MUSIC REVIEW: THE DREAMERS Soundtrack

-on Music & Time

::Four years, nearly, and 11 randomly selected albums::

-1-Chicago Underground Trio - SLON
-2-Tortise - ITS ALL AROUND YOU
-3-Spiritualized - LET IT COME DOWN
-4-Bardo Pond - SET AND SETTING
-5-Nico - CHELSEA GIRL
-6-The Rolling Stones - OUT OF OUR HEADS uk
-7-Graham Coxon - CROW SIT ON BLOOD TREE
-8-Radiohead - KID A (the first 3 notes and the rest)
-9-Low - LONG DIVISION
-10-Death Cab For Cutie - FORBIDDEN LOVE e.p.
-11-Louis Armstrong - WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD


"In most of my movies - in most movies in fact - the film dictates the music. In The Dreamers, however; all the music is from the late 60's, long before my film was born. I'm only now realising that some of the scenes are completely inspired by the music."

-Bernardo Bertolucci


Rock and Roll is longing. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, THE DREAMERS is an enveloping vision encompassing both highly self-conscious longing and a great naivite. It is about the origin of rock; how so ever it was and would become. Now, gazing back lovingly, as this film does, I was quickly embroiled with deep characterization and the 'observant' style of the director. While shooting as POV, long takes and at fixed angles you may notice the use of mirrors in the images on screen where one may view the action on many layers, (i.e. usually in the background). Where in the foreground, are intense, complex and natural performances of characters- blind to their outside world and learning to see themselves more closely. Their attempt to recognize themselves- as distinct from the pictures on the screen or in the pages of romantic books as from childhood, or in the words of a song; as they are freed - automatically jettisoned from the poetic of their parents era...these are their trials and the story of their collective love.

some tracks:

-07-Steve Miller Band - Song For Our Ancestors 5:59 -This song tells the story of a small inverted menage et trois, 'teen' drama hidden inside what is not directly the subject of the film: the swirling center of the newly forming universe of sound and reverberation, by the swelling poetic and political tensions in French Society surrounding the closing of LA CINEMATHEQUE FRANCAISE, and later The General Strike of 1968.

-10-Antoine Duhamel - Ferdinand from the film "PIERROT LE FOU" by Jean Luc Godard 2:58 -A soaring and disjointed multitonal piece for string orchestra, a fateful fall into shame, scandal, and sadness.

-11-Grateful Dead - Dark Star (Exclusive Band Edit) 9:02 -Very sophisticated (still too long).

-01-Jimi Hendrix - Third Stone From The Sun (not long enough) 6:44

-04-Martial Solal - New York Herald Tribune from the film "A BOUT DE SOUFFLE" by Jean Luc Godard 1:27

-06-Charles Trenet - La Mer -Amazingly energetic and enveloping ode. Also this song was probably recorded on the stadium p.a.. 3:21

Aussi, amour vrai; Edith Piaf et Francoise Hardy!!!

Ultimately, this music as is true of the film - provides a context - not only an homage to the artists whose work is translated as being representative of a certain time in 'History', however fictionalized; a vision of the birth of many, things, ideas and much love at a difficile et important temps dans l'histoire de L'AMOUR.

-Highly Recommended

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Magazzino's in Burbank

Magazzino's cafe is the only bastion of food culture in the otherwise meat 'n' potatoes Burbank. Located on Pass, between Olive and Riverside, it in a prime location for lunching studio folks, but luckily, the cafe is hardly ever overcrowded, despite having seating for only 20 people or so. Owned and operated by the Amelie-like Rose, the cafe has a warm and family-like atmosphere (I think her mom works in the kitchen), adorned with fresh flowers and European bistro decor.

The Food: Sandwiches, Soups, and Salads round out the short menu. Out of 7 or so sandwiches, 4 of them are vegetarian: Caprese, Arabo (toasted with melted brie and wilted spinach with a balsamic sauce), Vegetarian (with avocado, brie, tomato, roasted red peppers, lettuce, dijon mustard & mayo), and Chevre (chevre with sun dried tomato, roasted red peppers, and balsamic)--and all of them are yummy and run around $6. There are a variety of fresh breads to choose from and you can get a 1/2 sandwich & soup or salad combo for another buck. The Soups are all vegan, and all taste vaguely the same. They all seem to have a pureed potato base with a different vegetable mixed in each day--green beans, carrots, peas, mushrooms, etc. And for some reason, this soup, in all its carnations, is good. A 1/2 sandwich and a soup is a hearty meal saved for cold, rainy days or when you're really hungry, otherwise, it's possible to slip into a food coma.

