Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band

Conor Oberst's 2008 self titled release comes with a new band name, a new producer, new recording site, and somewhat of a new sound, I guess.  Following his critically acclaimed 2007 album Casadaga, Oberst keeps his indie-alt-country sound. Most of the songs are simply structured with just Oberst and his guitar accompanied by a subtle rhythm section. 

Cape Canaveral is a good start to the album. With knuckles tapping on the softly strummed guitar the song eases you into what could be next. I Don't Want To Die (In The Hospital) is possibly the strongest track on the disc. Oberst's songwriting is fantastically original and the sound contains an assault of piano accompanied by Oberst's wailing voice.

All around the album is solid, not a noticeably weak track on it. And Oberst keeps up his reputation as the best songwriter of this decade. 

Tropic Thunder

I have to admit that I expected satirical brilliance out of Tropic Thunder, and that is exactly what I got. The movie is an all out assault on Hollywood and all that it stands for. Major credit is due to Ben Stiller, who is the movies co-writer, director, co-star, and producer. The movie is about a Vietnam war movie gone wrong and Hollywood's struggle to make money out of the downward spiraling project. The movie is fearless, going after well-known Hollywood flicks such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, I Am Sam, and Rambo. 

Stiller plays an action star named Tugg Speedman, who hit it big with his ridiculous film Scorcher and its many sequels. But his character's career is collapsing. Tugg chooses to make Tropic Thunder to hopefully revive his career and maybe considered as a serious actor. 

Robert Downey Jr. is the one who really steals the show. He plays a highly critically acclaimed actor Kirk Lazarus who takes acting to the extreme. Kirk gets surgery to pigment his skin to be able to play an African-American character in Tropic Thunder. Kirk takes this role so seriously that he stays in character even when the cameras stop rolling. Downey Jr.'s performance is one that will be remembered.

The film has a strong cast. Jack Black plays a drug addicted premadonna comedian. Tom Cruise is great as a money hungry, extremely hairy, hip-hop loving movie producer who has seemed to of lost his conscience. Matthew McConaughey plays Tugg's agent who becomes obsessed with getting his client a TiVo. Danny McBride plays the pyrofreak effects specialist. And Brandon T. Jackson plays a hip-hop star who is trying to break through in acting. 

With a combination of clever writing and a strong cast, Tropic Thunder is the funniest movie of this year, so far.  

Blue Train, Coltrane

John Coltrane's first major album as a band leader is also one is he finest. "Blue Train" was recorded in 1957 with a sextet of the most elite musicians of the time including trumpet legend Lee Morgan, Miles Davis vet Paul Chambers on bass, Kenny Drew on piano, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Philly Jones on drums, and of course the legendary Trane himself blowing on tenor sax.

The album jumps out hot right away with "Blue Train," entering with the most memorable riff on the whole album. Coltrane and Morgan harmonize as the piano enters with lightly plucked chords. Then Coltrane hits a solo as the piano, bass, and drums follow him up and down the scales. Coltrane is starting to find his voice onthis album, he keeps the fast pace Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie played back in the beep bop days, but his horn is also starting to shriek and place more emphasis on key notes. His solos throughout the album are as well-built and alert as anybody in jazz history.

The rythum section is good but the horns are what makes the album a classic. Fuller has an excellent trombone solo in "Locomotion," and Morgan's trumpet contrasting with Coltrane is the backbone of the album.

The album is primarily fast paced but takes a slow turn with Johnny Mercer's "I'm Old Fashioned." In this tune, Coltrane's horn shoots out colors of emotion and proves himself as a once in a lifetime talent. His horn has an undeniably powerful sound this album is a sign of great things to come. Coltrane will eventually help progress jazz to other styles like avant-garde and modal jazz and produce many more albums including other classics such as Giant Steps, My Favorite Things, Impressions, and of course A Love Supreme.