Stereolab
The avant-garde has always been the comfort zone for Stereolab, the lounge-y, psychedelic pop/rock outfit whose ardent fans are enamored with the untraditional krautrock sound, blending odd ‘60s-style department store music with fuzzy guitars, the famous ‘motorik’ time signature and the uninflected English/French vocals of Laetitia Sadier. Sadier and co-writer Tim Gane have paired with string and brass arranger Sean O’Hagan (High Llamas) for this release – an odd melding of styles that is even more symphonic, pastoral and spritely than ever. Still, there’s not much differentiation from prior albums. Like a run-on sentence with a giant semicolon after 2004’s Margerine Eclipse, Chemical Compound jumps back into the same subjects and the same quirky song titles (“Cellulose Sunshine,” “Daisy Click Clack,” “Vortical Phonotheque” and “Neon Beanbag”) – a tribute to Gane’s eccentric, electronic, surrealisticdreamland mind. Chemical Compound might be telltale, but it’s solid, with the excellent “Neon Beanbag” leading off the set, its fidgety organ buzzing insect-like in the background, the tempo uplifted into airy and snappy heights. The ore voluptuous, brass-induced follower, “Three Women,” is a brain re-charger after the nervous energy of the lead track. The rest of the CD equalizes itself in similar fashion, and its middle track “Valley Hi” possesses enough energy to carry the rest of the album, with bell-like guitars, uptempo percussion and a warbling but sturdy piano layer. Stereolab shouldn’t be faulted for not being innovative, but perhaps could be chastised for creating their own sticky mess by being too clever before their time and all too happy to stay put. Good for them that it doesn’t seem to be a conundrum, and good news for those who appreciate consistency.
Sep 1st, 2008 by Erin Wolf
Weekly Bookmarks – Monday, 01. September 2008
JS Online: Schools have sunny outlooks Milwaukee pushes for local builders Labor council promotes unionizing hotel City seeks builder for MLK site Private sector pays for public housing Coalition sets transit goal Jefferson Wells acquires New Jersey firm – Small Business Times Construction to begin soon on new Zilber building at Marquette – Small Business Times OnMilwaukee.com Milwaukee Buzz: Milwaukee, one of the best cities to earn a living Marquette to name office building after Zilbers – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Jefferson Wells acquires tax consulting firm – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: JS Online: Car-less on the east side JS Online: Slow construction may limit taxes Region’s office vacancies continue to rise – Small Business Times JS Online: Judge urges merger of justice facilities into new downtown complex JS Online: New Berlin OKs water deal
Sep 1st, 2008 by Dave Reid
Hoan Bridge Photos, August 2008
Hoan Bridge Underneath The Hoan Bridge Hoan Bridge Hoan Bridge Hoan Bridge
Aug 30th, 2008 by Dave Reid
Bruce and Barack Rock Milwaukee
What a weekend! If the roar of choppers wasn’t enough to get your blood bubbling then maybe the music blasting from stages all over town might do the trick. Miller Park, Milwaukee Street, North Avenue, MLK Drive and Locust Street were all bursting with music and, of course, the lakefront featured headliners Foo Fighters on Friday and the Boss himself, none other than Bruuuce Springsteen tonight. But the nation’s number one celebrity du jour, Barack Obama promises to outshine them all when he hits town on Monday. Republican candidate John McCain has poked fun that Obama’s popularity is nothing but a trend a la Britany or Paris. But anyone who has heard the man speak knows that there’s plenty of substance to the Illinois junior senator. So if you’re in town on Labor Day you will definitely want to check out Obama at the Marcus Amphitheater. How often do you get a chance to witness something truly historic?
Aug 30th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
The Cancun of the Midwest
I love it here. It’s really hot and sunny. We spent most of the day yesterday drinking at The Locust Tap in the shadow (sort of) of the grand State Capitol and at the lovely bar in our wildly luxurious downtown hotel, the Renaissance Savery. (This hotel is amazing. We have a really hard time getting out of our beds. I am blogging in bed right now. It’s 4:00 pm.) While Bridget and Matt drank bloodies at the Speakeasy, Kat, Jon Anne and I headed out to Valley Junction – a charming trading post of vintage shops, boutiques and little galleries – where I bought a Wayne Newton record. I’m taking it everywhere in mostly dashed, but dogged, hopes that we’ll run into him. Last night, after an unsuccessful attempt to crash Wayne Newton’s party at the Marriott, we strolled down to Fourth Street for a rager at The Royal Mile where we set up shop for the rest of the night drinking rum and cokes and doing shots. It’s like that toothless old lady we met at the Locust Tap said to us after she asked for a light: Party like a rockstar. Matt got smacked in the face and someone bought Bridget an Italian beef sandwich. Today we woke up obscenely early to go to the Downtown Farmer’s Market, where we danced in the street while a funk band played “Flashlight” for what felt like hours and hours. We bought honey, wax beans and El Salvadorian pupusas. Now we’ve just returned from the Renaissance Faire, which was, in the organizer’s own words, “no Bristol.” We put Matt Wild in the stocks and I turned out to be a champion archer. A really nice guy gave me a free kebab. We’ve been overdressed. Our reception here has been grand. For a town that hosts the Iowa Caucuses, just threw a homecoming bash for Shawn Johnson and 7000 of her admirers and is currently playing host to both Shakira and a multi-million dollar Arabian horse described as “an undeniable gift from God,” “a paradox in the most elemental sense” and “the most influential stallion of modern times,” people sure are excited to have us here. (By the way, Bronze Fonz detractors: Des Moines is home to a similarly contentious figure that may or may not look anything like its subject.) We’ve been meeting lots of people in finance. Des Moines is the insurance capital of America. Did you know that? We’ve also made friends with a fair number of osteopaths and chiropractors. Des Moines is the capital of that, too. Who knew, Des Moines? Seriously … WHO KNEW? With so many successful doctors and financial representatives, I might call Des Moines America’s most marriageable city. I might also call the kinkiest place in the Midwest. For no good reason. More on that later. Des Moines! I just love it. It’s just like Cancun, but friendlier, and with cornfields. Kids turning cartwheels at the grocery store, dance parties in the deli […]
Aug 30th, 2008 by Amy Elliott
Senator Russ Feingold to Address Milwaukee Common Council
As part of the President's Speaker Series, Council President Willie Hines Jr has invited Senator Russ Feingold to address the Common Council on September 2nd. There is a reception before the meeting at 8:30 a.m., followed by the meeting at 9:00 a.m. The meeting and reception are both open to the public.
Aug 30th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Bag it and ship it back to the sculptor…
…Gerald Sawyer, who maybe is hiding in the bushes considering a career change. We’re talking about the Bronze Fonz. Last year, I did some online research seeking images of this artist’s work and it took only a few minutes to determine he must surely be a graduate of the Hallmark School of Sappy Sculpture. Okay, make that the School of Hideous Sculpture. Whatever. The Journal/Sentinel’s Jim Stingl has a hilarious take on who folks think the Fonz-thing resembles, and from what I’ve perused, it sure isn’t Fonzie. Remarks range from Christopher Walken (quite a few votes), Howdy-Doody, Liberace, and Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan (though Donovan deserves better). I wonder if Fonzie himself was disappointed in what is a laughing-stock attempt? We have worse in town, but not by much. Milwaukee has tons of bad sculpture. Gertie The Duck is one. Any others? Sure, lots of them. I hate to diss Father Marquette, but the bronze sculpture of him standing on Marquette University’s campus makes him look like a 60s hippie blowin’ in the wind. The Betty Brinn museum has a gaggle of sculpted kids on the east side of the building that should also be placed somewhere near the top of the list for wretched art. But, will the Bronzie be a popular place to have your photo snapped? Sure.