In addition to the gourmet sandwiches, the baked goods are to die for. Chocolate chip cookies like your mom used to make, fresh fruit tarts, luscious carrot cake, pound cake, baked donuts and on and on. I'm not exactly sure where Rose gets her pastries, but there's a good chance that angels make these things.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Luna Park

It was so hot all day and when chances would have it I got off work early...
With the setting sun at my back (You could imagine it melting into the santa monica bay, a monsoon...)
I went down the ramp towards home. The 101 at 5:45 was all calm in anticipation of some certain attack or seizure. I was breezing my way home to you and hoped you'd got my message...

I wanted to beat you home for once...but you were there and we communed and you suggested, "LUNA PARK", I said "YES". Some background; I had once lived not several blocks from the flagship restaurant on 17th and Valencia, and she new this as well.

Street parking was not restrictive, and we walked up the alley and rounded the corner...it was the door and I opened it. We saw quckly that it was still relatively empty (though that would soon change), and we were given a table near the window. With the firey sunlight behind your shoulder we sat reading, each with a green hardcover. A few small squares of paper - the menu - precise and inviting, gives you time, undaunted, to dreamily gaze into your eyes.

A man quickly materialized with water in glasses with ice and a purple tint, these went nicely with the amber votives and dark wood, curtains and chandeliers full of modern glass grapes, and strange character design paintings. Music could have been elliot smith, or verve, but somehow unrecognizable, we were given cut french bread and fresh butter and the rest...

DRINKS: You chose a signature mojito
And I had Sangria with cut oranges and red grapes. Both were excellent, stong and fresh tasting, and not too sweet.

We shared a delicious appetizer: Warm Goat Cheese Fondue with Grilled Bread and Sliced Apples $ 7.50
UMM that was so good! They stack the apple slices on top of a wall of bits of garlic bread (also french), and they are so thin that when you eat them with the cheese the texture is so fine and delicate and substantial.

You ordered: Fontina Stuffed Ravioli with Mushrooms, Spinach and Truffle Oil $ 11.75
This unique blend; fresh pasta, asiago cheese, gently braised proccinni mushrooms and fresh spinach is rich reward for the seneses. The truffle oil was a perfect balance to the salt of the asiago. All of these ingredients are used in pastas all of the time but never more luxuriously it seems.

And I had: Lemon Risotto with Spring Vegetables and Parmesan 10.50
Creamy and light ~ Risotto is an enigma. Very delicious light and hardy as well. The veggies included bits of asparagus, celery, sweet peas. Warm parmesan cheese adds bite and satisfaction.

The drinks were nice and strong and by 7:45 there were twice as many people having diner. The Sun slipped down below the edge and they dowsed the lights.

We sipped water and I ordered dessert: Desserts-Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream 6.50
This plate was sweet and tart and crowned with fresh vanilla bean ice cream it was highly desireable. Two spoons and two hearts, we were ready.

Every one should go at least once. Highly reccomended. Next time we might try the s'mores!

MUSIC REVIEW: Xiu Xiu, Fabulous Muscles

This album sounds like pre-Winona Bright Eyes, if Conor Oberst had been molested by his entire family under the Christmas tree and turned gay. Jamie Stewart, the heart and soul of Xiu Xiu, uses a dissonant combonation of drum machines, keyboards, acoustic guitar, horns, and God only knows what else, to back up his heartrending vocals to express how efed up he really is.


The title track "Fabulous Muscels" features Jamie's whimpering voice paired with a sparce electric guitar lamenting a lost, but abusive lover. It opens with "Break my face in/ it was the kindest touch you ever gave me" and continues with "cremate my after you cum on my lips." Walt Whitman couldn't have said it better.


My favorite track is "Nieced Pieces (Boat Knife Version)" which is another slow one featuring a breathy trombone, a harmonium and a guitar. Jamie sings to his baby niece about what a efed up family she has been born into. "I can't wait to tell you your grandpa made your mommy play stripper while your uncle watched." Ouch! That sucks!


The rest of the songs are thematically similar but are a step above the lameness of a teenage girl who cuts herself (like Frankie on the Real World)--they are more like an alcoholic greasy haired hipster who has sex indiscriminately.