div_dbrl
Daniel Boone Regional Library
div_dbrl's Completed Shelf
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I Told You I Was FreakyI Told You I Was Freaky, Music CD
by Flight of the Conchords (Musical group)Music CD - 2009Music CD, 2009
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Jul 09, 2010
SouljackerSouljacker, Music CDRotten world blues EP
by Eels (Musical group)Music CD - 2002Music CD, 2002
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Jul 01, 2010
Comment:
This is a great album by a great band. This CD probably has the most rock and roll songs that Eels have ever put out, and a few great soft songs, as well.
"Souljacker" was co-produced (and features guitars) by John Parish, who is probably better known for his work with PJ Harvey. In the end, this CD feels a bit like the Eels accompaniment to Harvey's "To Bring You My Love," particularly on tracks like "Dog Faced Boy" and "Souljacker, Pt. 1." There are a lot of heavy guitars here, and that's probably part of why certain tracks from this album have become so prevalent on Eels' live setlist.
This has been one of my favorite CDs since I heard it when it was first released. It was a new direction for Eels that I wish they had followed longer. It feels like a series of hard rock short stories, which I can really get behind.This is a great album by a great band. This CD probably has the most rock and roll songs that Eels have ever put out, and a few great soft songs, as well.
"Souljacker" was co-produced (and features guitars) by John Parish, who is probably better…
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Jun 29, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Jun 29, 2010
Comment:
This book was quite good, quite entertaining, but occasionally a little bewildering, as well. For his first novel, it seems like Mieville was holding back quite a bit, and the results tend to be uneven.
"King Rat" wanders a bit from action sequences to philosophical considerations of Drum and Bass music, and never completely finds its footing. The characters, in particular, feel a bit weak. Saul, the protagonist, is very well developed, and King Rat is also solid, but Saul's friends and the villain all seem a bit cardboard. The style of the writing is so good that you really expect more.
"King Rat" also presents the standard "young man finds out his humdrum origins were a lie and he's actually a prince / messiah / Jedi / child wizard" with a darker twist than most. All in all, it's a solid effort, but it feels like something is lacking. It's really good, but it's not great.
The biggest problem may simply be that his next book, "Perdido Street Station," was flawless. He went all-out, inventing an entirely new world full of rich characters and a fully developed cultural and physical geography... "King Rat" ends up feeling like a rough draft of a much better novel. This isn't to say that "King Rat" isn't worth reading, but that "Perdido Street Station" is a classic. Either way, I look forward to reading more from Mr. Mieville in the future.This book was quite good, quite entertaining, but occasionally a little bewildering, as well. For his first novel, it seems like Mieville was holding back quite a bit, and the results tend to be uneven.
"King Rat" wanders a bit from action…
Something for EverybodySomething for Everybody, Music CD
by Devo (Musical group)Music CD - 2010Music CD, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2010
Comment:
This is Devo's first album since I was six years old. To put that in perspective: I graduated from college four years ago. It was worth the wait.
I've been a Devo fan for quite a while, and while they'll probably never beat their incredible debut, "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo," this is their best album since.
The creation of the album is possibly as interesting as the album itself: everything from the tracklist to the color of Devo's trademark "energy domes" was focus grouped by a marketing company. The result is, naturally, "Something for Everybody."
Incredibly catchy songs, great beats, classic Devo lyrics... what more could you want?This is Devo's first album since I was six years old. To put that in perspective: I graduated from college four years ago. It was worth the wait.
I've been a Devo fan for quite a while, and while they'll probably never beat their incredible…
Open Veins of Latin AmericaOpen Veins of Latin America, PaperbackFive Centuries of the Pillage of A Continent
by Galeano, Eduardo H.Paperback - 1997Paperback, 1997
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Jun 17, 2010
FireflyFirefly, DVDThe Complete Series
DVD - 2003DVD, 2003
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Jun 07, 2010
Comment:
I really have a hard time imagining someone who wouldn't enjoy this show. It has a little bit of everything: romance, science fiction, western, drama, action, anything you could want. The characters are amazingly well-developed, and the story has a great arc towards the conclusion in the film "Serenity." I highly recommend this show.I really have a hard time imagining someone who wouldn't enjoy this show. It has a little bit of everything: romance, science fiction, western, drama, action, anything you could want. The characters are amazingly well-developed, and the story has…
Living Dead in DallasLiving Dead in Dallas, Paperback
by Harris, CharlainePaperback - 2002Paperback, 2002
div_dbrl's rating:
Added May 28, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added May 28, 2010
MetalocalypseMetalocalypse, Music CDThe Dethalbum
by Dethklok (Musical group)Music CD - 2007Music CD, 2007
div_dbrl's rating:
Added May 22, 2010
Comment:
This album is brutal.
