TIME On "24"

The previous issue of "TIME" magazine had a brief but interesting article (by James Poniewozik) about Fox's tv series. I take the opportunity to write some of my similar thoughts on the subject.
For someone who hasn't really watched "24", it would be easy to conclude that it's nothing more than conservative propaganda : the good americans vs the evil terrorists. This is Fox, after all!
The reality of the tv show, of course, is much different, in the same way that the actual reality of our lives isn't black and white. Whether we like it or not, the existence of terrorism is real and it's not a made-up construct by right-wing agendas. On the other hand, dealing with it effectively should not be the responsibility of a narrow political line. "24" manages to highlight all these aspects, even if it is through the excesses and exaggerations that make it an exciting show. Very real moral dillemas like civil liberties vs security are presented very rationally, with no hint of adhering to a single ideology.
Jack Bauer himself is no fan of fixed rules of conduct. Extreme situations demand extreme measures, even if that means cooperating with an ex-terrorist responsible for hundreds of deaths. I think the show is doing a very good job in stating the importance of rationality and that people are more important than rules and laws. I don't know about you, but I can't exclusively assign this idea to one political party.

The Last Days Of The Maya

Mel Gibson hasn't been in the public opinion's favor lately. It's understandable considering his conduct. Having stupid beliefs and being famous is a bad combination (see also : Tom Cruise).
Of course, all that is completely irrelevant to Gibson's skills as a director. "Apocalypto" is one of those movies whose visual character render their creator a respectable artist. The plot is about a young man of a Mayan tribe who flees his sacrifice to save his family. The simplicity of the plot, however, is an excuse for a series of excellent action scenes, beautiful imagery and the skillful portrayal of a civilization that is rarely featured on the big screen. It is also an excuse for us to ponder what are the greatest motivators of a human being, no matter the time or the circumstances.
I am overlooking the fact that Gibson's most succesful movies have been, in part, violent. Violence can serve a purpose in art, and it's the purpose we should criticize, not violence itself. The purpose of the violence in "The Passion Of The Christ" was probably just a guilt trip for the believers. In "Apocalypto", if I am to interpret one of the taglines of the movie, the violence is meant to be offered as a reason for Mayan corruption, and eventual downfall. I find this slightly hypocritical, considering that the violence of the Spanish (seen arriving at the end of the movie) to whom the Maya succumbed, isn't really morally superior.
But that's a bit of ranting on my part. "Apocalypto" is a rare movie that can justify your visit to a multiplex. Not many movies do lately.

Ready For A New Dream

The progressive megaband is once again in the studio. Personally, there are few things I find more exciting than a new Dream Theater album. I wasn't 100% satisfied with their previous release, "Octavarium", so my expectations are pretty high for this one. Until it is released, sometime in the spring, let's let Mike Portnoy give us a tour in the studio!

Rome is back!

HBO's series is a rare one, and I didn't have much hope it would continue into a second season. I am very glad I am proven wrong.
This genre is pretty much ignored on TV. It's understandable considering it requires a lot of work and money to create something serious and not some parody like Xena and Hercules. So, hats off to the creators for giving us this series.
In the first season, we followed the lives of two Roman soldiers, as they made their way to greatness next to the rise of Julius Ceasar. Season 2 begins exactly where we were left off last year and there are plenty of historical events we can expect to frame the adventures of the series' heroes, Vorenus and Pullo. "Rome" continues in its realistic direction; the nudity and violence do not make this a series suitable for small children. The rest of us can enjoy a very special TV time that really stands out.

Scarred For Salvation

There are very few bands out there that take the label "progressive" seriously. Pain Of Salvation is one of them and "Scarsick" is their 6th album that fails to fall below perfection. Truth be told, they lost some fans with the previous album, "Be", and this will also be true with "Scarsick". This is to be expected when you really want to progress. "Be" was such a deep, lyrical album and with such an unconventional concept but Pain Of Salvation's fans were already familiar with this side of the band. What was disturbing for them was probably the retreat from more "traditional" metal forms - not that PoS were ever "traditional" in any real sense.
It's hard to make comparisons because "Scarsick" sounds completely new. It is both darker and angrier but hardly metal. It is progressive in a 70s way but you also find that the hip hop elements have increased and that there's a disco track! You will definitely need more than a couple of listens to fully appreciate it but some things are evident immediately, like Daniel Gildenlow's expressive range in vocals and the band's talent in conveying emotions : frustration, sadness, anger, irony.
Definitely, "Scarsick" is a difficult to get album. No, I don't think it's better than "Be" but it is the new album of a band that is always trying something new, is obsessed with perfection and their music can scar you for life. Dare to try it.

The Evolution Of Morality

The Beyond Belief conferences have managed to bring together an impressive number of scientists, philosophers and writers to discuss the matter of the stormy relationship between science and religion. You can find the full discussions at the site. This is Richard Dawkins speaking about the change of our views on morality through time and how those views are unrelated to religious scriptures.

A Lost Moment

We still have a full month before Lost returns with the second part of third season. Here's one of the previews I found particularly exciting.

The Muse Returns

It's been 9 years since Loreena McKennitt's last studio album, the magnificent "Book Of Secrets". Now, we can finally enjoy Loreena's enchanting voice on new songs.
Loreena is mostly known for her celtic music background, but it's a long time since she has moved to eastern musical cultures. As was the case with her previous albums, Loreena McKennitt has thoroughly researched the traditions before she attempted to write songs. The result was "An Ancient Muse" and the wait was very much worth it. Both the music and the titles reveal that Loreena has spent a great deal of her research into Greek and Turkish music. "Caravanserai" and "Kecharitomene" are not only extremely beautiful pieces of music, but also celebrate the similarities between neighbouring cultures. I don't think there's much more that needs to be said. It's a new Loreena McKennitt album. It follows that it's beautiful and that we're grateful for it.

Kabbalah Of Music

It's more than 10 years since Therion released "Theli", the album that incorporated fully the classical music the band was flirting with since their beginning. Therion have come a long way since then and "Theli" that amazed a lot people back then, now sounds amateurish in comparison to their latest offering, "Gothic Kabbalah".
In the years between, the band's mastermind, Christopher Johnsson, has grown a bigger appreciation for more traditional forms of metal music, and with it the band's experience. We got a taste of this process with Therion's previous twin albums "Lemuria/Sirius B".
"Gothic Kabbalah" is a universal heavy metal album. It's heavy and fast with soloing that comes from the 80s. It's atmospheric and progressive in both a 70s and 90s way. Finally, every operatic and classical music element blends seemlessly with what is an unmistakable heavy metal album. The talent and technical prowess of Therion's musicians is evident throughout the album, but the highlight is the epic 12-min "Adulruna Redivivia" which closes it.
"Gothic Kabbalah" is an album of great quality and will satisfy everyone who takes music seriously. At the same time, it's an album with a clear heavy metal identity.