Every week, we list our recommendations of new music, books, comics, movies and TV to check out. This is Recs in Effect:
Slim pickins this week, y'all...
New Book
I'm a huge fan of Gallery 1988's Crazy 4 Cult series and have bought a handful of pieces and prints from the shows. The combination of brilliant talent, unique visions and beloved films makes it an easy sell for me. Many of these pieces are being collected for this book and I would highly recommend picking it up.
New TV
Louie, Season 2 Thursday, June 23, at 10:30pm on FX Networks
One of the best television comedies in the past couple of years (and that's truly saying something), Louie appears to be comedian's Louis CK at his most pure. The sadness inherent in life mixes with the dark perversity that amuses Louis CK and the hilarity of the mundane to produce some of the funniest half hours every filmed. Not every gag works and not every bit is meant to elicit a laugh - but if the second season is anything like the first then we are all in for a real treat. Season 1 is coming out on DVD/Blu-Ray on Tuesday as well.
New Blu-Ray/DVD
Kiss Me Deadly (The Criterion Collection)
This classic from the original wave of Film Noir isn't just finally coming back to home video - it's being released on Criterion Collection with all of the attendant bells and whistles. This movie is a weird trip built on the dark undercurrent of most film noirs but also has a completely crazy hook and macguffin that has left an impression on many filmmakers - not the least being Alex Cox, Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, Samuel Fuller and Takashi Miike.
New Music
Bon Iver's previous works, For Emma, Forever Ago and Blood Bank EP, revealed Justin Vernon as a unique and talented artist leading a band with a distinct voice all their own. Country, folk, alt-rock congeal together around plaintive lyrics that evoke emotional responses reminiscent of a melancholy Summer night spent watching the stars with a soon-to-be ex-girlfriend. Can't wait for this record. If Bon Iver is promising enough to appear on multiple Kanye Songs - doesn't that mean you should take a chance on them as well? Also of note - Bon Iver performs on The Colbert Report tonight, Monday June 20, at 11:30pm on Comedy Central. I posted this before, but check out the video for Bon Iver's "Calgary" below:
Sidenote: Last week I recommended Midnight Movie. My apologies - that movie is...not that good. Not that good at all.