The Dirty SouthThe Dirty South, Music CD
by Drive-By Truckers (Musical group)Music CD - 2004Music CD, 2004
div_dbrl's rating:
Added May 07, 2010
Southern Rock OperaSouthern Rock Opera, Music CD
by Drive-By Truckers (Musical group)Music CD - 2002Music CD, 2002
div_dbrl's rating:
Added May 07, 2010
The Big To-doThe Big To-do, Music CD
by Drive-By Truckers (Musical group)Music CD - 2010Music CD, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added May 07, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added May 07, 2010
Comment:
One of the truckers' best. As much as I enjoy everything they put out, this album just rocks a little harder than most of their offerings. "Puttin' People on the Moon," is a classic, and "Sands of Iwo Jima" makes me tear up a little every time I hear it. There's also a great trilogy of songs about Buford Pusser. What's not to love?One of the truckers' best. As much as I enjoy everything they put out, this album just rocks a little harder than most of their offerings. "Puttin' People on the Moon," is a classic, and "Sands of Iwo Jima" makes me tear up a little every time I…
Added Apr 13, 2010
Good HairGood Hair, DVD
DVD - 2010DVD, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Apr 13, 2010
Comment:
I thought that this film was really fascinating. I stumbled upon it because of Chris Rock's involvement (although I'll warn you, this isn't his usual fare), then checked it out because the premise sounded interesting.
It's a documentary about hair in the black community. It discusses straighteners and weaves, as well as their histories and how the products are made. All of this was engaging, and bookended by the story of a massive hairstyling championship, where hairstylist cut hair hanging upside down, underwater, and in any other number of bombastic ways. There's an interesting social commentary underlying the whole film -- at one point, Rock goes around trying to sell a bag full of black hair, but is turned down, because black women only want weaves made from Indian or Asian hair.
This was all something that I'd never really thought about, and it was really interesting to learn about the entire industry that has been set up around black hair. The film was informative, well-structured, and quite well hosted by Chris Rock. I highly recommend it.I thought that this film was really fascinating. I stumbled upon it because of Chris Rock's involvement (although I'll warn you, this isn't his usual fare), then checked it out because the premise sounded interesting.
It's a documentary about…
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Apr 11, 2010
Comment:
This is a disappointing second book by Cave. "And the Ass Saw the Angel" was clever and engaging, while "Bunny Munro" is meandering and predictable. Cave is retreading ground by writers like Bukowski who have done similar material much better. I found the ending particularly groanworthy.
I love Cave's music, and I loved his first book, but this was an underwhelming read. I don't recommend it.This is a disappointing second book by Cave. "And the Ass Saw the Angel" was clever and engaging, while "Bunny Munro" is meandering and predictable. Cave is retreading ground by writers like Bukowski who have done similar material much better. I…
Battle Angel AlitaBattle Angel Alita, BookVol. 1, Rusty Angel
by Kishiro, YukitoBook - 2003Book, 2003
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Apr 10, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Apr 02, 2010
Comment:
This is the best Batman story ever told. I've read more Batman than any self-respecting human being should, and this one takes the cake. It frequently dukes it out with "Watchmen" for the top spot in "best graphic novels" lists, and it's easy to see why.
If you've seen "Gran Torino," just picture that grumpy old man as a huge, ripped Batman, and you've got the concept down. Batman is old and cranky, and has to come back to teach those darn teenagers (and, of course, the Joker and Two-Face) a lesson. It sounds kind of cheesy, particularly in light of some of Frank Miller's more recent, completely insane works, but it's actually fantastic.
Better than it has any right to be, and a true classic. If you're going to read one Batman comic in your life, make it this one. If you're going to read one comic... it should probably be "Watchmen." But if you read TWO, this should be the other one.This is the best Batman story ever told. I've read more Batman than any self-respecting human being should, and this one takes the cake. It frequently dukes it out with "Watchmen" for the top spot in "best graphic novels" lists, and it's easy to…
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Mar 30, 2010
Comment:
Great CD. Very weird. It's kind of a dark techno sound. The lead singer uses a filter of sorts to modulate her voice, but not in a horrible autotune way. She uses it to make her voice stranger, like an instrument, rather than just improving a flawed product.
