Music and Movie Talk #5 - Warm Weather Approaching
Warm weather is so close, and I can’t wait. Nothing is worse than cold weather, but here I am living where I live. Suppose I shouldn’t complain when I choose to live here; the city rocks otherwise! What does this have to do with music and movie talk? Who knows!
In this Music and Movie Talk—a segment where I talk about a few records and movies I’ve recently enjoyed—I have one of my favorite hardcore records, an excellent new post-punk record, a movie I recently saw, and a book I’m currently reading. Hope you enjoy, and as always, I appreciate you reading!
Music
My vinyl collection is amassing to a point where I’m running out of room. I imagine I can look into some other storage methods, but at the moment, it’s a little cramped. Regardless, I’m definitely grabbing these two records soon. I’m on the lookout!
Snapcase - Progression Through Unlearning
Genre - Hardcore
Release Date - 1997
Listen Here
My brother showed me Snapcase when I was a kid, and I thankfully had the pleasure to see them rip at the 2018 ‘Tid The Season. All of their records are great, and my personal favorite is their 1997 release Progression Through Unlearning. From the production to the lyrical messaging of consumerism and conformity to the pure power of the tracks, it rocks so hard. Definitely a must-listen.
slowthai - UGLY
Genre - Post-Punk
Release Date - 2023
Listen Here
I’ve been following slowthai since seeing him live in 2019. It’s always awesome whenever an artist takes risks, and slowthai certainly did that with this latest record UGLY. Primarily known for Hip Hop or Trap, slowthai created a fascinating contemporary post-punk record that’s definitely my favorite of his. It’s a passionate and heavy record that touches on themes of alienation, anxiety, addiction, and relationships.
Movies
Nothing better than having nothing to do and a load of free time to watch movies, and that’s what my Friday night is shaping up to be. Not sure what I’ll watch, but for now, figured I’d discuss what I recently finally got to see—in a theatre setting too!
The Quiet Girl (2022)
Genre - Drama
Director - Colm Bairéad
Writers - Colm Bairéad, Claire Keegan
Starring - Carrie Crowley, Andrew Bennett, Catherine Clinch
About - Rural Ireland 1981. A quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer. She blossoms in their care, but in this house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one.
Why You Should Watch
I’ve been wanting to see The Quiet Girl for almost a year at this point, and thankfully, it finally played at a nearby theatre. I took the first chance I got and saw it with my buddy, coincidentally during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend celebration. The film didn’t disappoint.
It’s not a very direct or spoon-fed story, meaning if you don’t have the patience, its entire purpose or message may get lost. Much of the film focuses on family, loss, and love, specifically through the eyes of its main character Cáit. As you can assume by the title, Cáit is an introverted young girl sent away to live with her distant older cousin and her husband for the summer.
Cáit has a rough impoverished home life with two parents who don’t seem to care and siblings she doesn’t get along with. With her newfound foster parents, Cáit experiences parental love for the first time while the film slowly examines these characters for why they are the way they are, the impact of genuine love, and emotional response. It’s a beautiful film, and my allergies definitely acted up a bit by the end.
Books
I haven’t talked as much about literature and various works I’m reading as I would’ve liked, but better late than never, I suppose. I’ll try incorporating more book talk in the future.
The Fall
Author - Albert Camus
Genre - Existential Fiction
Release Date - 1956
I have a bad habit of not finishing books when I get bored with them, so lately, I’ve been reading novellas since they’re easier for me to plow through. I picked up The Fall solely for that reason, and I’m really enjoying it.
First published in 1956, the book is a monologue by the main character, Jean-Baptiste Clamence, a former lawyer who has retreated to Amsterdam and spends time in a local bar, confessing his past sins and moral failures to an unnamed listener—easy to assume that’s us, the reader.
The novel explores themes of guilt, responsibility, and the human condition. Specifically, it examines the nature of guilt and the search for meaning and redemption in life. From what I can tell, Clamence slowly discovers his own moral corruption and descent from a successful and respected lawyer to a hypocritical and self-righteous person. Can’t recommend it enough, and I haven’t even finished it yet!