Aug 29th, 2008 by Stella Cretek
A Good Week
Is it possible that the Democrats have actually pulled off a flawless convention and nominated a terrific team that offers passion, experience, vision and conviction? Each night seemed perfected choreographed to convey a particular message designed to unify the party and demonstrate to the nation that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the right choice on Election Day in November. And the news today that John McCain has chosen Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, a social conservative, apparently to bolster his support among the party’s base who have little love for the former maverick, adds piquancy to the strength of the Democratic ticket. The Ted Kennedy/Michelle Obama show on Monday, followed by Hillary’s terrific performance on Tuesday, and then Bill and Joe’s one-two punch on Wednesday were all impressive raising the stakes for the main event on Thursday. And Barack Obama did not disappoint. He hit all the right notes, delivering a great speech with all the poetry his supporters have grown accustomed to while also providing plenty of specifics that his critics have charged he has glossed over. Never mind that his standard stump speech has always been chock full of policy specifics that have been essential to his appeal. But most importantly, Obama took the fight directly to Sen. McCain, leaving no doubt that he is ready to take on the War Hero on the question of who has the ideas, the determination and the fortitude to deliver on the challenges facing our nation at this critical juncture. Even the roll call had a dramatic, cathartic and even entertaining quality to it. When the Illinois delegation ceded its time to the New York crowd allowing Sen. Hillary Clinton to call on the convention to nominate Obama by acclamation, policy wonks everywhere were breathless. Granted McCain deserves some credit for seizing the media’s attention by naming Palin, the little known, self-described former “hockey mom.” But after the buzz caused by the surprise announcement dies down independents and other undecided voters will most likely wonder why this choice should convince anyone that the nation’s future is best entrusted to this team. Wow. Whatta week. I’m still kinda breathless.
Aug 29th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
Come on, ride the train
Peter: Iowa is … ummm Well, remember the song “Ride the Train” by the Quad City DJs? “Come on ride the train, & ride it … ” Amy: Yes. Of course. Peter: It’s nothing like that. So far, I can confirm that genius summary. But Iowa is also, so far, great. We had an amazing dinner at the Embassy Club with some beautiful ladies from the CVB and a gorgeous panoramic view of the city at sunset. Afterward we went to El Bait Shop, which we’ve been talking about for days, and met some strapping gentlemen from greater Chicago. And I drank some Rogue Chipotle, which I’ve never had the pleasure to sample outside of Detroit. Tomorrow: sleeping in, the Capitol, swimming, Valley Junction, bloody marys, Sherman Hill, wandering, the High Life Lounge, Gray’s Lake, playing it by ear, Thai food. And riding the train. Hopefully we are all going to meet nice Iowans and get some attention. Already we are receiving lots of incredulous stares. Matt will post video tomorrow, too. I promise. We like it here.
Aug 29th, 2008 by Amy Elliott
Iowa in T-minus 24 hours
Friends, it’s almost Labor Day. Summer is setting, and with it, the horizon of possibility for reckless adventure, late-night wanderings, wine by the bonfire and naps on the beach recedes. I don’t know about you – but I’m scared. It hasn’t been the best summer for me. I would go so far as to call it “crummy.” But it’s still summer. For every personal catastrophe, awkward social situation and case of the stomach flu there’s been grilled corn on the cob, rowboat-ing and long afternoons at the pool. I think I have the best tan of my life. And as much as I want the litany of disaster and disheartening failure to stop, I don’t want summer to end. Luckily, we still have Des Moines. Yes, Des Moines. Remember Branson? Sure you do: We had the time of our lives in Branson, forceful suppression of irony aside. And now we’ve been invited to Des Moines. Branson might be God Country’s family-friendly answer to Las Vegas, but based on the research we’ve done so far, Des Moines might surprisingly hold its own to the Sin City. We’re not even joking. Originally we were going for a boxing tournament, which has since been rescheduled. And even Wayne Newton – Mr. Las Vegas himself – is going to be there this weekend, judging the Iowa Gold Star Futurity. We’ll be dining at the historic Embassy Club at the top of one of the tallest buildings in Iowa, hitting up the piano bar and hopping all around the East Village, where our fancy downtown hotel is located. We’ll see you at El Bait Shop, a Mexican-BBQ-70s-fishing themed bar and grill featuring more than 170 beers on tap, and maybe Des Moines’ oldest bar, The Locust Tap, which sounds kind of like the Landmark, or maybe Polish Falcons. From what we can gather, the city’s LGBT community is HQ’d in the East Village, too, which is great news, because gay men love Matt Wild. We’re really excited to see the State Capitol and the history museum and shop at the Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market, one of the biggest and best in the country – they actually shut down the downtown city streets on Saturday morning. And even though we like to play fast and loose on these trips, I am secretly holding out for a few moments of peace and quiet, maybe in Brown’s Woods, the state’s largest urban forest preserve, or on the beach at Saylorville Lake, or amid the crab apple trees at the Arie den Boer Arboretum. Also we’re stopping by the Field of Dreams on our way home. Really, all of this sounds just picture-perfect, a far cry from the Midwestern kitsch-trip we had kind of expected when planning our On Assignment series. I really can’t wait. I need a vacation. Good thing we’re leaving tomorrow morning. Des Moines ahoy! Stay tuned for frequent blogging and video updates, and tell all your friends!