I've followed this band through three CDs, all wildly different from the other, and I plan to follow them through many more. Good, bizarre, Swedish music.
On a side note: I'm amazed that we have this CD. What an awesome library.Great CD. Very weird. It's kind of a dark techno sound. The lead singer uses a filter of sorts to modulate her voice, but not in a horrible autotune way. She uses it to make her voice stranger, like an instrument, rather than just improving a…
Eiji TsuburayaEiji Tsuburaya, BookMaster of Monsters : Defending the Earth With Ultraman, Godzilla, and Friends in the Golden Age of Japanese Science Fiction Film
by Ragone, AugustBook - 2007Book, 2007
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Mar 30, 2010
Comment:
This is a highly entertaining oversized book, full of stories from behind the scenes of popular Japanese monster series like "Godzilla" and "Ultraman." While there are biographical details about the life of Eiji Tsuburaya, don't expect a traditional biography. This book is primarily a biography of his work and his creations, rather than his life. It is an overview of the many projects with which he was involved. Needless to say, the further I got into the book, the more full my Netflix queue became. (Did you know that there's a Japanese movie where King Kong battles a giant robotic version of himself called "Mechani-Kong?" Fantastic!)
I highly recommend this book to any fan of the "giant monster" genre ("kaiju," in Japanese). By far the best part is the pictures. This book is chock full of huge, glossy pictures from behind the scenes of the various films, as well as lobbycards and an end section on merchandise. Nothing beats a picture of Eiji smoking a cigarette with Godzilla, both of them towering over a miniaturized Tokyo.
This is a fascinating look into Japanese monster movies and the men who made them.This is a highly entertaining oversized book, full of stories from behind the scenes of popular Japanese monster series like "Godzilla" and "Ultraman." While there are biographical details about the life of Eiji Tsuburaya, don't expect a…
FreakonomicsFreakonomics, BookA Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Levitt, Steven D.Book - 2006Book, 2006
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2010
Comment:
This is a fantastic, eye-opening book. One of the biggest problems in the world today is people who only see life through the lens of a single philosophy: politics, religion, or even economics. Non-economists can benefit from looking at the world from an economic standpoint, and the conceit of this book (viewing traditionally non-economic problems using the tools of economics) could come in handy for economists, as well.This is a fantastic, eye-opening book. One of the biggest problems in the world today is people who only see life through the lens of a single philosophy: politics, religion, or even economics. Non-economists can benefit from looking at the world…
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2010
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2010
Comment:
While I haven't read any of Chuck Hogan's other books, I would call this Guillermo del Toro meets Michael Crichton. There's a lot of procedural work and pseudoscience, and underlying it all is Guillermo del Toro's love of folklore and weird monsters. However, I must stress this: don't expect a vampire version of "Pan's Labyrinth," because you will be disappointed if you do. Rather, expect something more along the lines of "Blade II" or "Mimic," albeit better than either.
As other reviewers have said, this book tries to "take back" vampires from the teenagers and housewives that have neutered them. Sure enough, in this book, vampires are not suave, undying Fabios. Rather, they are degenerate monsters, which certainly seems closer to their origin in folklore. The descriptions seem fairly similar to the Reapers in del Toro's film "Blade II," but with even less humanity.
This book also has a strong Stephen King influence, which is in no way a bad thing. "Salem's Lot" was, before this, probably the most recent vampire book that I actually found frightening.
All in all, this is a really effective take on vampires., which is sadly needed in the wake of books like "Twilight" that have turned vampires from bloodsucking monstrosities into brooding teenagers. It's reported to be the first in a trilogy, and while I hope that the trilogy delves a little deeper into the fairy tale style that del Toro does so well, I definitely look forward to it either way.While I haven't read any of Chuck Hogan's other books, I would call this Guillermo del Toro meets Michael Crichton. There's a lot of procedural work and pseudoscience, and underlying it all is Guillermo del Toro's love of folklore and weird…
Batman ForeverBatman Forever, Music CDMusic From and Inspired by the Motion Picture
Music CD - 1995Music CD, 1995
div_dbrl's rating:
Added Mar 24, 2010
Comment:
This CD is way better than it has any right to be. PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, the Offspring, Nick Cave, Method Man... and they're all doing great songs that you can't find on other albums. Madness.
Easily the best part of "Batman Forever," which was admittedly terrible.This CD is way better than it has any right to be. PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, the Offspring, Nick Cave, Method Man... and they're all doing great songs that you can't find on other albums. Madness.
Easily the best part of "Batman Forever," which…
Comment: