck’s wife admits she knew what was happening and blamed Li’l Bit for it. Regan delivered the monologue in such raw and accusatory way that her performance gave me chills. Anyway, my head feels like it’s going to explode because there is so much more I want to say and address but I think I need to get back to my own work.

Peace,

L~
 
All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.