Aug 27th, 2008 by Amy Elliott
Great News For Milw Filmmakers – MILWAUKEE FILM ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL SCREENING, CALLS FOR ENTRIES
Hey There in Hipster Blog Land: Read below for the skinny on the next step in the Milwaukee Film Festival world….. begs the question…. what the hell happened? Rumors are swirling, Mark Metcalf is going off with a series of articles on onmilwaukee.com but no matter how you slice it, its a sad collision of art and commerce where the big loser is the filmmaker. Fear not: As usual, film kids will solider on. So for now, let’s focus, rise up and get Milwaukee Film rolling! THE NEED TO KNOW: Fest Date / Loc: Oct 23rd @ Oriental Theater Deadline / Cost: Sept 19th / FREE Who Can Submit: Milwaukee County Residents Prizes: Milwaukee Filmmaker prize package valued at over $10,000, including a camera rental package from North American Camera. from Milwaukee Film PR Office: NEWS RELEASE For More Information: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marie Maas, 414-390-5500 August 22, 2008 MILWAUKEE FILM ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL SCREENING, ISSUES CALL FOR ENTRIES Local filmmakers invited to participate in October showcase Milwaukee – Milwaukee Film, a newly formed independent organization dedicated to hosting Milwaukee’s premiere film festival, announced today plans for an inaugural screening on October 23, 2008. The Milwaukee Show will be a premiere showcase of diverse locally-made short films at the Oriental Theatre. Films may be submitted by residents of Milwaukee County for consideration at no cost, with select films featured as part of the screening. The top filmmaker will also receive a Milwaukee Filmmaker prize package valued at over $10,000, including a camera rental package from North American Camera. The deadline to submit a short film is Friday, September 19, 2008. This screening is just one of the many year-round screenings and events Milwaukee Film plans to host, supported by the former staff of the Milwaukee International Film Festival and its primary funders. “This is a great opportunity for local filmmakers to showcase their work, and a really engaging way for the community to experience all that our city’s growing film industry has to offer,” said Jonathan Jackson, Artistic Director for Milwaukee Film. “We are excited to kick off our first screening in October by highlighting locally-made films.” For an official submission form or more details, visit the Milwaukee Film group on Facebook or contact Milwaukee Film at (414) 755-1965 or MilwaukeeFilm414@gmail.com. ABOUT MILWAUKEE FILM BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Chris Abele, Milwaukee Film Board Chairman; President & CEO, Argosy Foundation Tina Chang, CEO, SysLogic Alec Fraser, Attorney, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP Bill Haberman, Attorney, Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP Carmen Haberman, Vice President, Herzfeld Foundation Julia Taylor, President, Greater Milwaukee Committee STAFF: Jonathan Jackson – Artistic Director Jonathan Jackson is the Artistic Director for Milwaukee Film, overseeing the content and programming for the organization’s events. Jackson previously served as the Artistic Director for the Milwaukee International Film Festival, directing film programming from 2003 – 2008. He previously worked as the Program Manager of the UWM Union Theatre and has curated film programs for the Milwaukee Art Museum. Kyle Heller – Operations Director […]
Aug 27th, 2008 by Howie Goldklang
Hitting the Right Notes
My name is Ted and I’m a political junkie. There I was captivated by the television coverage of the Democratic National Convention even though I had bills to pay, dishes to wash, and good books to read. It was a gorgeous late summer evening and I knew I had better things to do. Heck, just leaving the house for a stroll would have been healthier for my body and soul
Aug 26th, 2008 by Ted Bobrow
