June 2008 Archives

I've always had love/hate feelings towards Death Cab for Cutie; I love them when they're playing upbeat, indie-pop gems and I loathe them when they drone on, and on, and on with their slow-tempoed tracks. Luckily for me, Narrow Stairs is more love than hate.

The seventh full-length (and second major-label) release from the indie quartet is a solid follow-up to 2005's Plans, which went Gold in 2006. Lyrically, Stairs is spot on -- full of irony and wit, presented with beautiful brevity.

Sequels, prequels and remakes have been en vogue for quite sometime in Hollywood. I'm actually a little surprised that George Lucas, King of Re-Dos, didn't revive the Indiana Jones series sooner. But, no matter how you slice it, Indy is back, resuming his quest to return antiquities to museums.

I'll be pithy -- Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the third-best Indiana Jones film; it's better than Temple of Doom. Though it's difficult to compare films in a series that seen nearly 20 years pass since it's last release. Kingdom manages to maintain an unsteady balance between the themes that built the franchise and those that will introduce it to a new generation.