Elsewhere, 1/21

The website for Paprika — the latest from Satoshi Kon (Paranoia Agent, Tokyo Godfathers) — is now up and running. The site’s a little sparse, but you can watch the opening credits, which had me grinning ear to ear. The credits alone might be some of the finest animation I’ve seen in months. Can’t wait to see the entire movie, which has received glowing praise from both Twitch and Kaiju Shakedown, when it comes out in the USA later this year. Via

This does indeed make me feel all hot and fuzzy: CHUD’s Devin Faraci has seen Hot Fuzz, the latest from the Shaun Of The Dead folks, and while he can’t review it yet, he’s positively aglow. “Hot Fuzz is… a terrific comedy with lovable and real characters and a plot that tweaks cop film conventions while, at the same time, hitting the beats perfectly and seriously.”

Elizabeth Fraser, the former vocalist of the defunct-yet-still glorious Cocteau Twins, will be releasing a solo album some time this spring on Blanco y Negro Records.

Last week, I posted Michael Henaghan’s review of Romance of Young Tigers’ self-titled debut. You can listen to much of it on their MySpace page, and it’s solid stuff. “Long Withdrawing Roar” is nothing we haven’t heard before from the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor!, but it’s still a mighty affecting track.

One of my favorite programs on my Mac is Quicksilver, which unlocks worlds of functionality with just a keystroke or two. However, it’s an incredibly labyrinthine program and there’s a dearth of official documentation. Which makes Howard Melman’s user’s guide indispensable.

Thom Jurek on the recent reissue of The Christ Tree by The Trees Community: “Why would anyone be interested in a box set by a wandering musical group of Jesus People from the 1970s who traveled nomadically in a bus like a spiritual version of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters? Simply because it is some of the greatest music you’ve never heard.”

Steven Greydanus looks at the films of 2006 and picks his favorites.

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