MICROQUIRK UPDATE 3/7/09

B. McGILLICUDDY

Animal Collective. Merriweather Post Pavilion. Probably grossly familiar and hopefully overplayed as far as you're ears are concerned. But, because it's that fucking good:



These cats exude avant-garde microquirk, in fact this is nanoquirk, but let's not get into the specifics (or atomics for that matter). The subject is domestic, the music is post-modular, and the visuals for the music video are post-post-symbolic. They're universal. But to rein it in and put a label on it, because that's what we're trying to do, we first have to reiterate that music has become about putting complex rhythms, moving melodies, and cohesive harmonies together with words that elicit genuine emotion. How better to do this than to take all that music has become, and thrust it back into the dancing rhythm, chirping chant, and prayer/mantra-like call and response that the art form was birthed as? This music is ancient and new and everything in between, and goddamn is it loopable.

And now, in case any of you had any reservations about this bit of cinematic splendor, let me dispel them.

Lana(Larry)Larry(Lana) and Andy Wachowski's "Speed Racer" was sold to me as "the most postmodern film ever made". On this basis I saw it, and on that basis I have to say that you should probably see it too. Because it's fucking awesome.



This film is completely self-aware and absolutely anti-convention as far as convention is concerned. All of the greenscreen is obvious and obviously on purpose, each plot device is a gimmick, but perfectly executed, and the ease with which you are drawn into the narrative is supernatural. This is the only movie from last year I didn't hesitate to give a 10, and it wasn't even looked at for any well-known film awards. In fact, Silver Pictures nearly went bankrupt making this movie, and as far as I know, only eight people have seen it. But you should add yourself to that short list, because as far as microquirk is concerned, this movie is the godfather of its cinematic existence. And besides that, it is perfect.

B. McGILLICUDDY