I finally went to see Blue Valentine last week after six months of building anticipation, and I have to say it lived up to my every wish. Beautifully filmed and meticulously planned (Derek Cianfrance originally chose Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling for the parts eight years ago). It was filmmaking at its highest degree of purity. So raw and insightful, the film had tears crawling down my cheeks beginning with the first flashback. It's so sorrowful to see something so flawless fall by the wayside; a neglected plant that had been malnourished for too long.

I guess it touched me in more personal way than some. My mother recently went through something similar, and she's still dealing with the weight of consequences. I hate seeing her distraught, and I don't like the position it has put my younger brother and sister in either. This is something no one should have to go through. No deserves that degree of pain...but it's a cause and effect type of situation I suppose.

Anyway, the movie is superb, and the soundtrack is the icing on the cupcake.

MAGIC

Me Love Pop Rox

Surf rock has always made me weak at the knees... I can say with complete honesty that The Beach Boys will forever be a cherished favorite of mine.

You might have noticed, if you're as into indie music as I am (har har), that surf rock/pop rock is making a delicious comeback, with bands like Best Coast, Wavves and The Drums. Los Angeles' Best Coast is probably one of the most exalted bands to ever be birthed from the indie scene. They were ranked as the #1 Best New Band of 2010 on NME's Top 100 list. Everywhere you turn Bethany Cosentino, BC's lead singer, is being interviewed and/or worshiped, as she should. "Multi-instrumentalist" Bobb Bruno and drummer Ali Koehler are Cosentino's sidekicks in producing the cutest, angstiest music since Mirah. Listen to "Happy" and "Crazy For You" off their debut album.

Want a funtime? Meet the volatile threesome, Wavves. After the many band member switch-outs, Wavves has finally settled (at least for the time being) with lead vocalist Nathan Wiliams, Billy Hayes and Stephen Pope. Hayes and Pope are both former members of the late Jay Reatard's band and chose to join Williams last November. The band recently released its third album, King of the Beach. Let me just say, if it were legal to marry an inanimate object, this album would be at the top of my list. Check out "Idiot" and "Take On the World."

The Drums' music is new to my ears, but already golden in my heart. The best way to describe their sound is to picture yourself on a beach in a garage with the most badass pair of Ray Bans propped up on your nose. The Drums is Jonathan Pierce, Jacob Graham, Conor Harwick and the late guitarist Adam Kessler, who supposedly dropped out of the band last week as announced via the group's Facebook page. They released their first album in June and have been receiving nothing but praise and incredible worth. Hopefully Kessler's peace-out won't damage their climb up the indie success ladder. Give their album a listen, especially "Let's Go Surfing" and "Best Friend."

A Beautiful Moment in Film

This has to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing scenes ever filmed. Everything fits together so perfectly.
Wes Anderson is a genius.



The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001

Violent Punk Protesting!

I guess the only way to get shit done around here is by violent means. At least that's Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel's approach.

I'm kidding. Sort of. Tom Gabel was arrested back in 2007 for getting into a bar fight and slamming some guy's head down on a table, which turns me on, oddly enough.

I've been listening to the Florida based foursome for about six years now and seen them live once at ACL in 2008. Here's a picture from their performance, but you can't even see them. I swear I was closer, it just looks like I'm miles away!
I absolutely love their passion and enthusiasm for everything that's wrong with society. They've got balls, and they use them accordingly.

So far, Against Me! has released five full-length studio albums. Their debut album, Reinventing Axl Rose, came out in 2002. "Baby, I'm An Anarchist" has to be one of my all-time favorite songs. As The Eternal Cowboy made waves in 2003. I recommend "Sink, Florida, Sink" and "You Look Like I Need a Drink." Their next album was Searching For a Former Clarity in 2005. This one's even more anti-politics than their other albums with "From Her Lips To God's Ears (The Energizer)" sadistically serenading Condoleeza Rice and "Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners" about the corruptness within the recording industry. New Wave graced our ears in 2007 with a slightly poppier sound, but you could still feel the brutality. Check out "Thrash Unreal" about the consequences of hard drug use and "Animal." The band's most recent album, White Crosses, has only been out for a couple of months, and I have to say I'm disappointed. Maybe it's the new label or just Tom Gabel getting softer in his old age (he's only 29!), but, whatever the reason, the album's more about gush than fist fights. They almost have a...hold your breath...Green Day vibe going on. Seriously. I do like "White Crosses" and some of "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" in which Gabel actually sings "Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?" Pretty much admitting he's a softy now.

Softy or not, he's still as adorable as ever, and now he and his wife, artist Heather Gabel, have a little baby. Congrats to the couple. Now, go find your RAGE, Tom!!!

Now for the Men!

Ok, so I just gave you my Top Ten Celebrity Female Crushes.

Here is my list of Top Ten Celeb Male Crushes:

1. Conor Oberst, age 30, Singer (Brights Eyes, Desparecidos, & The Mystic Valley Band)

What can I say? He just speaks to me.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio, age 35, Actor (Inception, Shutter Island)

3. John Krasinski, age 30, Actor (The Office, License To Wed)

4. Paul Dano, age 26, Actor (Little Miss Sunshine, There Will Be Blood)

5. Paul Rudd, age 41, Actor (Role Models, I Love You Man)

6. John Corbett, age 49, Actor (Sex and the City, United States of Tara)

7. Trent Reznor, age 45, Singer (Nine Inch Nails, How To Destroy Angels)

8. Josh Hartnett, age 31, Actor (Wicker Park, 30 Days of Night)

9. Hugh Jackman, age 41, Actor (X-Men, Australia)

10. Ryan Reynolds, age 33, Actor (Amityville Horror, Adventureland)

But still sometimes I can't believe you're real...

...It's just that I've got diamonds in my eyes for you.

For entertainment's sake, I've decided to give a visual list of my top 10 female and male celeb crushes.

I'll start with the ladies.

1. Jenny Lewis, age 31, Singer/Actress

Check out Jenny's new project, Jenny & Johnny, a collaboration with her boyfriend of five years, Johnathan Rice.

2. Zooey Deschanel, age 30, Singer/Actress

She stars in one of my all-time favorite indie flicks, Gigantic.

3. Megan Fox, age 24, Actress

Two words - Jennifer's Body. That's when I knew I loved Megan Fox.

4. Michelle Williams, age 29, Actress

See the indie film Mammoth. You'll understand my infatuation with Michelle Williams.

5. Alexis Bledel, age 28, Actress/Model

Classic Gilmore beauty, and she's from my hometown, Houston.

6. Evan Rachel Wood, age 22, Actress

She's beauty meets darkness.

7. Scarlett Johansson, age 25, Actress/Singer

It's easy to see the attraction here. I don't particularly take to her singing voice, but she's a decent actress and one helluva bombshell.

8. Elizabeth Banks, age 36, Actress

Such a charmer. She just seems like a decent person to be around.

9. Alison Lohman, age 30, Actress

Drag Me To Hell made me love her.

10. Katy Perry, age 25, Singer

Cute, but outrageous. (like me!)