Jonsi & Alex: "Riceboy Sleeps"

For a limited time, I'm sure. But enjoy now...

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POPS on Route 66 in Arcadia, OK

Here are a few pictures I took the last time I was at Pops in Arcadia. Pops, if you don't know, is a restaurant on Route 66 that specializes in a variety of soda pops from all over the world. I don't know how many different kinds they have, but it's in the hundreds.

You can't really tell from this photo, but those are bottles of pop on the wall, which is made of solid glass. This is what you'll see when you first walk in. Lined with the stuff on both sides.

A view of the soda bar where the staff mixes custom flavors for customers.

A line of customers forms at the entrance waiting to be seated. You can only see two or three, but there were at least 20 behind them. I'll bet they were excited. I would have been if I were that age.

This shot gives you an idea of just how many soda pops that are available at Pops. The entire walk-in cooler is stocked to the gills with the stuff. You can see maybe 3 rows in this picture....there are at LEAST 5 more just like it. Amazing!

And finally, here are a couple of the "specialty brands" they have on hand. Even now I'm in the mood for a Fukola.

POPS is located at 660 W. Highway 66, Arcadia, OK, northeast of Oklahoma City, just east of Edmond. Check out their WEBSITE. Next time you're toolin' down Route 66 stop and check the place out. You won't regret it. Tell 'em I sent ya, and while you're there, pick me up a six pack of Rat Bastard.

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Music Video of the Week: Richard Wagner

"The Ride of Valkyries" (from Die Walküre)
Richard Wagner

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This one kind of gets cut off abruptly, but nevertheless I wanted to give it the esteemed title of Music Video of the Week if for no other reason than because I am loving me some Wagner "Ring" lately.

This is pretty cool.


The Man is Playing Guitar with His Mouth - Watch more amazing videos here

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So, I'm playing Farkle on Facebook with some guy named Colin. We exchange "good luck" wishes in the chat box and he tells me he's from England. I say, "that's cool." Then, out of nowhere, he asks if I'm married.

What the fuck is that?

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Jonsi and Alex: "Riceboy Sleeps"

Though I liked it enough on the first listen, I think Jonsi & Alex's "Riceboy Sleeps" is going to be one that will have to grow on me. Now that I kind of know what to expect I'll wait until I'm in the mood for some "space music" before playing it again. And make no mistake, that's basically what this is...not quite ambient but too subtle and delicate to be much more. Aural wallpaper is a good way to look at it, if you can get past the negative connotations that might be associated with that term. After all, there's nothing wrong with wallpaper, especially if it's pretty.

Jonsi has always maintained that he uses his (awesome) voice as if it were an instrument in a band. This is a key to unlocking the charms of his work with Sigur Ros. But where he uses it as a lead instrument in that band, it is employed in a much more subtle manner in this project (in which he collaborates with his boyfriend, Alex Somers). Like a haunting background synth only much more organic (even if it IS processed). You're 25 minutes into the album before he comes to the fore and lays down some trademark Jonsi sounds. Then, after a moment or two, he returns to the ethereal waxing and waning in back of the mix.

There seem to be quite a few "found sounds" in the album. Not knowing exactly what it is you're hearing is pretty cool. But the lack of structure throughout the entire record is frustrating. At least, I should say, it was during this first listening. In the future I'll surrender myself to whatever direction it wants to take me. I'm sure I'll have a sweet trip and a "safe journey, space fans" "Hearts of Space" experience then.

And speaking of "trip". I have no doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that "Riceboy Sleeps" is a perfect accompaniment to a session with the hallucinogenic drug of your choice. I hope to find out for myself soon. (he he)

Are Sigur Ros fans going to like it? We'll just have to wait and see. Not that it matters much, since the band is in the studio at this very minute recording tracks for an album due out next year. "Riceboy Sleeps" may be a pleasant blip on their radar. Hardcore fans are going to really get into it, while the more casual listeners, expecting something else, will dismiss it. Isn't that the way it always is, though?

I am, beyond the shadow of a doubt, one of those hardcore fans, and for me it's just fascinating to hear these sounds that come from Jonsi & Alex's head.

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"The City of Lost Children" (Netflix review)

"The City of Lost Children" reminded me of some of the film genre's greatest directorial talents...David Lynch, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam...and the story line could have been swiped from a novel by William Gibson or Philip K. Dick. And yet with all that it still retains an originality and unique feel that is all it's own. The main plot involves a deranged madman unable to dream. He's created an apparatus that will transfer dreams from one person to another. He has children procured so that he might steal their dreams, but, for some reason I wasn't able to suss out on first viewing, every one of them can only have nightmares. Weaving in an out of this main story line are sub-plots that give both a more human aspect as well as a truly bizarre flavor to the film. And to top it all off there are a couple of real "laugh out loud" moments that take the edge of the darkness that the action is set in. Interesting throughout, but it does take a little time to hit it's stride. When it does, though, prepare to be amazed.

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